About Love of Money
Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The Seven Deadly Sins or the Seven Vices – Avarice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1 Timothy 6: 9-11 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Many people avoid the teachings of Jesus because they believe that all religions are man made concoctions that help the rich to become richer and the poor to stay poor. “Religion is the opiate of the masses” they say as they go about their greedy ways. Then there are those preachers who attract followers with the “gospel of prosperity.” They preach that Jesus had monetary wealth and wants everybody to have all the material things they want. Both extremes are lies.
What the Bible teaches is made clear in today’s verses. The Bible does not say that money is evil. It says the love of money is the root of all evil. The term “love of money” means avarice. Avarice is extreme greed – a consuming want for material gain. When a desire is all-consuming, it drives you to do everything within your power to get it.
Avarice is one of the seven deadly sins, and rightly so: When a desire for material gain consumes you, you will do all within your power to get it: You will lie, cheat, steal, develop evil schemes, murder, rape, plunder, etc., regardless of consequences to others or even yourself. But above all, people who love money will plan to get it without regard to the will of God. As today’s verses state: “they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Hieronymus Bosch – The Seven Deadly Sins (detail) – WGA2504 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Riches are dangerous. Love of money is a trap that we should avoid, because the Bible says it causes us to drown in destruction and perdition. This is a fate beyond horror. The remedy to love of money is to flee the things that tempt you to love money above God, yourself, and your fellow-man. We are to flee the trap of avarice and “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Those who follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness don’t have room in their hearts to love money too.
How is your relationship with money today? Does your life show evidence of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness? Does it show evidence of avarice? Make a list to have an inventory of your actions within the past week to see which side you are on: God or money? Remember, Matthew 6:24 says:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Go in peace and serve God will all your might!
-Verneda
Twitter handle: @vlights
Reference
avarice. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved July 11, 2012 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avarice?show=0&t=1287542478
© 2012 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.
