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
“Now tell me why is wealth an object of ambition? For it is necessary to start from this point, because to the majority of those who are afflicted with this grievous malady it seems to be more precious than health and life, and public reputation, and good opinion, and country, and household, and friends, and kindred and everything else…
And how might we cure those who are thus disposed? It would be possible if they would open their ears to us, and unfold their heart, and receive our words. For it is impossible to turn and divert the irrational animals from their unclean habit; for they are destitute of reason: but this the gentlest of all tribes, honoured by reason and speech, I mean human nature, might, if it chose, readily and easily be released from the mire and the stench, and the dung hill and its abomination.
For wherefore, O man, do riches seem to thee worthy such diligent pursuit? Is it on account of the pleasure which no doubt is derived from the table? or on account of the honour and the escort of those who pay court to thee, because of thy wealth? is it because thou art able to defend thyself against those who annoy thee, and to be an object of fear to all?
For you cannot name any other reasons, save pleasure and flattery, and fear, and the power of taking revenge; for wealth is not generally wont to make any one wiser, or more self-controlled, or more gentle, or more intelligent, or kind, or benevolent, or superior to anger, or gluttony or pleasure: it does not train any one to be moderate, or teach him how to be humble, nor introduce and implant any other piece of virtue in the soul.”
John Chrysostom (347-407) Archbishop of Constantinople and one of the Four Doctors of the Eastern Church in the treatise “To Prove That No One Can Harm The Man Who Does Not Injure Himself” 6-7, translated by W. R. W. Stephens. To read it, click and scroll to page 290-309.
This is a powerful 20-page treatise by the golden-mouthed archbishop (that’s the meaning of the label, “Chrysostomos,” anglicized as “Chrysostom”). He follows the pattern of the early church when he refers to “the love of money” as a “grievous malady” and explains why his hearers must avoid it: no one can harm this person that does not injure himself.
Think about that expression for a minute. To state it another way, if you can remain free from the love of money, you will remain unharmed and cared for by God. Chasing after money only hurts the people who chase it. It takes them down a dead-end street. Those who turn to money for what it allegedly offers do not gain, but rather, lose. It offers empty promises.
This question really stuck with me: And how might we cure those who are thus disposed? As Patrick Johnson and I teach today at the NABLA event where we are serving with Adel Azmy and Ereny Monir, our goal is to help people avoid harming themselves or piercing “themselves with many griefs” as the Apostle Paul proclaimed. But how do we do this?
Chrysostom took the approach of speaking truth with love. He talked about money unashamedly, because he did not want people hurting themselves. That’s Patrick’s job and mine today. But isn’t it everyone’s role, every day? We must talk about money with the right perspective, that is, with a biblical view, so people don’t wrongly chase after it.
Speaking of chasing, today is my birthday. I’m 52, and there’s only one prize I’m chasing. Like Eric Liddell I feel God’s pleasure when I run fast. And like George Müller I want to awaken the world to realize that we serve a living God and that he hears the prayers of those who put their trust in Him. I think I am somewhat of a cross between the two.
I run fast in my GTP work because I am trying to disciple a global network to show a watching world that abundant life is only found in Jesus Christ. He’s the only cure for the grievous global malady. When our individual stewardship and institutional standards follow His generous, everything else falls into place in life and ministry and God gets all the glory.