The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10); you cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). Believers are called to be content without covetousness (Hebrews 13:5), to honour the LORD with substance (Proverbs 3:9-10), and to lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).
The Bible talks about money often: warning against greed, teaching generosity, and framing wealth as stewardship under God. These twelve King James passages cover that money wisdom—practical and spiritual—without treating riches as either automatic blessing or automatic curse.
God or mammon
1. Matthew 6:24
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon.
2. 1 Timothy 6:10
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
The love of money—not money itself—is the root of all evil.
3. Hebrews 13:5
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Be content with such things as ye have. God has said, I will never leave thee.
4. Luke 12:15
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
Beware of covetousness: life does not consist in the abundance of things possessed.
Treasure and trust
5. Matthew 6:19-21
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Lay up treasures in heaven. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
6. Proverbs 3:9-10
"Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
Honour the LORD with thy substance and the firstfruits of increase.
7. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
Charge the rich not to trust uncertain riches but the living God, and to be rich in good works.
8. Deuteronomy 8:18
"But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."
Remember the LORD: it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.
Wise with wealth
9. Ecclesiastes 5:10
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver.
10. Proverbs 22:7
"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
The borrower is servant to the lender. Debt creates a power relationship.
11. Proverbs 13:11
"Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase."
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
12. 2 Corinthians 9:7
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
God loveth a cheerful giver—not grudgingly or of necessity.
A short prayer
Father, free me from the love of money and from serving mammon. Teach me contentment, cheerful generosity, and wisdom with what You entrust to me. Help me honour You with my substance and lay up treasure in heaven. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bible verse about money?
1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 6:24, Hebrews 13:5, and Matthew 6:19-21 are among the most cited.
Does the Bible say money is the root of all evil?
No. 1 Timothy 6:10 says the love of money is the root of all evil. Money itself is not condemned; greed is.
Where does Jesus say you cannot serve God and money?
Matthew 6:24 ("Ye cannot serve God and mammon").
What does the Bible say about giving?
2 Corinthians 9:7 calls for purposeful, cheerful giving. Proverbs 3:9-10 links honouring God with firstfruits of increase.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about gratitude · Bible verses about humility · Bible verses about trusting God · Bible verses about life · Bible verses about faith
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