Money Isn’t the Root of All Evil (The Love of It Is)
Why profit is a byproduct of purpose, not the enemy of it.
Today, we’re tackling a big one. It’s a phrase you’ve heard in movies, read in books, and probably heard whispered in hushed tones whenever a business gets “too big”: Money is the root of all evil.
I want to call this out as a myth.
We need to unpack this properly because how you view money dictates how you lead, how you grow, and ultimately, how much of an impact you can actually make in the world.
3-Minute Summary
- Money is an Indicator: In business, profit is a metric that shows you are managing costs and providing value. It’s a scoreboard, not a moral failing.
- The Scriptural Correction: The original quote is “The love of money is the root of all evil.” The problem isn’t the tool; it’s the obsession.
- Purpose Over Profit: Profit shouldn’t be the “Why.” It should be the natural outworking of a business that exists to serve people and solve problems.
The Hollywood Problem
Often, business is painted in a pretty dark light. If you watch a Hollywood movie, the “business guy” is usually a tough, transactional shark who doesn’t care about people or outcomes, only the bottom line.
But here’s the reality: Business doesn’t exist without human beings.
I see this every day in the small business space. These leaders aren’t sharks. On the whole, they want to do the right thing. They recognize that their team, their clients, and their community become like family to them. They want to matter. They want to have a purpose.
Money isn’t the thing that stops that from happening; it’s the thing that enables it.
Money as a Success Indicator
I talk about this a lot with my clients. Money is an indicator of success. It’s a sign that you’re doing the right things, tactically, it means your revenue is higher than your costs. But more broadly, it’s an indicator of how much your purpose is actually resonating in people’s lives.
“Money becomes an enabler. It’s a broader indicator of the things a company does and how it matters in people’s lives.”
Yes, there is evil tied up in money. We see greed in wars, in shareholder-only obsession, and in dark industries like trafficking. But it’s not the currency itself serving that evil, it’s the heart behind it.
The Biblical Nuance
What I’d like to pose is that the love of money is the root of evil. This is actually a quote from the Bible that often gets shortened and misquoted.
If you obsess over money, if you love making it more than you love the people you serve, you’re going to end up being greedy. You’re going to say and do things that compromise your integrity.
But you still have to make money.
You have to build something profitable. You have to build something that matters. When you do that, making money becomes a natural outworking of your mission. That money then gets used for three vital things:
- Reinvestment: Making the business better.
- Prosperity: Helping your teams grow personally and professionally.
- Generosity: Giving your clients the best solution, not just the “next” thing.
Prosperity vs. Poverty Mindsets
Your view on money projects your entire business strategy. If you have a poverty mindset, you’ll lead from a place of fear and lack. If you have a mindset of prosperity, you’ll lead from a place of growth and reinvestment.
Money is not the root of evil. The love of money is what causes us to lose our way.
Build something that matters. Let the profit be the proof.
Enjoy the journey.
Thanks for reading The Forged Leader!
This article was unpacked further in a recent Monday Myth Check.
Watch the full conversation below: