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
“Statements of this nature occur everywhere in heathen writers; and, therefore, it is improper that those persons who would applaud Horace or Ovid, when speaking in that manner, should complain of Paul as having used extravagant language. I wish it were not proved by daily experience, that this is a plain description of facts as they really are. But let us remember that the same crimes which spring from avarice, may also arise, as they undoubtedly do arise, either from ambition, or from envy, or from other sinful dispositions…The most aggravated of all evils springs from avarice — revolting from the faith; for they who are diseased with this disease are found to degenerate gradually, till they entirely renounce the faith. Hence those sorrows, which he mentions; by which term I understand frightful torments of conscience, which are wont to befall men past all hope; though God has other methods of trying covetous men, by making them their own tormentors.”
John Calvin in Commentary on Timothy, Titus, Philemon (CCEL) 128.
Yesterday I conveyed the passion of this biblical passage and asked: Are you insane? Today perhaps the question would shift to this one: Are you killing yourself?
If someone drank too much alcohol or took drugs, we might ask them: Are you killing yourself?
That question carries the weight of this text. To pierce yourself with many griefs implies dying a self-inflicted death of a thousand cuts. You are sick or diseased and your malady is leading to your own destruction..
Like Paul, Horace, or Ovid, I am employing extravagant language to get your attention.
In my conversations with thoughtful biblical scholars this week, it seems that a cultural mindset (which is eager for money) rather than a Christian one prevails in the thinking and living of most Christians related to money.
Consider all the kinds of evil that spreads from that.
A lack of generosity would represent but one negative outcome. Slavery to debt might be another. Or call it a misplaced trust in that which sustains life. It is certainly not a stockpile of money. The list goes on.
No wonder the church, at least in America, seems to be shrinking and losing its saltiness.
We cannot blame the parishioners. We must ask pastors to model obedience. We cannot fault ministry workers. We must charge their managers to live different from the word.
Avarice swaps our security for insecurity and our peace with perpetually feeling we never have enough.