Biblical Answer

The Bible's Teaching on Money

The Bible has a significant amount of teaching on money, possessions, greed, contentment, and generosity. Jesus taught that it is harder for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24). This teaching emphasizes the importance of living a simple and humble life, free from the love of money. In 1 Timothy 6:10, the Bible says that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" and that some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs because of their longing for wealth.

The Dangers of Loving Money

The Bible warns against loving money, which is an idolatrous attitude that can lead to ruin and destruction. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul writes that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and that some people have wandered away from the faith because of their longing for wealth. This warning is echoed in Jesus' parable of the rich fool, who puts his trust in his wealth and is ultimately left empty and unfulfilled (Luke 12:13-21). The Bible also teaches that those who love money are not pleasing to God (1 John 2:15-17).

A Biblical Perspective on Wealth

The Bible does not prohibit profit-making or charging modest and fair interest rates. In fact, it teaches that hard work and diligence are important virtues (Proverbs 10:4-5, 22:29). However, the Bible does caution against borrowing and accumulating wealth at the expense of others (Proverbs 22:7, 27:23-27). Instead, the Bible encourages us to live a life of generosity and contentment, holding our wealth lightly and using it generously for the spread of God's kingdom. As Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). This means that our attitude towards money is a spiritual barometer that reflects our heart's devotion to God. When we love money more than God, we are in danger of idolatry and spiritual ruin. However, when we hold our wealth lightly and use it to glorify God, we can experience true freedom and joy.