Okay, it’s time for a little Bible 101. Ready?
Question one: What is the root of all evil?
If you said money—buzz! That’s not the correct answer. Scripture says it is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil.
Question two: Who tends to covet money more—those who have a great deal of it, or those who don’t?
Think about it.
People who have more than enough money usually don’t think much about it. If they want something, they buy it. If something breaks, they fix it or replace it. If they want to travel, shop, or invest, they simply do. Their struggles with money are real, but they are different struggles.
Money can foster pride, a false sense of independence, and the illusion that God is unnecessary. It can tempt people to look down on others, misuse power, manipulate relationships, or compromise integrity to protect income. These are serious spiritual dangers—but they are not primarily sins of coveting money.
Those who lack money face a different pressure.
People without enough money are constantly reminded of their need. Bills arrive. Repairs come due. Rent, food, transportation, and basic necessities never stop demanding attention. It isn’t that they want to think about money all the time—it’s that money keeps knocking at the door.
That constant pressure often leads to covetousness. And covetousness can tempt people to cross ethical boundaries, justify poor decisions, or resent God and others. In this sense, those without money are often more tempted to covet it than those who already have it.
Money itself is not evil. It is simply a medium of exchange—a tool. The problem is not money, but our attitude toward it. The poor may covet it. The rich may cling to it. Either way, money can quietly replace God as the object of trust.
Jesus addressed this directly.
When He said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25, NKJV), His disciples were stunned and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:26–27, NKJV).
In context, Jesus was teaching that a right relationship with money is impossible to develop in human strength alone. Only God—through the work of the Holy Spirit—can reorder our hearts properly.
Scripture reminds us of a foundational truth:
“For by Him all things were created… all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16, NIV).
Nothing we possess truly belongs to us. We are not owners—we are stewards. That includes our time, our abilities, our possessions, and yes, our income.
Jesus said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager…? It will be good for that servant… He will put him in charge of all his possessions” (Luke 12:42–44, NIV).
God establishes stewardship beginning with the tithe. The word tithe means a tenth. The first ten percent belongs to the Lord—not as a gift, but as an acknowledgment of His ownership and Lordship. It is an act of reverence and trust.
Malachi 3:8–10 (NLT) speaks plainly: “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated Me… Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… and see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you.”
Offerings beyond the tithe are acts of worship and gratitude, freely given in response to God’s goodness.
When our hearts are rightly aligned, generosity becomes joyful. Tithes and offerings cease to be obligations and become expressions of trust, submission, and thanksgiving. God’s desire is not scarcity, but faithful stewardship—so that increase can flow through us, not control us.
God made His intention clear long ago:
“Remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18, NLT).
And the promise still stands:
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, NLT).
Prayer: Dear Lord, search my heart and align my attitude toward money with Your truth. Help me trust You as my Provider, honor You as my Lord, and steward all You place in my hands with integrity and gratitude. Free me from the love of money and teach me to live generously and faithfully, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
