The Love of Money!

Things should never come before God- Worship the Giver and not just what He gives!

I heard it said years ago and just recently someone said, “Money is the Root of All Evil” Money is not the root of all evil; the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

God made money as a major source of our earthly means of survival. What can anyone purchase without money? The Lord God also allowed many of His people to be rich, but it was a specific reason. 

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good that they are rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Do you think God allowed His people to be rich to splurge it on themselves?

Of course He didn’t.

Example: The Lord blessed Abraham to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2).

O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and  idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Many people seek things first and expect God to honor that. Didn’t the Lord say that we should have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3-5)?

I would rather be like those pilgrims in the Hebrews Hall of Faith than to have all the riches this word affords- we can be pierced with many sorrows.

Those patriots in the Old Testament saints suffered much but the knew that there was much better place awaiting them whose builder was God Himself. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:8-10).  

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us (Hebrews 11: 39-40). Please read the entire chapter.

How about us? Are we willing to suffer through the things this life brings, knowing that God has something so much better for us in eternity?

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org