Money
How much money do you have? What is your attitude toward money? Some people have more money than they will ever spend. Money is a necessity. When you go to buy groceries, you need money. If you purchase a car, you need to have money in which to do so. Money is a necessity in our lives. The more we have, the better we can live in this world.
Have you ever noticed that money is spoken of many times throughout the Scriptures? Note these words of Paul to the young evangelist Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:7-10, “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (NASB)
Paul informs Timothy that when we leave this world, we will be taking nothing with us. If we have food and covering, we shall be content. Then, he tells him about those who want to get rich. Those who fit this category will fall into temptations and harmful desires that will send them headlong into destruction.
When you are trying to amass a fortune, there may be the temptation to cheat on your taxes by not reporting all your wages or maybe by claiming deductions to which you are not entitled. There may be a temptation to overcharge for some things if you have a product to sell. There may even be the desire to have things that would lead you away from the Lord Jesus Christ.
But verse 10 tells us that the “love of money is a root of all evil…” He did not say money was bad. There are many great men in the Bible who were rich—Abraham, Job, Solomon to name a few. The Bible does not condemn a man for having wealth. But he said the “love” of money is “a” (not the) root of all evil.
When ones heart is set on attaining riches and forgetting the One who is the giver of these riches, that is wrong. We read about the rich young ruler who came to Jesus to learn what to do to have eternal life. (Mark 10) Jesus told him to keep the commandments. He had kept them. He was then told to go and sell all that he had and give to the poor. He went away sad because he had much riches. When we cheat and deceive to gain those riches, that is wrong. When we ignore our God who gives us wealth, that is wrong.
Do you have love for money? Is that love more than the love you have for the Lord? Which is more important? If you are obedient, the Lord will provide. Trust Him, not riches.