How to Think About Money

Money as a gift from God

Deuteronomy 8:18 (LEB)

But you must remember Yahweh your God, for he is the one giving you strength to acquire wealth in order to confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors as it is today.

See also 1 Sa 2:7; 1 Ki 3:13; Pr 8:18–21; 1 Ti 6:17

The dangers of money

Being ruled by money

Matthew 6:24 LEB

“No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.

See also Eph 5:5

Loving money

1 Timothy 6:10 LEB

For the love of money is a root of all evil, by which some, because they desire it, have gone astray from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

See also Ec 5:10; Lk 8:14; Lk 16:14; 1 Ti 3:3; 1 Ti 3:8; 2 Ti 3:2; Tt 1:7; Heb 13:5; 1 Pe 5:2

Trusting in money

1 Timothy 6:17 LEB

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all things richly for enjoyment,

See also Dt 8:12–14; Job 31:24; Ps 52:7; Ps 62:10; Pr 11:4; Pr 11:28; Pr 27:24; Is 10:3; Je 48:7; Lk 12:16–21 the parable of the rich fool; Jas 1:11; Jas 5:1–3; Re 18:14

Boasting in money

Psalm 49:5–6 LEB

Why should I fear in times of calamity, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels, those who trust their wealth and boast about the abundance of their riches?

See also Je 9:23–24; Ho 12:8; Jas 4:13–16

Examples of those led astray by the love of money

Balaam:

Dt 23:4; 2 Pe 2:15

Jos 7:20–21 Achan; 2 Ki 5:19–27 Gehazi; Mt 19:22–23 the rich young ruler; Mt 26:14–15 Judas Iscariot

Gifts and qualities that are better than money

Redemption

Psalm 49:7–9 LEB

Surely a man cannot redeem a brother. He cannot give to God his ransom (since the redemption price for their life is costly and it always fails), so that he may stay alive forever and not see the pit.

See also Is 52:3; Mt 16:26; 1 Pe 1:18–19

Wisdom

Proverbs 4:7 LEB

The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all that is in your possession, gain insight.

See also Ps 49:20; Pr 3:13–16; Pr 8:10–11; Pr 16:16; Pr 17:16; Pr 20:15

A good reputation

Proverbs 22:1 LEB

A reputation is to be chosen rather than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.

A good wife

Proverbs 31:10 LEB

A woman of excellence, who will find? For her worth is far more than precious jewels.

Healing

Acts 3:6 LEB

But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I have, this I give to you—in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”

Spiritual power

Acts 8:19–20 LEB

saying, “Give to me also this power, so that whomever I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit!” But Peter said to him, “May your silver be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God by means of money!

Spiritual riches

Isaiah 55:1 LEB

“Ho! Everyone thirsty, come to the waters! And whoever has no money, come, buy and eat, and come, buy without money, wine and milk without price!

See also Re 3:18