What Is Mammon in the Bible? What Can it Teach Us about Money and Our Hearts?
It’s not a word that you hear every day, or one that is readily found in the Bible. But "mammon" and what we can learn from it is crucial in understanding how God wants us to live. While by definition, "mammon" means "money," it doesn’t only refer to currency. The connotation of "mammon" is the misuse of money, often prioritizing it over God and His provision.
Although we don’t find the word ‘mammon’ in the Old Testament,, the tendency to value material possessions over God’s word is evident in several key OT stories. For example, after granting the Israelites victory in battle, God often instructed them not to take the spoils of war. When they disobeyed, His favor was withdrawn—as seen in the accounts of the Battle of Jericho and King Saul’s conquest of the Amalekites. Another powerful example is the golden calf incident, where, despite having just received God’s law through Moses, the Israelites chose to worship a man-made idol, replacing God with a god of material wealth.
In the New Testament, Jesus often speaks about money and introduces the term "mammon" to teach us how to avoid being enslaved by it.
What Does "Mammon" Mean in the Bible?
According to MerriamWebster.com "mammon" (from the Aramaic "mamona") means “material wealth or possessions, especially as having a debasing influence.” How could money have such a negative influence? Isn’t it good to have money? Usually, yes, but what happens if our emotions, attitudes, and actions aren’t spiritually healthy when it comes to money, and we become overly concerned about amassing wealth? An unhealthy focus on money can take our attention away from what God has for us–contentment in God’s provision.
Where Is Mammon Mentioned in Scripture?
Although many modern Bible translations render the word "mammon" as "money," the Revised Standard Version (RSV) maintains the original term, allowing us to find where it appears in the New Testament. In both Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:10–13, Jesus uses “mammon” in the context of warning against the improper worship of wealth.
"He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:10-13 RSV).
And while not using the word "mammon," the following verse is one that speaks about money in the same context: “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). Note that it does not say that money is evil; it is the love of money that is the foundation for all kinds of wrong attitudes and behaviors.
Therefore, what did Jesus mean when He spoke against “serving” mammon? How do we serve money instead of it serving us?
Why Did Jesus Warn Against Serving Mammon?
While it may seem obvious to say that we should worship God over money, Jesus was teaching how our hearts and minds might betray us when it comes to how we handle money, making it into "mammon" (an idol).
In Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, Henry writes very strongly about what Jesus meant: “We have no other way to prove ourselves the servants of God than by giving up ourselves so entirely to his service as to make mammon, that is, all our worldly gain, serviceable to us in his service. No servant can serve two masters, whose commands are so inconsistent as those of God and mammon are. If a man will love the world, and hold to that, it cannot be but he will hate God and despise him.”
Jesus knew how easy it is to be controlled by money. For instance, He told a rich young ruler that if he wanted to inherit the kingdom of God he should sell all of his possessions and give them to the poor. The man went away sad because he couldn’t part from his money (Matthew 19:16-22). He was an obvious example of someone who idolized money–he couldn’t imagine being parted from it. Jesus also told his followers not to store up for themselves treasures on earth, but to concentrate on building “treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is that’s where your heart is also” (Matthew 6:19-21). And He told listeners that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23-23).
Jesus talked about it being more blessed to give than to receive, and recounted the story of a widow who gave two coins (all she had) to the temple treasury (Mark 12:41-44). He spoke on more than one occasion about giving to the poor without seeking glory in your giving, and that doing things for the poor is the same as doing them for Jesus. He also emphasized that God the Father is our Provider, knowing what we need just like He knows what the birds of the air and the lilies of the field need.
Based on these passages, we can see what Jesus was getting at when He said you can’t serve God and mammon. It means that if we idolize money we place it on the throne in place of God. That breaks God’s number one commandment to have no other gods beside Him.
How Does Mammon Influence Modern Christian Living?
One of the greatest ways that "mammon" can influence Christians today is if we believe that happiness and security are found in having “enough” money. We may know that God is our Provider, but we still don’t know, or purposely don’t do, what God wants us to do with it.
We can ask ourselves several questions to see if our minds and hearts are in the right place:
- Even though we have enough to pay the bills, are we constantly anxious about something happening to cause us to lose money?
- Do we not tithe or donate to others because we are concerned there won’t be enough for us?
- Do we feel that we’ve earned our finances and it’s ours to do with what we will?
