Bob over at Christian Personal Finance today makes a point about money, and how the love of money can be the root of all kinds of evil. He begins with a reading from 1st Timothy 6:9-11:
But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
He goes on to say,:
The bible says that Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. God knows our thoughts and motivations behind every action we take. People, on the other hand, do not, but they like to think that they do. It is easy to look at someone with a lot of money and judge them quoting the above verse. But we will NEVER know their heart.
But, some people who don’t have much money, who would probably never be judged by PEOPLE for being in love with money, could be completely guilty in God’s eyes of lusting after wealth.
The truth is, I have known people who didn’t have much money who would have done anything to get money. They would lie, steal, cheat, and hurt anyone who got in their way just to get money. This is a condition of the heart. We all know that there are many rich people who behave exactly the same way. If they did it when they were poor, they will do it when they are rich.
I have also known millionaires who spent most of their time trying to bless others. They were moral role-models who did not make their decisions based on how it would affect them financially, but by what would be pleasing to God. Not being God, I can’t know for sure the condition of their heart, but from seeing their behavior I can safely assume they were not those being described in the verse above.
The point, which I believe I have made here before is that it doesn’t matter how much money you have, you can still fall prey to the lures of money, and the pursuit of it. Anyone can make money their false idol, and quickly God becomes second fiddle. So don’t always assume that it is only the rich or the well off that can fall prey to the evils of the love of money.
Go to ChristianPF.com and read the whole article, it’s a good one.
LINKS:
Are you free from the Love of Money? | Christian Personal Finance
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