We all face challenges with finances at some point in our lives, don’t we? It could be the stress of making ends meet, the confusion around wise investments, or the internal struggle with generosity versus self-preservation.
It’s easy to get lost in the complexities of financial decisions, yearning for guidance that aligns not just with our bank accounts, but with our hearts and spirits too.
That’s where the ancient wisdom of the Bible comes in! I just completed an 18-month bible study on money, and let me tell you, it sure surprised me!
Here’s everything I learned about the biblical perspective on wealth, revealing not just strategies for financial health, but pathways to a richer, more fulfilling life.
Get ready to be surprised, comforted, and inspired as we talk about these bible verses about money, momma!
My Biggest Money Lessons From the Bible
I’m so excited to share with you the things I’ve learned from my study—lessons that truly resonated with me and I believe will touch your heart as well.
These principles aren’t just about money; they’re about how we perceive and acquire wealth, make decisions with our money, and live a life that’s rich in every sense of the word.
Here are my biggest lessons from the Bible on money:
- As Christians, we are called to be generous with more than just our money.
- To be in debt is to be enslaved.
- We need to learn to be content with what we have, in every situation and every circumstance.
- Money and wealth belong to God, and all of our blessings come from him, not from our hard work.
- We are to work as if we were working for God, not for money.
- Everything is driven by money.
- To worry about ourselves and our finances is to be self-centered.
- Life is not about money!!
Reflecting on these lessons reminds us that at the heart of financial wisdom is a spirit of gratitude and stewardship.
By viewing our resources through this lens, we not only enrich our own lives but also extend a hand of generosity and support to those around us. Which, in turn, builds God’s kingdom.
And that is what it is all about.
So, let’s dive in!
How I Studied the Bible Verses About Money
I wanted to do more than just read these verses and kind of try to figure out what I felt the Bible was “telling me”. You know?
So, I took a very strategic approach to my bible study. I don’t know if this is the ‘right way’ or the ‘wrong way’ to study the bible.
But I do know that I enjoyed it, and learned something from it!
First, I googled “bible verses about money”.
So, I started by googling all the money-related bible verses I could find. I think I visited the top three to five sites, if I remember right.
Then, I put the bible verses about money in a spread sheet.
After I had all of my bible verses, I copied and pasted them into my bible study spreadsheet, on the tab titled “money”. Brilliant name, right? LOL.
So I already had a spreadsheet, before this deep dive. Because I studied James, and had started entering literally every scripture in James into this spreadsheet based on what it was about.
Each tab is a different biblical principle. It’s kind of like my master spreadsheet.
If I want to learn more about a certain topic, I can reference it, and the bible verses I’ve already studied, related to that topic. Just a way for me to keep notes, I suppose.
Then I started my study on these bible verses about money.
After I had everything entered into my spreadsheet and alphabeticalized, I could start studying.
Every day, I studied one new scripture.
I would first pray for wisdom and understanding, and then I’d log that day’s prayers in my journal. And then, I’d write down that day’s verse.
I’d then read the verse, and the passages before and after the verse, to get a good sense for what was going on.
After that, I’d reference all of the supporting bible verses listed in my study bible, and go back and read each of those. Sometimes I’d read the surrounding passages as well, to get a good sense for what was going on in those bible verses.
And I’d write every one of these bible verses in my journal as well. Mostly because I am a writer and a journaler, and that is how I process what I am learning.
After that was complete, I’d usually have a good foundation of what God was trying to teach me about money in that verse, and I’d simply write my “money lesson”.
I’d end my daily bible study with more prayer.
I did this for every single verse I had googled and put into that spreadsheet. It took me a year.
I then added each supporting scripture to the spread sheet.
After I finished my last verse, I went back to the very beginning of my journal. Every day, I read two of my journal entries, including all of the old prayers I wrote, and all of the bible verses I entered, along with my money lessons.
It was fun to see where my head and heart were at a year ago, compared to now.
I then entered all of these supporting bible verses back into that same spreadsheet, so that they could correspond with the verse I had studied. I also entered the money lesson into that spreadsheet.
Of course, I began to notice quite a few different money management lessons! Each had their own topic, and I wanted a better way to organize them.
I started a new spread sheet for these bible verses about money.
So, I started a new spreadsheet. This one specifically for my money study.
Each tab is a new topic. So, I have a tab on tithing and generosity, one on worry, one on financial hardship, etc.
I put every scripture I studied into this new spreadsheet based on the money lesson. So that I could easily reference my study on, say, tithing, without having to search through the big spreadsheet on money in general.
It was then that I started to realize I could write these topics up for an even more comprehensive study. Because, again, I learn best through writing.
And now, I’m ready to share what I learned from these bible verses about money.
It was a lot of work! The entire study took me a year and a half to complete.
And I’m not done yet!
Now my plan is to go back through them all – each lesson, and write it up in a blog post! I’m so excited to do that.
Mostly because I learned so much, I feel like I must share it! But also because I learn best by writing.
