Does Money Make Us More Selfish?
The Hidden Link Between Wealth & Generosity"
Have you ever noticed that the more we have, the harder it is to let go?
Money promises freedom, security, and opportunity. But according to research from Kathleen Vohs, simply thinking about money can make us less generous, less helpful, and more self-focused.
This idea hit me pretty hard when I read The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. It wasn’t just another lesson on saving or investing—it was about how money shapes our hearts. And surprisingly, Jesus warned us about the same thing thousands of years ago..
Let’s dive into this groundbreaking study and what it means for our faith, finances, and daily lives.
🔬 The Science: How Money Can Make Us Selfish
Kathleen Vohs and her team at the University of Minnesota ran a series of experiments to see how money affects human behavior.
In one test, people were exposed to subtle money-related cues (like seeing images of cash or reading money-related words).
Those participants then faced situations where they could help someone—like picking up spilled items or assisting a struggling stranger.
The result? People who were primed to think about money were far less likely to help.
The study suggested that even thinking about money can trigger self-sufficiency and reduce generosity.
But here’s the really interesting part: According to Morgan Housel Vohs struggled to secure funding to explore this further. The idea that money might make people more selfish wasn’t something business or economic institutions wanted to back.
She has later made it very clear that there are other positive traits that come from money as well (like motivation) and that the positives have often been overlooked by the media. It seems like it was more interesting to talk about the dangers of money than the negatives.
💡 Why does this happen?
Money gives us a sense of control, making us less dependent on others.
It triggers individualism—the belief that we need to look out for ourselves first.
It subtly shifts our focus from community and giving to status and accumulation.
📖 What Jesus Said About Money & Selfishness
This study aligns exactly with what Jesus taught:
1. Money can harden our hearts
Jesus repeatedly warned about how money can influence the soul:
“You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24
Not because money is evil—but because it has the power to shape what we trust in. The more we rely on wealth, the harder it is to trust in God.
2. True wealth is found in generosity
Jesus flipped the world’s idea of success:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35
What if the real test of wealth isn’t how much we keep, but how much we share?
3. The antidote to selfishness is radical generosity
If money naturally pulls us toward selfishness, then the only way to fight it is to actively practice giving.
"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail." – Luke 12:33
Generosity is more than an act—it’s a discipline that keeps money from controlling us.
💡 Practical Takeaways: How to Keep Money From Owning You
1️⃣ Give first, spend later. Make generosity a priority, not an afterthought.
2️⃣ Practice gratitude. Remind yourself that everything you have is a blessing, not just an achievement.
3️⃣ Detach from status. The less we tie our identity to money, the freer we are to use it wisely.
But I guess the real question is: How is money shaping me (or you), and am I able to take control of this in order to actively shape my relationship with money?
