📖 Biblical Definition
Money is the medium of exchange — morally neutral as a tool, but deeply tested in the heart’s love, use, and worship of it. "The love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10); not money itself, but love of it. Christ commands wise stewardship (Luke 16:9-13) and warns of rivalry: "Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). Scripture upholds honest gain, hard work, prudent saving, generous giving, tithing, providing for one’s house (1 Timothy 5:8), and the right of property. It condemns covetousness, usury against brothers in need, and the prosperity gospel that makes money proof of God’s favor. A Christian man earns much, saves wisely, gives generously, and never bows.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Medium of exchange; morally neutral; deeply tested in heart.
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The medium of exchange — coin or currency — morally neutral as instrument but a perpetual heart-test in Scripture: love of it pierces souls (1 Tim 6:10); use of it must be 'unto the Lord' (Luke 16:9-13); worship of it (Mammon) cannot coexist with worship of God (Matt 6:24).
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 6:24 — "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
1 Timothy 6:17-19 — "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God."
Luke 16:9 — "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Either demonized (as if money itself were evil) or sacralized (prosperity gospel); Scripture's careful balance is steward, not slave.
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Both prosperity gospel and certain ascetic strains corrupt money — the first sacralizing it as proof of God's favor, the second demonizing it as inherently evil. Scripture's actual teaching is that money is steward-test, not enemy: morally neutral as instrument, deeply tested in heart. The corruption swings between the two extremes.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek argyrion — silver, money.
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['Greek', 'G694', 'argyrion', 'silver, money']
['Hebrew', 'H3701', 'kesef', 'silver, money']
Usage
"Be steward, not slave."
"Use it for kingdom; do not let it use you."