So part of my reasoning is a little selfish, I must confess.
So probably over the course of the next year, maybe even two, I’ll be writing what I’ve learned from the bible about money up into blog posts for you here on Making Mommas. You’ll want to subscribe so that you never miss a lesson!
You can do that by hitting the button below. I’ll even give you the set of spreadsheets I used to complete this study, so that you can do your own study. 😉
And now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for – an over all view of the things I’ve learned about money!!
This will be a brief overview, because I will be breaking each money lesson down into its own post.
27 Things I Learned From These Bible Verses About Money
So, without further ado, let’s dive in!! I’m going to start with the most common principles that we are all familiar with, and end with the most shocking.
Well, at least, they were for me. LOL. They might not be for you.
1. Money is the Root of All Evil
Okay, so this one you know. We hear it all the time.
1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Timothy 6 is instructions from the Apostle Paul, to Timothy, on what to teach. It’s interesting that it opens with slavery, because in the modern world, debt is slavery.
Money and things are slavery.
When we have things that we need to take care of (think never-ending home maintenance, for starters!) and bills that we constantly have to pay, we need money.
And when we chase money, we are willing to do almost anything to get it. This more often than not, leads to evil things.
And let’s remember, it doesn’t take a lot to be considered “evil”. Stabbing someone in the back so that you get that promotion instead of them – is evil.
And when we bring evil into our homes, God will not be with us. Joshua 7:21 shows us this.
“When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
Josua’s people were being beaten in an attack, and when he asked God why, God said it was because Acharn had brought evil upon Israel; he took something that did not belong to him – the “devoted things”.
When we bring evil into our homes, God will not be with us, either. We must remove the evil.
The stolen things were returned, and Achan and his family were stoned and burned. And then God was once again with the Israelites.
Money is the root of all evil. If you chase after money, you will bring evil into your homes.
And if you do that, God will not be with you. You must remove the evil.
2. You Can’t Take it With You When You Go!
This is such a familiar phrase as well!
There’s actually a lot of verses touching on this in the bible, so I’m definitely not going over it in a lot of detail here. But 1 Timothy 6:7-8 is a good one:
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
Nothing belongs to us. God owns it all.
We came into the world naked, and we will leave naked. We take nothing with us, not our belongings, not the people we love.
Everything belongs to God, and everything we do is pointless.
It’s useless to work so hard for money. It’s not ours, we can’t take it with us.
Our treasures do not lie in our possessions here on earth. They are insignificant, as is money, and we can’t take them with us when we go.
Our true treasure lies in heaven. That is what we should pursue.
Not money.
3. Love is More Important than Money
This is another very common one. In fact, my dad always used to tell us, growing up, “We may not be rich, but we are rich in love.”
1 Corinthians 13:3 “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
Love is more important than money. Love will motivate you to stand up for what you believe.
Love will lead you to care for one another.
Proverbs 3:27 adds,
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”
Love is action. We need to take care of others, to help others, and to serve others.
This is how we show love.
If it is in our power to act, we must.
This actually is somewhat shocking, because it goes entirely against the conventional advice of “the power of no”.
We need to say yes, and show our love with action.
This, of course, can be monetary. But it doesn’t have to be.
4. God is Enough
I think most Christians know they are supposed to believe that God is enough. But whether they actually do or not remains to be seen.
There’s actually a lot of verses supporting this.
John 14:8 “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
The Lord is enough. We are to wait on Him, and put our hope, trust ,and faith in Him.
Even during our financial trials, always remembering He has already given us all we will ever need: everlasting life in Him.
And because we have promised to obey Him out of love, then we must patiently accept and endure our trials, out of love and obedience.
Philippians 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
We need to learn the secret of being content in any situation and every circumstance as well. And that secret is knowing who we are in God.
Our self-worth is not in how much money we have or the kind of lifestyle we lead. That stuff comes and goes.
It is external. Our self worth is in our identity as a child of God.
Proverbs 15:16 “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.”
It’s better to have nothing, and to be righteous and live with the fear of the Lord, than it is to have wealth acquired the wrong way.
Righteousness delivers you from spiritual death. Wealth does nothing for this present world.
The fear of the Lord refers to a healthy respect for God. You submit to His rules and His will because you love Him, not because you actually are afraid of Him.
Proverbs 30:8 “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”
We do not need to be rich. We only need what God gives us each day.
He provides for us on a daily basis. Also, God’s word is more important than being fed each day.
“Daily bread” refers to meeting our daily needs.
5. Care for the Poor
Everybody knows they are supposed to take care of those who are less fortunate, right?
1 Corinthians 11:22 “Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!”
Be satisfied with the food and shelter you have, and do not look down on those who have nothing. Instead, care for them.
Proverbs 29:7 “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”
We need to seek justice for the poor and oppressed. It is our job to take care of them.
6. Care for Our Christian Brothers and Sisters
We are all supposed to care for the poor, yes, but we are to care for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ even more so. After all, we all belong to one body.
