For the Love of Money

Wednesday, January 9

What's wrong with money? Nothing, necessarily.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Matthew 6:19-21
¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Mark 10:23-25
²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."

In 1 Timothy 6:10, it says that the love of money leads us into bad situations.

Greed is one way to define the "love of money." There is something in our human nature that always has us wanting "more." It can consume us. It can make us unwilling to part with what we have, which renders us unable to minister to those in need. And often, in the nonstop pursuit of "more," we can only gain if somebody else loses. Greed is inconsistent with Jesus' command to love our neighbors.

Another way to define "love of money" is putting our faith in the things we have instead of in God. It's true that sometimes people only turn to God in times of need. What about people who don't really need because of they have wealth and live pretty comfortable lives? It's easy-and dangerous-for us to think that we can make it on our own, forgetting that all we have truly comes from God.

While today's verses talk a lot about money, the concepts apply to all worldly things, including possessions and popularity. The things of this world are temporary, but God and Heaven are eternal. Take some time to consider your priorities. Are any adjustments needed?


If today's devotion spoke to you in a particular way and you feel led to share your thoughts with others, please do so.