Is money "the root of all evil"?

“Money is the root of all evil.” I’ve heard this phrase many times in my life and I’ve said it many times believing it to be a Biblical quote. Many folks use this quote as a condemnation of the wealthy. The real quote uses slightly different wording, which changes the meaning. This is my topic today, the Biblical view of money.

The actual quote is found in 1 Timothy, “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.” (1 Timothy 6:10) The verse is speaking directly about the love of money as opposed to money itself. This love of money “is a root of all kinds of evil”, not the root of all evil. This may seem to be a petty argument over semantics, but there really is more to it than that.

Let's start with money versus the love of money. Money is needed to buy food, clothing, housing, water, healthcare, and many other necessities. Money can also be used for charitable endeavors such as, feeding the hungry or buying winter coats for the homeless. All of these good things are accomplished with money. Now, the love of money is dangerous. The love of money leads to things like extortion, Ponzi schemes, theft, corruption, and excessive spending. The money doesn’t cause these actions, a heart poisoned by the love of money causes these actions.

The context of 1 Timothy 6:10 also clarifies this point; this section, made up of verses 3-10, is talking about false teachers and the love of money. Verses 3-10 read,

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 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. 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. 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.”(emphasis added)

To put that another way, those “who think that godliness is a means to financial gain” do not agree with the teaching of Christ and “godly teaching” and are conceited. Apparently at this time there false teachers that taught that godliness brings financial gain and people were believing it. This passage also clarifies that the love of money is the actual problem. The Bible doesn’t take the easy route and blame an inanimate object, rather, it goes straight to the condition of the heart.

Next, let’s talk about “the root of all evil” versus “a root of all kinds of evil.” The misquote (“Money is the root of all evil”) implies that having money (or material possessions) leads to evil, because money is the root of all evil. Whereas “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” means that money can lead to evil, if  it’s allowed to. As stated earlier, money can be good or evil depending on how it’s used.

A situation that folks typically include with the misquote (“Money is the root of all evil”) is Jesus and the rich young man, or ruler depending on the translation, found in Mark 10:17-27. In the respect of time, I’ll summarize this account for you:

A rich young man stops Jesus one day and asks him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 17) Jesus explains that none are good except God and he says, “You know the commandments.” (v. 18-19) The young man arrogantly declares, “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus lovingly tells the young man, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (v. 20-21) The young man went away sad because he couldn’t bring himself to do it. (v. 22)

Jesus then tells his disciples, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (v. 23-25) In light of this teaching, the disciples ask Jesus who can be saved and he replies, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (v. 26-27)

This account is commonly mistaken as a condemnation of being wealthy, but this is a condemnation of idolatry. The idol being money in this case. The rich young man put his money before God and, therefore, couldn’t be saved. “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24) Money had become his master. Jesus told his disciples that it is difficult for a rich person to be saved, not impossible. He said it is impossible for man alone, however, all things are possible with God.

Here is the good news folks: if a person has devoted their life to money, then they can still be saved, as long as they give their life over to Christ. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible with  God. This is the Gospel of Jesus in a nutshell. No matter the sin, aside from continued unbelief, a person can be saved by the grace of Jesus Christ.

So, the love of money is the sin, not having money. We shouldn’t condemn someone for something that isn’t a sin. And idolatry isn’t specific to one group of people, anything can be used as an idol. As with many things, it’s about the condition of the heart and not an object.