1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
‘The love of God’ is God’s kind of love, which He pours out in the believer’s heart, and which in turn enables the Christian to love fellow believers. (Or it may simply speak of the believer’s love for God.)
1 John 4:20 “If anyone says “I love God”, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”
You are to love the fellow Christian, your brothers and sisters, just as you love God and yourself. And you are to take care of them, and their needs, as if they were your own needs.
7. To Be In Debt is to Be Enslaved
We’ve all heard that, right? But how many of us actually live debt free?
Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
To borrow money is to be enslaved. And this is so true.
So many people, during Covid, could not afford to lose their jobs, because they had mortgages and auto loans. And who knows what other kind of debt.
So they went along with the illegal mandates, subjecting themselves to a brand new, unproven technology. And so many of them lost their lives or their health because of it.
They were enslaved. They felt they had no choice.
But the ones who were not tied down with debt (or didn’t care of the consequences) walked away from their jobs, rather than take the shot. They had the freedom to make that choice.
It strikes me how, in the end times, it’s going to be so much worse. Christians will not be able to buy or sell, because they will refuse “the mark”.
Yet, how many of us will give in, and accept “the mark” because we need that money?
Do not allow yourself to live in debt. Do not allow yourself to become enslaved to money, and those that hold the purse strings.
8. Serve and Obey God, Even in Hard Times
There’s so many verses that support this. I’ll go over them more in a separate blog post one day.
But for now, let’s talk about Job.
Job was a very wealthy and prestigous man. He had everything.
And he was a servant of God, obeying God completely.
The devil told God the only reason Job did all of this was because God continued to bless him. So, God allowed the devil to take everything away from Job.
Job did nothing wrong, but God wanted to show the devil that Job would still obey and serve God. And Job did, indeed, still obey and serve God.
He even went as far as praising God, because God gives, and God takes away. So, then God restored his wealth and prestige.
All the while, Job had never strayed from God or did anything wrong, even praising God.
But his friends insisted he must have done something wrong, because otherwise, why would God have taken all the wealth and blessings away from Job? The entire story is about Job’s conversation with his friends.
And God used the whole situation to teach us how to love and serve Him, in all things, just as Job had done. There was a higher purpose to it all, but Job had no way of knowing it at the time.
It’s not like God pulled Job aside and said, “Look here, Job. I’m going to allow the devil to take away everything I have given you, so that I can show the world what a true Christian is supposed to do – love and obey me, no matter what. Okay?”
No. Job had no idea.
He just trusted God completely, and continued to serve and obey.
Like Job, we need to praise and obey God even in hard times, when we have nothing. We cannot praise and obey him only in good times, when he is blessing us.
He gives and He takes away. God owns everything.
We need to love and serve Him, not to gain His blessings, but because we love Him. Much like we love and serve our own kids.
Unconditionally.
So therefore, like Job, we choose to do it even when we are not blessed for it.
9. Strength and Hope are in Jesus
Christians will face trials and hard times. And no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we draw our strength from Jesus, and should rejoice, because God’s grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.
His strength and power are displayed when we rely on him during our time of weakness. Because we know – and the world sees – that we didn’t make it through that by ourselves.
It was God, giving us the strength to do it. All glory and honor goes to Him, not us.
2 Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
When we are weak, we can delight in that, knowing that we can – and should – rely on God’s strength. Only then can we be strong.
Don’t put your hope in money, either. It cannot save you.
It is of this world and is fleeting. Your hope and trust belongs to God.
2 Corinthians 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
If you are struggling right now, accept that hardship with grace and gratitude, because God is using the struggle to teach and discipline you.
And like the typical parent, He does not does not care about what other kids are doing! He only cares what His children are doing.
I tell my boys that all of the time, when I correct them on something, and they say that so-and-so’s mom lets them do it. I don’t care what so-and-so is doing!
I only care about what my kids are doing.
God is the same way. He is not busy correcting and guiding the people who do not belong to Him.
They are literally on their own. If they are doing well, and are prospering, it is their own doing.
If they are struggling, it is also their own doing. God does not interfere.
He’s only worried about disciplining His children.
Learn your lesson! Trust in Him, lean on His strength, and through it, you will be made stronger.
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
10. Give Your First Fruits to God
Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.”
The Israelites were required to give to the priests the first part of the olive oil, wine, and grain produced each year.
We are to take the first fruits of our labor, typically acknowledged as 10%, and give it back to God – to the priests, the non-Christians, the orphans, and the widows.
But from what I have gathered, we can give whatever we feel within our hearts to give.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 8:12 “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”
One thing I find interesting is that many of us grew up being told that God would bless us “tenfold” if we tithed. I didn’t find that anywhere, but I did find that He would bless us, although not necessarily with wealth.
Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Give to God first, always. Give to God your entire tithe, hold nothing back.
Be generous in all areas of your life, and God will bless you with more than you need, so that you can share it with others.
Proverbs 21:26 “All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.”
The righteous are taken care of by God, so they always have enough. And therefore, they can easily give without sparing, and take care of others. (Also, they do not crave for more all day long, like the wicked do.)
But that doesn’t mean God will make you rich, or that He will bless you “tenfold”. And it’s good to note that more often than not, the blessings and riches He refers to are spiritual blessings and riches, not monetary.
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
11. Do Not Love Money
We all know that you cannot serve two masters. We cannot love both God and money.
We are to have no other gods besides God.
In the past, silver and gold were gods.
They even cast them in the image of man-made gods.
Today, silver and gold are still gods. We dedicate our entire lives to making money, when we should be dedicating our entire lives to serving God.
Exodus 20:23 “Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.”
Seriously. Our life’s mission is to graduate from high school, go to college, get a good degree, and then land a good job.
Work at that job our entire life, so that we can “get rich” and “provide for our family”. And live a good life.
We deem our success in life on how much money we make and the prestige of our job. Literally.
Oh – and how much “stuff” we’ve acquired. Really successful people have a lot of stuuuufffff.
Nice boats, nice houses, good cars. They take a lot of vacations.
They are so stinking successful. We should be so stinking envious of them.
Right?
Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Learn to be content in every situation you are in, whether you have a lot, or very little. Because life is not about money.
We are not to love money, but to love God. We are not to worry about gaining more wealth, but about doing good.
Our good deeds are our true riches.
We need to do more good deeds, not try to get more money. Our richness is in the amount of good we do.
And God will never leave us. He will always provide for us, so we need to be content with what He has given us and focus instead on doing good for others.
Our success, as Christians, is not determined by our bank account. It is determined by the amount of good work we have done.
12. Walk Away From Greed and Selfish Ambition
We were bought and paid for when Jesus died on the cross, therefore, we have to walk away from our old life and our old evil way of doing things, and get rid of it all. Including greed and selfish ambition.
Colossians 3:5 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Greed is just as deadly as other big sins, such as murder and sexual immorality.
We can commit Greed simply by wanting something that someone else has, even if we never act on that want. We are still sinning.
Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
In Matthew 5:21-30, Jesus talks about how you can commit murder simply by being angry with your brother, and how you can commit adultery simply by desiring someone else. It doesn’t take a physical act to sin.
If you desire to get rich, you will surely fall into the devil’s trap and be punished. But a good and faithful man will be blessed.
1 Timothy 6:9 “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
13. Fashion and Luxury are Not Important
Oh, how this one makes me giggle! To think that God thought this important enough to put in the bible.
And no wonder why! Look at people today.
Everyone who is anyone knows that how we dress and what we possess are most certainly important – and indicator of who we are!!
Haggai 1:4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
Paneled houses were usually connected to royal dwellings, and had cedar paneling.
In this story, God was angry with the Israelites, because they were more concerned about building their houses than taking care of His.
2 Samuel 7:2 He said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
A life of luxury is not what is important. Taking care of God’s house – not our own – is what is important.
And God’s house is His church. And bringing more people into His kingdom.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
Ouch.
Take a look at your wardrobe, ladies. Is it provocative?
My guess is yes!!
I mean, we don’t have to look like we live in the 1700’s. But we don’t have to embrace every fashion trend, either.
Most of them are indecent.
Christian women are not to get caught up in a life of luxury or the latest fashions, but instead humble themselves, fulfill their role as a Christian wife and mother, and dress themselves with the good deeds of a Christian woman.
14. You Will Be Made Rich in Every Way
Shocking!!
So many people say that if you just tithe, and give back to God, He will make you rich.
That, momma, is not what this means at all. Sorry to disappoint.
But I’m sure you’ve seen this in action. You all know someone who has religiously tithed.
Someone who has given to the church, even when they had nothing to give. And that person still remains poor, doesn’t he?
That right there proves this is not what God means.
(Or, it proves that that person is not a true Christian, and therefore not a child of God, and God does not concern Himself with that person’s affairs. One or the other.)
2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
This verse refers to money of course, but life isn’t about money. So the riches refer to so much more.
We, as Christians, should deliberately look for occasions to be generous in EVERY way; with our time, with our money, with our belongings, with our love, with our forgiveness, with our mercy, with our compassion, with our service, etc.
That is how we are to give.
Not just toss a few dollars in the plate at church and call it good.
If you do this, you will be made rich in every way.
God will take care of you, yes.
But He will also richly bless you with spiritual gifts as well, so that you can go out and do his work.
That is the riches He is talking about. Spiritual riches.
15. Be Content in All Situations
There’s a lot to unpack here, and I’ll go into it more in it’s own separate blog post. But suffice it to say that it’s important to learn to be content in all situations, even when we don’t have any money.
And those times that we do struggle, we have to practice contentment. It is our training ground.
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
1 Timothy 4:8 “For physical training is of some value, but Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Greater wealth does not bring satisfaction. I mean, truly think about that.
I am willing to bet you have more money today than you did when you were 16. I know I do!
