Thank you for the question on the root of all evil, “Does the Bible say money is the root of all evil?”
No, the Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil. The Biblical text says that love of money is a root of all evil. The issue is not money, but the person’s heart or attitude toward property, possession and even one’s profession.
Jesus said this to his disciples in Matthew 15, “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them” (NIV).
Jesus also said this in Matthew 6, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (NIV).
The greed for money is only a symptom of one’s heart. It is coveting and wanting more rather than being content with what one has each day. This does mean that one doesn’t work hard to provide for one’s family or to give to others. If the purpose of one’s life is property, possessions, or even profession, then that person has made that “thing” his/her god. It is placing that thing before God himself. That becomes idolatry.
King David had great wealth, but he used it to prepare the building of the Temple. He didn’t accumulate wealth for himself. I Chronicle 29 says this, “Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the Lord God. 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[a] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. 3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: 4 three thousand talents[b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents[c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?” (NIV).
SUMMARY: Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money is a root of all evil. The affections of one’s heart will be reflected in one’s attitude and actions.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/Does-the-Bible-say-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil