Author Jonathan Swift once said, “A wise man should have money in his head but not in his heart.” No matter your vision or dream, money will likely be a factor. Whether it’s the family budget, tithing, saving for a big purchase, or raising capital for a business, I’d be willing to bet that you deal with money often. Therefore, it’s essential to put the concept of money in its place.

Whether you love or hate money, either extreme gives it too much credit and influence on your life. When seen clearly, money is neither as beautiful nor horrible as we make it out to be. Money is potential energy, opportunity, and resource. It’s never something that can bring satisfaction in and of itself.

So, this blog provides three tips for how to end your love-hate relationship with money. When you get free from the emotional hold of money, you are free to serve God’s purposes for your life and resources. But first, what exactly is the love of money?

What is the Love of Money?

The love of money happens when someone puts money on a pedestal above more important things like God or their family. 1 Timothy 6:10, NKJV says:

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Related: 10 Bible Verses About The Love of Money

You may be veering into the love of money if:

• You let a paycheck direct your decisions rather than God
• Money makes you anxious and fearful
• You’ve become obsessive about building wealth
• You’ve cheated, lied, or stolen to acquire wealth 
• You feel stingy 
• You don’t pay your tithes or offerings
• You pursue security and comfort over God’s plans and purposes for your life

The love of money is closely related to the spirit of mammon, which Jesus rebuked in Matthew 6:24:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 

The biblical meaning of mammon (mamōnas) is treasure or riches that are opposed to God. Strong’s Concordance defines mammon as “what is trusted in.”

If you trust in wealth and let money dictate your decisions, there might be a spirit of mammon in your life. Anyone can have a spirit of mammon, from billionaires to the poorest of the poor. It’s all about your heart posture and what you worship.

With that, let’s touch on the hate of money.

What is the Hate of Money?

The hate of money happens whenever someone turns money into a villain. They avoid making financial plans or trying to build wealth because they believe it is morally wrong. Often, this comes from a misunderstanding of verses like 1 Timothy 6:10– instead of “the love of money is the root of all evil,” they read it as “money is the root of all evil.”

The hate of money is closely related to a poverty mindset, and it can be extremely limiting. For example, if you don’t believe that God wants you to prosper, you’ll never have faith in some of the bigger things He wants to give you. This abundance isn’t for your gain; rather, it’s to expand His Kingdom on the earth.

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How to End Your Love-Hate Relationship With Money: 3 Tips

1. Never Disconnect Your Dollar From What You Want to Do With It

Money is simply a tool you can use to do things. One of the best ways to keep money from taking control of your life is to give it a job. Money that sits around purposelessly is wasted potential. Now, I’m not saying that you should spend every dollar that comes your way. Saving money is wise, as is building a safety net of funds. But every dollar we set aside should have a purpose. If we’re building a stockpile out of fear or habit, then our money is mastering us–not the other way around. 

2. Make Sure Your Budget Aligns With Your Value System

Another tip for how to end your love-hate relationship with money is to make your money reflect your priorities. Look at what you spend, personally and in your business or vision. Does your spending reflect your values and goals, or does it tell a different story? You can give plenty of justifications for your decisions, but the numbers won’t lie to you. Going forward, make your bank statement reflect your heart, not just your circumstances and fears.

3. Pass It On

Giving is one of the quickest ways to end your love-hate relationship with money. Here’s the thing– your money was never yours to begin with. You are a steward, not an owner. Generosity grounds us in this reality and releases any hold that money has on us. It certainly frees you from the love of money, and a true revelation of biblical generosity will also break a poverty spirit. For example, you won’t be afraid of building wealth when you see how much good your dollars can do– you’ll run toward the opportunity.

Money does not determine who you are, nor does it have any bearing on your identity. Why should having more or having less make you act like a different person? Live your life sincerely, and learn to use money to sustain the lifestyle you need to live to be true to yourself.

No matter which end of the pendulum you fall on, we hope that this blog gave you the tools you need to end your love hate relationship with money. If you want to learn more about God’s plan for your finances, we created a Kingdom WealthBuilders Devotional just for you. This free resource is your guide to becoming a good steward and inviting God into your wealth building journey. Fill out the form below to download.