How many times is money mentioned in the Bible? (What does the Bible say about money?)

During last Sunday’s Bible study service, I taught some members about money discipline, which can be sourced from many biblical teachings, like the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, or the widow who gave all she had. I linked the issue of money with spirituality for them, as money is mentioned many times in the Bible. During the question and answer session of the bible study, one of the members stood up and asked me: how many times is money mentioned in the Bible?

So, in this article, I invite you to join me as we delve into the topic of money, where we will look at what the Bible says about money and why the Bible mentions money, among other topics. Continue reading to learn the answers to such questions.

What does the Bible say about money?

The Bible says a lot of things regarding money. In some verses, it gives advice. In others, it encourages, while in others, it warns. For instance:

Warns of love of money

It warns about peoples’ love of money, which can lead to greed. Loving money too much can make one greedy for more and selfish, and they often neglect their spiritual values. 1 Timothy 6:10 warns that loving money can be a root cause of all kinds of evils. When you are eager for money, you move away from faith and God to seek what money offers.

Giving to those who lack

The Bible urges that those who have need give to those who lack. According to bible verses like Proverbs 19:17 or 2 Corinthians 9:7, God loves those who give to the poor, and they will be rewarded for their generosity.

Working to get money

The Bible urges people to be hardworking and responsible in their work as it is how they can provide for themselves and their families. According to Proverbs 14:23, you can profit if you are hardworking. However, you will only end up in poverty if you are lazy.

Proper management of finances

The Bible in Proverbs 22:7 encourages one to manage their finances well to avoid becoming too much of a borrower and falling into debt., Moreover, According to Luke 14:28, one needs to have a proper budget to manage their finances before spending.

Honesty in money issues

According to Proverbs 22:16, the teachings warn of being dishonest, oppressing, and exploiting others to enrich yourself. It urges one to promote equality and become honest with others regarding financial issues and business deals.

Temporary nature of wealth

1 Timothy 6:7 reminds and teaches people that wealth is temporary and that we should avoid focusing more on our material possessions and forget about our eternal life in heaven. The verse teaches men to be content with what they own so they do not become greedy and seek more. Moreover, it teaches that one should be satisfied with what they have because God will not leave anyone on their own, even when they are poor.

Why does the Bible mention money so often?

Money is mentioned often in the Bible due to the following reasons:

Its relation to life on earth

First, money is often mentioned in the Bible because it relates to our life on earth. Money is needed for food, clothes, and shelter to sustain ourselves. Hence you will find in bible verses like Proverbs 2:15, proverbs 22:7, Luke 14:28, and 1 Timothy 5: 8 that they guide you on how to manage your money, avoid falling into debt and earn yourself profit to sustain yourself and your family members.

A reminder that wealth is God-given

To remind us that the wealth we have is God-given. Therefore, money should be used wisely in a beneficial way and within God’s principles by sharing, giving, and helping, as emphasized in verses like Proverbs 3:9-10, Malachi 3: 10, and Deuteronomy 8:18.

Influence of Money on One’s spiritual life

Money can also influence one’s spiritual life negatively. It warns the greedy and materialistic people who love money that it can negatively impact their relationship with God and other men. Greed for money will also negatively influence their hearts and hamper their personal goals. Bible Verses like Mark 8:36, Hebrews 13:5, and 1 John 2:15-16 explain that such a vice can put them further away from God. It can hurt people around them, and they can lose themselves.

Division in class

The Bible recognizes a class division in the world, where some are rich and others poor. The Bible, therefore, advances social and economic equality, for instance, in how to treat the poor in society and the social responsibility of the wealthy to the poor as well as integrity and honesty in business as seen in verses like Proverbs 22:16, Luke 16:19-31 and Acts 2:44 -45.

God gifts differently

To show that God has not created or gifted everyone equally. Some people have more talent, intelligence, and skill. Others that should not prosper do prosper, and in other circumstances, people that are expected to prosper never do. In such scenarios, an earthly blessing should not be seen as a spiritual blessing. If this thinking is applied, it would be like affirming that God highly favors greedy, selfish, and corrupt people because they have wealth. However, in reality, like in Psalms 73, the success of the wicked is only temporary, as they will face an eternity in judgment, and those suffering would be assured of spending eternity with God.

Where does money first appear in the Bible?

The word money first appears in Genesis 17:12-13. The verse was where God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants through circumcision. In this context, money was used as a means of exchange to refer to the circumcision of either slaves or servants that Abraham or his descendants would purchase.

Bible Verses About Money

1. Proverbs 22:7 warns against being enslaved by debt if you constantly borrow.
2. Mathew 6:24 says you cannot serve God and money, so you must choose to prioritize God first over wealth.
3. Mathew 6: 19-21 encourages people to focus on gaining eternal treasures in heaven rather than gaining wealth on earth.
4. Luke 16:10 says that one needs to be honest when handling money.
5. 1 Timothy 6:10 warns against greed and loving wealth more as it will cost your being and faith in God.
6. 1 Timothy 6: 17-19 advises wealthy people that money is a fleeting thing, so they should use it to serve God.
7. Mathew 6: 33 reminds people to prioritize righteousness over worldly things and to trust in God to provide.
8. Proverbs 22:1 encourages people to have integrity and honesty when handling money or riches of any kind.
9. Proverbs 28:22 talks about the negative consequences of greed.
10. Proverbs 19:17 tells people to be generous and compassionate toward the poor and needy.

How many times did Jesus talk about money in the Bible?

Jesus is believed to have talked about money in 11 of the 40 parables he used when teaching. In the Bible, Jesus was known to preach about God and repentance through parables. It is, therefore, believed that he talked about money in 11 of those parables.

It is, however, important to note most of his parables had a deeper meaning. For instance, in the Parable of the lost coin, he talked about finding those who are lost spiritually by using the symbolism of a coin that many people could relate to.

What was money called in the Bible?

The Bible has referred to money in various ways depending on the era and context. Money in the Bible was called silver, shekel, chrema, kerma, didrachmon, gold, kensos, and silver, Talent, and Riches, among others. Gold and silver were more common means of exchange in the early era. Moreover, coined money came into being after the exodus, and later, gold and silver became coined.