For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10
“Money can entice one to all kinds of sin; in fact, there is almost no sin imaginable to which it does not entice. However, this is merely the consequence of the core corruption money brings as soon as it becomes for someone what his God alone can and may be for him. That struggle also goes on for a long time in the heart.
Our human heart needs a point of support on which to depend, rest, lean, and rely and from which it derives the peace, rest, and calm of life. At first, things fluctuate. At one time the heart finds this support in God, at another time in money or capital. Then follows a period of constant swinging back and forth, depending on the afflictions and dangers threatening us.
As long as these threats can be countered with money, God takes second place. But if the threatening affliction or danger takes on a character against which gold can no longer fight, then in most people our God’s name once again rises to the surface as the heart again seeks comfort in the God it had forgotten.
For many, their adherence to money gradually becomes so dominant that it begins to rule their entire soul and all their senses. The more money people have at their disposal, the more assured and certain they feel in their capacity for managing such a monetary treasure.”
Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), Theologian and Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905, in “The Power of Money” Acton blogpost on 5 October 2016.
From my study of Greek term, philarguria, “the love of money” in antiquity, it is a root of all kinds of evil. It temps people to think they need it to live. Once people think they need it, they will do anything to get it. For example, why would the religious leaders allow moneychangers and merchants in the temple courts (cf. Matthew 21:12-13)? It brought in lots of money. They tried to serve both: God and money. Listen to what Jesus said about them:
“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.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” Luke 16:12-14
God knows our hearts. What does He see in yours? Has he taken second place to money? When He told the rich man to let go of money in Mark 10:17-31 it was not because He was trying to rob him. Jesus was trying to help Him. Obedience would not leave him destitute. He would learn to serve as a distributor. God had one hundredfold blessings ready for Him to enjoy and share. Friends, please don’t adhere to money and forget God!