I’m willing to bet you have more money today than you did when you were first married. Again, guilty.
Are you any happier?
So many people are not!! They are still – you guessed it -chasing more money. Always more.
Nothing will give you satisfaction; not wealth, possessions, eating and drinking, nothing, unless God has given you the ability to enjoy it.
Ecclesiastes 5:19 “Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God.”
You read that right. God gives you the ability to enjoy your wealth.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”
The heart of Ecclesiastes is that only in God does life have meaning and true pleasure. Without Him, nothing satisfies, but with Him we find satisfaction and enjoyment.
True pleasure only comes when we acknowledge and revere God. Satisfaction in life is only found through God.
16. Trust in God and Follow His Will
What strikes me is how many different people God uses to get His work done. Job was just one example.
Haggai 1:14-15 “So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darious.”
They may not know why what they are doing is important, and they may not see the bigger picture, as God did, or as we do, looking back on it all, but they still willingly obeyed.
Ezra 1:5 “Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites – everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.”
God stirred up many of the same people to return home and rebuild the temple.
We should follow God’s will, especially if he stirs up our spirit. You may not know why, and sometimes it might be work or money related, but still follow.
Psalm 119:14 “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”
I used to wonder how we knew what God’s will was. But after studying money in the bible, it became pretty clear to me.
God’s will is His laws. His word.
Just read the bible. And do what it says.
And you will follow God’s will for your life.
Instead of longing for riches and money, we should be longing to follow God’s word. It’s better than any wealth this earthly world can provide.
17. Do Not Trust Your Money
1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
Do you know anyone who worked their entire lives, tucking away every penny, for retirement?
I know someone who tucked money away for retirement, rather than spending it on stuff for his kids. It seems incredibly smart.
He wanted to provide for himself in his retirement. And he wanted to travel.
So his kids did without a lot of things, growing up. It didn’t hurt them, really.
But he ended up with health problems and died too soon. He never did enjoy his retirement, or travel.
Do not put your faith and trust in your riches. What you have can not take care of you.
Only God provides for you. He gives you what you have, and he can easily take it away.
So instead of chasing after riches, chase after God.
Proverbs 11:4 “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
The pursuit of wealth is pointless. It does nothing for you in the end.
It cannot save you, and is worthless. Plus, the pursuit of wealth will lead you into sin.
It is better to pursue a righteous life, which will reward you in the end. And in the meantime, God will bless you and provide for you.
Wealth does not come from our own hands, but is instead a blessing from God.
Proverbs 23:5 “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
18. Parents Should Leave Money For Their Children {But God Gives A Good Wife}
Weird little lesson, I know!
Proverbs 19:14 “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.”
Parents are supposed to leave something for their children, but God gives the son a wife.
And a prudent wife, one that is of noble character. If a man finds a good wife, it is favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 18:22 “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
Proverbs 12:4 “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.”
So momma, remind your hubby to thank God for you the next time he is counting his blessings! 😉
2 Corinthians 12:14 “Now I am ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.”
As parents, it is our responsibility to leave something for our children. (But like so many bible verses, this one has a spiritual meaning as well.)
19. Be Generous in Every Way
Luke 6:30 “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.”
Wowsers!! This one is shocking.
Give to everyone?? Demand nothing back??
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor brother. Rather be open-handed and freely lend him whatever he needs.”
Deuteronomy 15:10 “Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your god will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”
Be generous with the money the Lord has given you! Use it, lend money to others, and share with others, specifically brothers and sisters in Christ.
Give willingly and freely, with a happy heart, and God will bless everything you do. Righteous men spend their days sharing what was given to them.
Evil men spend their days wishing they had more.
Proverbs 21:26 “All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.”
20. Work as if You Are Working for God
We need to be working for God. Not for money.
Colassians 3:23 – 24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”
We have to work and make money. There’s no doubt.
We will not eat if we do not.
Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
We are to work and not be lazy. But we aren’t to work for money.
Meaning we shouldn’t chase the almighty dollar and constantly strive to climb that corporate ladder. That’s not why we are working.
Ecclesiastes 4:4 “And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Finding satisfaction in your work, your labor, is a gift from God. If you work simply to keep up with the Jones’, you will work in vain.
You will find no satisfaction.
Read Genesis 39. It is too long to write, but the entire chapter is about how the Lord was with Joseph, in everything that he did; in captivity and in prison.
He always made Joseph successful, in whatever situation Joseph found himself in. He didn’t save Joseph from bad things, he just used the bad situations to make Joseph successful, and to bless him, and the house Joseph was in, whether it be the king’s palace or the prison.
But Joseph sought to serve God with respect, gratitude and righteousness, in everything he did, regardless of whether he was a slave or the next in charge, next to the king.
If you work like Joseph, as if working for God, no matter what job you are doing, or what situation you are in, you will find satisfaction.
Not only that, but God will use you and your situation to bless others, particularly your own household.
1 Corinthians 7:17 “Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.”
That is what Joseph did.
He was a slave? No matter.
