«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» (l Timothy 6:10).
THE LOVE OF MONEY is «the metropolis of all evil» (Democritus), «the desire from which every evil of the mind spring» (Seneca), «the mother of all evils» (Focilide), «the starting-place of the greatest transgressions of the law» (Philo).
The Bible has over two thousand references to money, four times more than its references to prayer and faith. It is the subject most mentioned by Christ, since more than two-thirds of the parables have to do with money and material possessions.
Paul always gets to the root of the matter. He does not linger on the branches. Money can buy a lot of things, both good and bad. That is why Paul says that the problem is not in the branches (money) but at the root (the love of money).
There are those who, for the love of money, sacrifice every moral, ethical, or religious principle. The problem lies in greed. Abundance can do more harm than scarcity. The rich young ruler went away sadly, because he prioritized money over his love for Christ.
Throughout his writings Paul answers fundamental questions:
Who do we live for? For me, living is Christ.
What is more important, the motive or the amount? The motivation is always essential.
With what attitude should we give? With cheerfulness and generosity.
Jesus Himself said that to be His disciples, we must renounce possessions, in the sense of our priorities and anything that takes us away from God.
Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire for wealth, is the golden chain that binds them to Satan. Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the Lord’s and half the world’s. We are not God’s children unless we are such entirely (Steps to Christ, p. 44).
Be careful! The devil works with snares that bind and chains that, even if they are golden, seek to enslave us and lead us to ruin. It is better to let yourself be led by the Lord’s cords of love.
«When Christ died on the cross, God’s pockets were empty.
He spent it all; He could give no more than all of Himself» (David Swartz).
He gave all of Himself for us, that we might give all of ourselves to Him.