By: Dale Weckbacher
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money
is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered
from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
(NLT)
Money is not evil by itself for if I put a dollar bill on
the table in front of me and leave it alone, it does not do anything evil or
good for it is an inanimate object and simply sits on the table doing
nothing. The power of money is in what
we as people do with it. Recent events
in our world demonstrate both the good and evil uses of money.
The recent hurricanes striking the United States while
devastating to those affected, demonstrate the good in people during times of
crisis. In a September 12 article appearing
on Forbes.com, five signs of hope are discussed. Among these signs of hope are number four,
how social media stories impacted charitable drive donations of items necessary
for those victimized by the hurricanes and five, how the private and non-profit
sectors rose to the challenge. (1) Conversely, however, we have also witnessed
the rise of ISIS in recent years who plunder the cash, crude oil, and
contraband of territories they occupy and operate outside of legitimate banking
channels to distribute money for their terrorist activities. This money or wealth was doing nothing evil
until the radical terrorists of ISIS confiscated it and then it became
evil. (2)
1 Timothy 6:10 tells us that the Love of money is the source
of evil. The word love in this passage
is critical for it reminds us that it is not the money that represents evil but
whether the one possessing it loves it more than God in their lives thus making
it an idol. (3) Those giving money or other donations to
assist those victimized by Harvey and Irma are demonstrating their concern for
the well-being of others over their possessions and wealth. Jesus reminds us to lay up treasures not on
earth where they will inevitably disappear but to instead lay up our treasures
in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Those
giving to those in need are laying up treasures in heaven for in helping those
in need they are ministering to Christ (Matthew 25:35-40). Our reward for giving to God is Him meeting
our needs (Philippians 4:19, Luke 6:38), but not necessarily our wants for in
the Lord’s prayer we are taught to ask for our daily bread or our daily needs
(Matthew 6:11).
Falling in love with wealth or money usually leads to one’s
demise for as Jesus reminds us on Matthew 6:19, treasures on earth are subject
to destruction and theft. In Ezekiel 37,
Ezekiel’s lament over the fall of Tyre, he cites their arrogance and pride
based upon the great wealth as a contributing factor to their fall. Instead of making God the idol or treasure of
their nation, they depended upon their wealth which failed them. Israel too is guilty of believing their
prosperity was a sign of their favor with God and continued in their idolatry
which led to their destruction (Hosea 4:7).
Luke 18:18-30 contains the account of Jesus discourse with
the rich young ruler. The discourse
begins with the young man asking Jesus what he had to do to inherit eternal
live. Jesus answer begins with asking
this young man if he knows the commandments and has lived in obedience to
them. After replying that he has, Jesus
asks him to part with his great wealth and give it to those in need. Unfortunately for this young man, he then
walks away demonstrating that there is one command he has disobeyed, having no
other gods but God for apparently, he loved his wealth over inheriting eternal
life. Let us not make the same mistake
of this young man and be generous with what God has given each of us,
demonstrating that money is not an idol in our lives.
While loving money leads to evil (1 Timothy 6:10), giving to
the Lord and to those in need when tragedy strikes demonstrates that we view
money as a tool for good and not as something we must idolize. Unfortunately, it seems to take a tragedy
like the recent hurricanes or witnessing some radical group like ISIS who use
money to fund their reign of terror to focus our attention on how to properly
view and use money and wealth. My prayer
is that giving and not hording or idolizing money will become the automatic
reflex of the people of God.
1. Case, Jean. Five Signs For Hope After Harvey
And Irma. www.forbes.com. [Online] Forbes, September 12, 2017. [Cited:
September 17, 2017.]
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeancase/2017/09/12/five-signs-for-hope-after-harvey-and-irma/2/#17103c8b417a.
2. Janine Di
Giovanni, Leah McGrath Goodman, and Damien Sharkov. HOW DOES ISIS FUND ITS
REIGN OF TERROR? www.newsweek.com. [Online] Newsweek, November 6, 2014.
[Cited: September 17, 2017.] http://www.newsweek.com/2014/11/14/how-does-isis-fund-its-reign-terror-282607.html.
3. Wegman, Hannah.
Modern Day Idolatry: Putting Anything Before God. www.christianpost.com. [Online]
The Christian Post, May 27, 2015. [Cited: August 26, 2017.]
http://www.christianpost.com/news/modern-day-idolatry-putting-anything-before-god-139630/.
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