By Mark Andrew Beach

What do the scriptures really teach us about money? While space doesn't allow for an exhaustive study of everything the Bible says about wealth, I want to briefly touch on a few key passages.

First, let's look at the familiar phrase, "...money is the root of all evil." This comes from 1 Timothy 6:10, which actually says: "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 key words here are "love" and "coveted." In other words, Paul is warning against coveting money — not money itself. That starts to put things into perspective, but let's go a little further. We've all been taught not to covet. Where does that come from? Ah yes, one of the Ten Commandments. "Thou shalt not covet." What are we told not to covet? "...thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's."

In other words, coveting is desiring what is not rightfully ours — what belongs to someone else.

Now, if you think about it, coveting actually underpins many of the other commandments: lying, stealing, adultery, even murder. Breaking any of these usually starts with coveting. That’s why coveting is truly the root of all evil. So, when scripture warns against the love of money, it's not condemning money itself, but the covetous desire for it. Sadly, this has been misinterpreted — and misunderstood — by many Bible scholars.

Let's take it one step further: money that is honestly earned and righteously obtained can actually be the root of great good. I’ll come back to that idea in a moment.

Here’s another passage often brought up: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matthew 9:24). There’s a lot more we could unpack here, but for now, let’s focus on this: the "needle" wasn’t a sewing needle. It was a narrow gate into ancient cities. In order to pass through, a camel had to be unloaded of all its cargo and kneel down to get through.

That mental image helps us better understand Jesus’ message. It wasn’t impossible for the camel to get through — but it did require humility and shedding material burdens. That’s a picture I can hold onto as I seek to enter the kingdom of God: humility first. And once inside the "city," the camel — or the rich man — could be reloaded and continue on their journey.

The last verse I want to highlight is often interpreted as saying we should never seek riches: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God..." But Matthew 6:33 actually says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

What "things" is Jesus talking about? Riches. What this verse really teaches is, "Don’t seek riches until you have first sought the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

In other words: seek a hope in Christ first. When that hope is secure, then, and only then, can we seek — and be entrusted with — riches.

But why would we seek riches if we already have hope in Christ? Here's where the idea of money as a force for good comes in. Money, when honestly earned and wisely used, can help build God's kingdom here on earth.

After all, God could easily wipe out hunger, sickness, and suffering with a wave of His hand. But isn’t it also true that one of His laws is that He won’t do for us what we can and should do for ourselves? Haven’t we been commanded to love our neighbor? Think of the Good Samaritan: would he have been able to care for the injured man if he had been broke?

We all know there are natural laws that govern our lives — whether we believe in them or not. Gravity doesn’t cease to exist just because someone denies it. In the same way, God’s commandments — His spiritual laws — are immutable. We can't break them; we can only break ourselves against them.

And here's the bridge: the God of Nature is the same God who set these natural laws in place. As our Creator, He gave us principles of success and prosperity for a reason.

So why would God want us to be rich?

Simple: to build His kingdom on earth. When we have a hope in Christ, and when we live by the principles of prosperity in connection with all His commandments, the pursuit of wealth is no longer selfish — it becomes sacred. It becomes a way to help others, to lift the weary, to build up His kingdom. Wealth, properly obtained and properly used, not only strengthens our hope in Christ — it gives us the means to answer His call to love and serve.