Joseph was the best slave he could possibly be.
Oh, he was second-in-command, next to the King?
No matter. Joseph was the best second-in-command he could possibly be.
Life isn’t about money, our job, prestige, or success.
And the work God gives us is also not about those things.
God calls us to our jobs and roles for a reason. And we are to remain there, until God calls us somewhere else.
And we are to perform our jobs as if we were performing them for God, because we are.
Regardless of how much we make at our current positions.
21. Money and Wealth Belong to God
As if that last one wasn’t shocking enough, here’s a real eye-opener!!
1 Chronicles 29:12 “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power”
Whatever we have is given to us by God. It is His.
God owns everything.
We’re all running around trying to make money and acquire stuff, but it is not ours, and never was.
It’s a waste of time. If we have, it is because God has given it to us.
1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
Everything is Gods. Not ours.
Including the money we earn. He has blessed us with that money.
We need to give just as generously. It is not ours, so it should be no big deal, giving it to someone else.
Luke 14:28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?”
Jesus did not want a blind, naïve commitment that expected only blessings. As a builder estimates the costs or a king evaluates military strength, so people must consider what Jesus expects of his followers before they commit their lives to him.
The cost is complete surrender to him.
We must surrender everything to Christ Jesus, including our money and finances.
They are no longer ours, but His. Just like our life is no longer ours, but His.
This, of course, changes the way we live and it changes the way we look at and handle money.
22. God Gives Wealth and Status
God gives us our money, our wealth, and our position in life. If we dare think we did it, He will humble us, by taking it all away.
1 Samuel 2:7 “The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.”
God only bothers with His children, those who gave their lives to Him. They are to follow his laws.
If they do, He will exalt them.
Deuteronomy 8:18 “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”
Deuteronomy 28: 12-13 “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”
If they don’t follow His laws, He will humble them.
Deuteronomy 28: 43-44 “The alien that lives among you will rise above you higher and higher but you will sink lower and lower. He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, but you will be the tail.”
That is what will happen if Christians don’t follow God’s laws – and of course, that is what did happen to the Israelites.
The rest – the wicked – will be humbled – fiercely – in the last days, where they will throw their idols and money to the bats, and run and hide from God.
Have you ever wondered why you are going through financial hardship, as a follower of Christ, while your neighbor is an atheist and apparently thriving? Why would God bless the atheist?
The truth is, He hasn’t. He has nothing to do with the atheist.
Right now, that is.
Isaiah 2:12 “the Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and loft, for one that is exalted (and they will be humbled)”
Isaiah 13:11 “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.”
God is simply leaving them alone right now. They are not His children.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be disciplined right now, where I have the chance to change my behavior. Than at the day of judgement, when I’ve run out of chances.
Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.”
Wealth is a gift from God, not a human attainment. God adds no trouble to it, unlike ill gotten treasures.
If you are living a righteous life, you will be blessed.
23. True Wealth is Being Rich Towards God
When God says he will make you wealthy, or bless you with riches, he is not necessarily referring to money. And I think this is where so many people go wrong.
They think that if they do all the right things, God will make them rich. Then they get frustrated when it doesn’t work.
So they abandon their faith.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
If that were true, wouldn’t the apostles have been rich? I mean, if ever there was a righteous man, it was they!
And yet, they were not rich.
God is not talking about earthly riches.
Phillipians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus Christ.”
Even Christ Jesus wasn’t rich! Why then, do we think we will be?
God was talking about spiritual richness.
In the parable of the rich fool, a man stores up a ton of wealth and riches for himself, thinking he will have it for when he needs it. Really, not a bad idea.
Certainly akin to today’s modern thinking. We store it all up for retirement, so that we have it when we need it.
But God says, “You fool! Tonight your very life will be demanded of you! And then who will get what you’ve stored up?” {paraphrased…}
Luke 12:21 “this is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
We need to be rich towards God. Not the other way around.
2 Corinthians 6:10 “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
Verses 6:3-13 are about the hardships that Paul endures; true wealth does not consist in worldly possessions, but in being “rich toward God”.
Believers, even if they have nothing of this world’s goods, nevertheless have everything in Him, who is Lord of all.
True wealth lies in Jesus. Not money.
24. Everything is Driven by Money
This one was really such a shocker to me. I know.
I’m a bit naive. Really.
But I always believed there was good in the world. People were basically good, and it’s circumstances or situations that make them bad.
Acts 16:19 “When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.”
The slave girl was possessed by a spirit that predicted the future. Her owners brought Paul and Silas to the authorities, because Paul commanded the spirit to leave the girl, and the girl could no longer predict the future, thus not making her owner money.
These owners didn’t care about Paul and Silas’s Christian beliefs, and what they were teaching.
Until it interfered with their business.
Everything in this world is driven by money. Men are driven by money.
Always look at who stands to profit from a situation.
Just like the owners of the slave girl, people only care when it threatens their pocketbook. People now-a-days don’t necessarily care about their beliefs or the beliefs of others….unless it threatens them somehow.
