The Love of Money

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. 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. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
(1 Tim 6:9-12)

Money, money, money, and more money! Who of us hasn’t dreamed of hitting any recent Mega-Lottery jackpot? I mean just a momentary contemplation of winning that kind of money makes us wobble at the grandiose thoughts of living the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Oh! We dream of all the things we would do with such a load of money. Not only would we give to the church, but we would help build our church a new church. We would help our brothers and sisters. Oh, the wonderful things we would do with a cash bonanza of that size! And I say, “YEAH RIGHT!!!” After having been around Pentecost a few years and seeing what people do after God delivers them from a horrible pit, it seems to be fairly clear picture of what they would do with a winning lottery ticket. After the Lord delivers them and begins to clean them up. Their preacher puts God’s wonderful Word in them and all those nuggets of eternal principles of gold, which allows them to stand on their own two feet and in turn begin to bring prosperity into their lives. I have been an eyewitness to this pattern of events in people’s lives. When people finally begin to make money and accumulate things and they are finally able to give back to God and the ministry...99.9% of the time they backslide and become hoarders of ‘THEIR’ money. I have witnessed this time and time again...people come in destitute, God cleans them up, the preacher puts the Word of God in their hearts, they become something, and then when it is time for them to give...they’re gone...nowhere to be found.

It seems other than sex, money is the other thing most talked about in this world. Especially now in these times of economic difficulties. Have you ever heard anyone say that ‘money is the root of all evil’? Yet we know that this is not true, but the true saying is as follows: The LOVE of money is the ROOT of ALL evil.” It can be safe to say that if there is a problem in the church it can somehow someway be traced to money. The problem is more than likely rooted in a love for a person’s money. This love that Paul describes in the scripture is a covetous love. It is not a pure love but one that is rooted in envy and earthly thoughts. It was Judas who was the money keeper and betrayed the Lord. Somewhere in his heart was rooted a love for money. After seeing the oil ‘wasted’ on Jesus, it was Judas, the money keeper, who went to the chief priest to betray him for thirty pieces of silver. I have witnessed many ‘saints’ over the years that have mumbled and grumbled over money in the church. They complain how the money is being handled and who does the handling. In their eyes, nobody knows better than themselves on how the money should be taken care of and who should be taking care of it.

They show their disgruntlement in many ways through their words and comments to others. Most of the time it is through their subtle actions. They quit giving in the offerings. They stop paying ‘their’ tithes. Subtle actions that let the preacher know that they have a problem with what is being done with ‘their’ money. They know the preacher is not going to tell the congregation about their lack of tithes or make a public display of their continual record of non-giving. So, in an act of subtle rebellion, they let the preacher know how they feel. It is a power struggle... they think that ‘their’ money gives them power over the preacher and in a larger sense the entire church. They feel like since they have money they can influence or persuade the preacher. Don’t forget, the serpent is very subtle. He is so subtle that a person such as this who may read this a article - that is if the title didn’t stop them in the beginning - will find a way to dispute what I am writing. But the Word is the Word and the love of money IS the ROOT of ALL evil.

I have read in studies the more one gets money, the stingier the person gets. You would think this would be the other way around. The more one gets money, the more one would want to give back and help those around them. But, generally, this is not the case. Somewhere a person’s pride rises up and they begin to think more highly of themselves than they ought to. I remember working as a short order cook at a yacht club of the rich and how I was treated by the ‘rich’. Talk about feeling like a piece of dirt! It is a known fact that waitresses and common folk who wait on those who have money say that the one’s with the money are the worse tippers in the world. It is the common folk who know and remember what it means to work hard. These are the one’s who tip well. The rich are stingy and hoard their money. They seem to feel that everyone is out to get ‘their’ money. They have to protect ‘their’ money.

Why is it that the people who do not pay their rightful bills are usually the biggest murmurers and complainers? One would think that if you are not paying your bills, you would be silent concerning that area where they choose NOT to be responsible in. It would only seem right to stay somewhat low key and in the background. It has been made clear to me that the ones who do not pay tithes and offering, or support the ministry always seem to have the biggest mouths. They find fault with everything and everybody.

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled . They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:15-16)

A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears. Such persons claim they know God, but from seeing the way they act, one knows they don't. They are rotten and disobedient, worthless so far as doing anything good is concerned. (Titus 1:15-16 TLB)

To a person who is defiled, NOTHING is pure. Those that have been overtaken in their quest for riches usually end up being defiled. Especially in this day and age, where it is very difficult to make and honest buck anymore. Those who are involved in the workplace know how difficult it is NOT to become a cheater like the rest of the world. The pressure to compromise any standard of uprightness and honesty is intense and always under attack. Though therein may lie some of the problem...it must be difficult after cheating and lying all day to make a buck and then have to come into church and hear the Truth of an Apostolic message! When one is defiled in such a manner, no wonder all those around them seem to be just like themselves. Their minds are drunken with the earthly cares of the world. They have bought into the lie of DECEITFUL riches. Their riches have deceived them and made them think they are something more than they really are.

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness : from such withdraw thyself. (1 Tim 6:5)

Over the years I have watched people make thousands upon thousands of dollars, yet have nothing to show for it or lose their family in the process. They never seem to get anywhere in life. Like a car spinning it’s wheels in the mud or running on a treadmill.. they exert a lot of energy but don’t seem to go anywhere. Their ways are priority one, God’s ways are somewhere down the line. It reminds me of what Haggai said, “Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes .” (Hag 1:5-6) People who chase after riches put the Kingdom of God second or third or fourth...oh, yeah...they think about God, but only in the context of using His principles to make money. The only temple they seem to pursue is building their temporal temples here on earth. Temples that are only gong to disintegrate and perish.

I must say that I am not perfect in this matter and I cannot claim to have obtained. There definitely have been times in my life where I have gotten too focused on money or maybe I felt that I lacked, yet I have always tried to bring my body back under subjection. Money in itself is not evil nor is it bad to desire financial success or want to get your bills paid. But when we become the slave to money and it becomes our master that is when the scales will begin to tip against us. My desires can be found in Proverbs 30:7-9. "Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." Like Israel who forgot God after He had blessed them, Lord, I don’t want to be or get so rich that I forget YOU. Yet, Lord, don’t let me become so poor that I do something that causes a reproach to your name.