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The Love Of Money

by Dan Richardson

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” I Timothy 6:10

There is perhaps nothing that will be more influential in leading souls to hell than the love of money. Such has become so incorporated into the lives of modern man that it is assumed to be part of normal living with many. However, God’s word gives express warning regarding our perspective of money and what it buys.

In the context of I Timothy 6:3-10, we can understand the will of God concerning these things. Please consider from this scripture what is taught about the love of money.

A Mind-Set

The fact that the apostle speaks of the “love” of money suggests a problem that is not merely on the surface. It describes a fixed attitude – a mindset that directs one’s life. Whether or not one actually comes to possess great riches isn’t the point. It is the fact that they are “minded to be rich” (verse 9) that identifies the problem, and even the poorest man can be guilty of this. We are not to conclude that being rich is sinful, for Paul later addresses the rich, giving instruction how they can faithfully serve and glorify God with their wealth (verses 17-19).

What people “mind” differentiates them from being of God or of Satan (Matthew 16:21-23). Those who are described as carnal are distinguished from those of the Spirit because they “mind the things of the flesh” (Romans 8:5-6). We are responsible for setting our mind on the right thing: “Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth” (Colossians 3:2). A “mind-set” is simply another way of describing where one’s “heart” is. Jesus warned against laying up treasures on earth, making this revealing statement, “for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). People so consumed with riches have a distorted perspective of life. Jesus warns, “Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

A Root

Paul says the love of money is “a root of all kinds of evil.” Such a disposition serves as a catalyst from which other evils spring forth. Within the context of I Timothy 6:3-10, several evils are suggested.

First, we observe the love of money will destroy the happiness and contentment that God purposes for man’s life: “But godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out, but having food and covering we shall be therewith content” (verses 6-8). Those who think silver and gold will satisfy in this life are sadly mistaken (Ecclesiastes 5:10ff.).

Second, the love of money is a foundation upon which false religions are established. Paul describes those who would teach “…a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” (verse 3), then describing the unfortunate fruits that such causes (i.e., envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, and wranglings of men, verses 4-5a). But he concludes by telling us the motive behind such disregard for God’s ways: “supposing that godliness is a way of gain” (verse 5b). In like manner, the apostle Peter speaks of “false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them…” (II Peter 2:1). And again, the reason for such is disclosed, “…in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (verse 3a). Many today have met with disgust the continual begging for money which has become an integral part of false religious organizations. We only deceive ourselves if we believe there are no “preachers” today motivated by dollar signs.

Third, the love of money disrupts family life. Recalling the story of Lot (Genesis 13:10-13), we are reminded how his decision to live in the fertile plains (a decision based on considerations of wealth), placed his family in a wicked, immoral environment. How many today choose to jeopardize their family’s spiritual well-being because monetary concerns are a first priority? Little or no time is made to incorporate Bible study and prayer into the family circle. The excuse? They are too busy - not because they have less time than everybody else, but because they’ve made the deliberate choice to love money, and all that it will buy, instead of love God. May we be warned.

Fourth, Jesus teaches in His parable of the sower (Luke 8:9-15), that the love of money will choke out and kill spiritual growth. In describing the ground with thorns (verse 14), Jesus said this represents those who have received God’s word, but the “cares and riches and pleasures of this world” overcome and choke the spirituality out of their hearts. Instead of bearing fruit to the glory of God (its desired purpose), it is killed by a love for this world. The reality is, much of man’s inhumanity toward man (stealing, murder, fornication, lying, etc.), stems from the love of money.

A Tragedy

They have “pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” This occurs because money is:

  1. Deceptive, never delivering what it boasts to do. Money cannot buy a good name (Proverbs 22:1). It cannot get one a heart of wisdom and understanding needful to please God (Proverbs 8:10-11; 16:16; James 1:5-6). Money cannot bring up our children to love the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), nor can it redeem us from sin (I Peter 1:18-19). Money cannot ward off death (Hebrews 9:27), bring one back from the dead (Luke 16:19-31), nor will it be of any benefit to us on Judgment day (Matthew 16:26).

  2. Uncertain, with no assurance that we will have it tomorrow. For this reason, it is foolish to trust in riches (I Timothy 6:17). Jesus said the very nature of material riches makes them uncertain. The moth and rust will consume them; the thief will steal them away (Matthew 6:19ff).

  3. Leads to a proud, self-sufficient spirit. God told Moses before Israel ever entered Canaan of the dangerous effect wealth would have on them, “For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swear unto their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxed fat, then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant” (Deuteronomy 31:20). So will it do today.

  4. Leads to hell. This will be the greatest tragedy. Can we not learn the lessons from the rich man in Luke 12:19-21? His love of money caused him to waste his life on the mere acquiring of his wealth, but when he finally got himself in a financial position to “take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry” (life’s goal for many today), his life ended and his soul was required of him. God called him a “foolish one” because he laid up treasures for himself rather than being rich toward God. May we recognize what is truly valuable for the sake of our souls, as well as the souls of our families.


Offering Our Children To Idols

by Dan Richardson

Before Israel entered Canaan, God warned of the abominable practice of offering their children to the idol Molech. This involved causing them to pass through the fire - to become a human sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21; cf. Jeremiah 32:35). The very thought that parents could do this to their children shocks us.

But scripture points out that there is something far worse than physical death (Revelation 20:14-15). And, while we are too "cultured" to conceive of offering our children in such a way that would sacrifice their physical life, many today think very little about offering their children to "gods" that will affect them spiritually and eternally.

Many parents offer their children to the god of materialism when they rear them in an atmosphere where money is shown to be the most important thing in life (Matthew 6:19-34; I Timothy 6:9-10). They come to view life merely as an opportunity to lay up treasures on earth, with little or no time for God.

Also, children are sacrificed to the god of pleasure. This begins as children grow up observing, and eventually adopting, their parent's infatuation for sports, hobbies, etc. The problem isn't in justifying the need for some recreation in our lives (which is healthy), but in allowing recreational pursuits to consume us. The Bible warns of those who are "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (II Timothy 3:4). Many parents influence their children toward the pleasure "god" with a fanatical zeal, leaving scarce little time for spiritual training. It isn't surprising that, while these children are trained to possess great knowledge/skill in athletics, etc., they know little about God and the Bible. The precedent is set to allow ball games, golf, fishing, hunting, or whatever to come first and God second (if at all). But God will not take second place in our lives (Matthew 6:33). Consequently, many children become offerings to the "god" of fun and frolic.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Again, "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). The time parents have with their children is too short and their opportunities to train them too limited to allow their children to become sacrifices to the world. The abominations of Molech are not that far removed from us today.

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