25. Worry is Self-Centered
Oh man, here is another real eye-opener!! Worry is the result of self-centeredness.
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
I believe Jesus is talking about spiritual life here, and the church body.
Anxiousness is self-centered, because you are not concerned with spreading the Gospel and you cannot change anything by worrying. It is counter productive.
Do not worry about your needs; God will provide. Do not worry about all the things you must do either.
First be like Mary, and seek Jesus. The rest will fall into place.
Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha.” the Lord answered, ” You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
The one thing that is needed is a life in pursuit of Jesus. That is it.
If you worry about the rest, you are putting your life before His. You are making yourself the center of your world.
And you are not. Your life is not about you.
26. Life is Not About Money
Drum roll please….
Life is not about money!!
Shocking, I know.
2 Corinthians 9:10 “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
They aren’t talking about money here. We are supposed to sow the seed of truth, planting God’s seed in the hearts of men.
God will then water it, and help it to grow and mature. By being righteous, we can lead many men to God, simply through our righteous actions, by living out what we believe.
The more we do that, the more seeds we sow, and the larger our harvest – for God – becomes. It’s all about leading people to Christ, not money.
The God who is the ultimate source of the physical food that sustains all life is the same God who provides the spiritual nourishment that enables believers to flourish and serve.
Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes, and showers righteousness on you.”
It’s not about being monetarily rich, it’s about being rich in God, receiving his grace and blessings, so that you can share them – and his word – with others.
2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
God’s gifts are speaking and knowledge, and when you share that, and pray, you reach more and more people, which causes God to be thankful. That is the generosity He is giving.
1 Corinthians 1:5 “For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge”
A man’s life and worth are not wrapped up in how much money he makes or how successful he is. That’s the world’s way of judging value.
And we are not of this world. Our value and our worth is wrapped up in our identity as Christians, and in being a child of God.
Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
“Freely you have received, freely give”… people always think it refers to money, but it refers to spiritual gifts.
Wealth is fleeting and uncertain. It cannot save you.
Only the Lord Jesus can. If you put your hope in money and spend your life chasing after it, it will be a life wasted.
You will not only fall away from God and lose your seat at the table, but you will also squander the gifts He gave you. You will not use them to further His kingdom, as you should.
You will use them to attain more money.
The pursuit of money will lead you away from God and into so many evil desires.
The pursuit, instead, of Jesus, will lead you to God and to eternal life, with many rewards.
But even more importantly, it will result in the production of fruit – you will bring others to Jesus as well, just by living a life in pursuit of Him, and according to His will.
This will save so many more people from hell.
That should be your life’s mission, and what you are eager for. Not money.
You should not want wealth – it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.
These 27 Bible Verses About Money Are not REALLY About Money
My biggest takeaway, after all that studying, is that even the bible verses about money are not truly about money.
They are about bringing more people to Jesus.
James 2:5 “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”
There is a difference in being spiritually rich and earthly rich, and a difference in earthly wisdom and spiritual wisdom. My deep study into James goes into that, and someday I hope to share that here as well.
God uses the poor in earthly wisdom and wealth for his purpose, because they know their success did not come from themselves.
If it had, they would have already been successful. They can only deduce that it came from God.
So then they can only boast in Jesus, not in themselves.
Those that are poor in spirit know that they need God’s help and intervention – his salvation. Those that are rich in spirit know that they are walking with God.
God has prepared a place for those who are poor in heaven, both earthly and spiritually. Our richness, again, does not come from wealth.
But from our spiritual richness, and our deeds.
Proverbs 16:16 “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!”
Wisdom is better than gold. Spiritually speaking, the reasons why are obvious.
Wisdom brings eternal life.
Wisdom is not intelligence.
Wisdom is knowing, understanding, and following God’s law.
It’s perfect. And it leads to a righteous life and spiritual growth, and all eternity.
Money cannot give you that.
“2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
This, too, is about spirituality – leading people to Jesus.
No doubt, we will be blessed if we are generous. BUT I think these verses talk more about spiritual blessings, and a spiritual harvest.
If we sow the seeds of the gospel sparingly, we will reap sparingly.
See! Even when you study money, it isn’t about money!
Life is not about money!!
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
It’s not about money, it’s about bringing people to Jesus.
We need to change our world view and not focus on money so much.
Also, God leads us with His Holy Spirit, whom He gives to his children “generously”. We should let the spirit lead us, in all things, including how we handle money.
Luke 6:20 “Looking at his disciples, he said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Luke is also talking about those who are “poor”, who are aware of their need of God’s grace and provisions.
Jesus also spoke of poverty in spirit.
According to my study bible, “The beatitudes go deeper than material poverty and physical hunger. Matthew’s account indicates that Jesus spoke of poverty “in spirit” and hunger “for righteousness”.
“Poor” means those who are aware of their need of God’s grace and provisions. The more I study money in the bible, the more I learn that it is not about money at all!!