- Can we be content with less–money, things, vacations, etc.?
- Do we pride ourselves in how much we have and what will await us when we retire?
- Do we think we don’t need to budget because we can afford whatever we want?
OR - Do we concern ourselves with doing things that store up treasures in heaven? (Loving and obeying God, worshiping, helping/serving others, etc.)
- Do we realize that spending money doesn’t bring fulfillment and happiness?
- Do we pray and ask God how we should spend our money?
- Do we trust God to be our Provider?
While God doesn’t call us to forfeit joy or an abundant life, He wants us to know that it can never be found in possessions. That’s why the rich young ruler walked away sad, believing that the kingdom of heaven was inaccessible because he wouldn’t lay down his desires and trust in Jesus.
Instead, God calls us to steward what He gives us. Stewardship calls us to maintain and use money wisely based on biblical principles of sovereignty, generosity, serving others, and caring for those in our own household.
What Does the Bible Teach about Stewardship and Money?
Again, it’s not about having money; it’s about how we steward (manage) that money. The Bible offers us principles of stewardship that can help us reconsider how to eliminate "mammon" from our lives.
- Everything belongs to God (Psalm 24:1)
- We are called to prayerfully manage what He gives us (1 Corinthians 4:2 and Proverbs 3:9)
- God will assess how we did with what He provided (Luke 16:1-13)
- We are to be concerned with giving (Acts 20:35)
- Stewardship can be a form of worship and ministry (Colossians 3:17,1 Peter 4:10)
Stewardship of God’s gifts can also relate to how you use your time and talents, not just what you do with your money. Considering that the first humans were called to steward the earth, we need to be mindful of that as well, as an act of obedience and worship. We don't give back to God out of what He has given us so that we will prosper more. That type of “prosperity gospel” living is found nowhere in the Bible.
Practices and Prayer for Financial Faithfulness
Here are some practical things you can do to put what you now know about money and stewardship into action.
- Pray about how God wants you to use your money. There are so many opportunities from tithing to your church, to donating to a ministry, to helping a neighbor, to saving practically for your family (doing so without fear or greed).
- Give as a sacrifice. Perhaps you can put off buying something that is a convenience or luxury (or even a necessity) and give to someone who is in much greater need. We must remember to do so with a charitable spirit, because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- Tithe to your church. If you don’t know what the Bible says about tithing, there are many verses in the Bible and Christian resources that can guide you.
- Try to live more simply and be content with what you have (Philippians 4:11-13). One way to realize that everything is from God is to not waste what He gives. Are there ways to reuse items or gift them to someone else?
- If you are prosperous, remain humble. Jesus called us to serve others, regardless of income bracket.
- Make sure you are spending time in Bible study, prayer, and in church with fellow believers to learn more about the One True God who loves you and has promised to provide for you.
To jump-start your thoughts about how to use your money for God’s glory and avoid idol worship around finances, here is a prayer that you can offer up to the Lord:
Heavenly Father,
You made me to worship You and You alone. It’s sometimes hard to know what to do with the gifts that You’ve given us, but I first want to declare that I know “every good and perfect gift comes from above” (James 1:17) I want to be respectful of that truth and steward the money I have to glorify You. Lord, whether I have much or have little, I lay it all at Your feet and ask the Holy Spirit to show me what to do. Thank You that Your word says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11). Please help me remember that You’ve also said that You will provide for all of my needs according to Your riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). I love You, I trust You, and thank You for all of the many blessings that I see in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Conclusion
As we've seen, the Bible often uses "mammon" as a symbol of wealth and materialism that can become an idol, stealing hearts away from wholehearted worship of God. Jesus addressed this directly in the Gospels, warning that we cannot serve both God and mammon. His teaching urges us to examine our relationship with money—are we viewing it as a necessary provision, or as a source of security that tempts us to believe we, not God, provide that security?
Jesus’ message is clear: nothing—whether people, possessions, or personal plans—should come before sincere, Bible-based worship of God. If we find ourselves prioritizing these things without sensing the conviction of the Holy Spirit, it's time to honestly examine our hearts and consider whether we have fully surrendered our lives to God.
After all, God's love for us is so great that He sent His own Son to die for our sins. When we truly love Him in return, that love will shape how we use the blessings He gives—using them not to exalt ourselves, but to glorify Him.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/vasabii
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).
Originally published June 08, 2025.
