One Bible verse that is shared so much that many people forget it’s a Bible verse is “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”, found in 1 Timothy 6:10. One might wonder, “Why shouldn’t I love something that can help produce so much good in the world?” And how could it possibly be the root of, or the source from which, all kinds of evil flow?
The rest of the verse reads: “And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
Money and having access to it can be a blessing. Obviously, it takes money to care for your family, run businesses, support ministries and community organizations that help others, etc. But once we start to ‘crave’ money in our hearts, it becomes a problem. Because what we cherish in our hearts is reflected in our decision making and day-to-day behavior. In order to have a healthy view of money that produces godly and lasting blessings, it’s helpful to remember:
- God is our one and only true Source. Our desire should be for Him as we acknowledge the only way our needs can be met are through His loving hand.
- Desperately seeking money is an endless, empty pursuit. Ecclesiastes 5:10 reads, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”
- The love of money is a form of idolatry, which God despises. Matthew 6:24 reads, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Scripture also tells us when God brings wealth, He adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). It sounds like loving and prioritizing God is the best financial decision you can make.
nuggets from naq 