It is about eternal salvation, and bringing others to Jesus.
Matthew 25:31-46 talks about how those who used their money to care for others will receive the kingdom created for them, but those who did not will go to the eternal fires prepared for Satan and his angels.
Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
It’s never about money! This whole verse is talking about being a good and faithful servant overall, which is where our focus should be, not on money.
But appropriately handling the money God has entrusted us with is one way we can be a good and faithful servant.
We should be investing and growing our money, and using it to help others. Not hiding it (storing it) or worse, wasting it on ourselves.
Even the horrible servant didn’t lose the money.
Mark 4:25 “Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
It leads into the separation of the sheep and the goats. If you didn’t use your time on earth to gain more followers for God, you do not have anything.
Matthew 25 is not about money. It is about your spiritual reward, when Jesus returns.
Matthew 25:1-13 is the parable of the 10 virgins, 25:14-30 the parable of the talents, and 31-46 the parable of the sheep and the goats.
Luke 19:26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.”
If we use the talents He has given us, the spiritual gifts He has given us, to bring more to His kingdom, then we will be entrusted with more when He returns.
And that, my dear, is what it is all about.
FAQs On Bible Verses About Money
I get it, this might be a lot to take in, especially if you’re hearing some of these concepts for the first time. You might have a bunch of questions bubbling up, right?
No worries, I’ve been there too. Below, you’ll find answers to some frequently asked questions that might help clear things up a bit. Trust me, we’re all in this learning journey together.
What does Jesus say about money in the Bible?
Jesus had a lot to say about money, making it clear it shouldn’t be the center of our lives. He emphasized using money wisely, not to accumulate wealth for its own sake but to support those in need and further God’s kingdom.
In verses like Matthew 6:24, He tells us we can’t serve both God and money, reminding us of the importance of prioritizing our spiritual well-being over material wealth.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.“
Jesus encourages us to view money as a tool, not an end goal, and to be generous and mindful of how we use our resources.
What is God’s view on money?
God’s perspective on money is quite clear throughout the Bible — He sees it as a resource to be used wisely and generously, not something to be hoarded or idolized.
Money, in God’s view, is meant for providing for our needs, helping others, and supporting the work of the Church. It’s all about stewardship; we’re encouraged to manage what we’re given responsibly, always with an eye toward the greater good rather than personal gain.
What does God say about struggling financially?
Financial struggles can feel overwhelming, but God’s message in the Bible is one of hope and encouragement. He understands our worries and asks us to rely on Him during difficult times.
Scriptures like Philippians 4:19 remind us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
This doesn’t mean we’ll never face financial hardship, but rather that God will provide us with strength, guidance, and resources in unexpected ways. Trusting in God during financial struggles can also deepen our faith, teaching us to lean not on our own understanding but on His divine plan for our lives.
What does the Bible say about spending money wisely?
The Bible is pretty straight-up about spending money wisely—it’s all about prudence and purpose. Proverbs 21:20 hits the nail on the head, saying, “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
Don’t be reckless with your cash. Plan for the future, save for those rainy days, and don’t splurge on every little thing that catches your eye.
Spending wisely also means distinguishing between wants and needs, ensuring your essentials are covered before indulging in luxuries.
It’s about being thoughtful with your resources and making decisions that honor God’s teachings on stewardship and generosity.
Download the Bible Verses About Money Study Set
Ready to get a grip on your finances with a little heavenly guidance? Download our Bible Verses About Money Study Set now, and start exploring the wisdom packed within the pages of the Bible!
Whether you’re navigating through a tough financial patch or looking to manage your money more wisely, this study set will help you work your way through the scriptures. Just click the link below, and you’ll have the exact spreadsheets and bible verses I used!
Begin your journey towards financial resilience and faith-based stewardship today!
At the End of the Day…
At the end of the day, it’s clear that the big picture is so much more than dollars and cents.
While the Bible lays down some solid advice on handling our finances, the true essence of these teachings reaches far beyond the wallet.
It’s about leading a life that brings more souls closer to God. Every verse about money is also a verse about faith, trust, and stewardship.
It’s about making choices that reflect our commitment to Him, showing love and generosity in the way we manage everything He has entrusted to us.
In practicing prudent financial habits as guided by these verses, we’re not just saving for a rainy day; we’re investing in a future where our actions and decisions draw us and others closer to God.
Remember, managing money wisely isn’t just about securing a comfortable life on Earth—it’s about enriching your spiritual journey and bringing more people to God’s welcoming arms.
More on Money Management
FRUGAL LIVING TIPS 101: WAYS TO SAVE MONEY FOR BEGINNERS
HOW TO STOP LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND MANAGE YOUR MONEY BETTER
HOW TO CREATE A BUDGET AS A STAY AT HOME MOM
CREATE MORE, WORRY LESS: 18 SIMPLE STAY AT HOME MOM BUDGET TIPS
SIMPLE WAYS FOR BUSY MOMS TO EFFECTIVELY TRACK THEIR SPENDING
