'the love of money is the root of all evil'

There is one biblical expression that is popular, is frequently used and yet invariably mis-quoted. You have probably heard people say, 'Money is the root of all evil'. It is not. Money is often necessary for the purchase of goods and food. The biblical expression is 'the love of money is the root of all evil'. The phrase is found in Paul's first letter to Timothy and reads like this: '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', 6.9.

The context of the expression is found in a warning to believers. Now I am sure when we struggle with a lowly job, a relatively small income, a poky flat, an old car, we naturally feel that being a little better off would be easier. Struggling to make ends meet is a difficult thing. Nevertheless, loving money itself leads to a number of things. In the first place, it can often mean that we are tempted to be dishonest, to do illegal things, to cut corners in order to get, or keep, money. These things often lead to sin. Secondly, we need to be careful not to covet what other people have, because that leads to dissatisfaction and we ought to be grateful and content with what God has given us. Things could be better - but they could be an awful lot worse.

Three examples in the Bible come to mind. Judas evidently loved money. He was the treasurer of the little band of disciples. 'Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the money-bag he used to help himself to what was put into it', John 12.4-6. Imagine stealing from the Lord of Glory, from the Son of God! Imagine helping yourself to what little the Lord had, stashing money away from what was given to our Lord. Judas evidently loved money so much that he could not see the spiritual beauty of a sinful woman breaking a most expensive bottle of perfume and pouring it all over our Lord's feet as a token of her thanks and her appreciation of Him. He was even prepared to sell the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. The second example is Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, who was struck with leprosy because he coveted and took what belonged to Elisha and Elisha's God. 'Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever,” 2 Kings 5.21. Another man, Achan, sinned and caused the people of God huge losses because he coveted and took what God forbade to be taken. 'Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, [he said] and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath,” Joshua 7. The result was his death.

I have no doubt that examples such as these men were what Paul had in mind when he wrote, 'which while some coveted after (money), they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows'. How many corners are cut, dodgy deals done, consciences scarred just to get a little bit more. Let us remember what the scripture says, 'We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out', 1 Timothy 6.9. What should be important to a believer is spiritual wealth, not material - the riches that we have in fellowship with God, fellowship with His people and the treasure of His word. Let's keep it that way.

The prayer of Agur is a good one. 'Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God,' Proverbs 30. 8-9.

Remember, godliness with contentment is great gain. The love of money is disastrous.