THE LOVE OF MONEY:
1 Timothy 6:4-10 NLT
[4] Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. [5] These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. [6] Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [7] After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. [8] So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. [9] But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
When we fall in love with money, we have made money, our master and god. We have substituted money for God. When we try to serve both, we will fail because it is impossible to serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). We must never allow money, a medium of exchange and a tool to obtain riches, wealth, and other things to gain mastery over us. Our love must be for God and to walk in righteousness and all other things will be added unto us.
Matthew 6:31-33 NLT
[31] “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. [33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Friends, the love for money is deceitful. Money itself has wings and flies away the moment it gets into our hands and we have no plans in place for it. Many people who found themselves pursuing this deceitfulness of getting riches have compromised their faith, taken wrong turns in life, have watered down the truth, and have therefore become unfruitful.
Matthew 13:22 NLT
[22] The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
Does it mean that we must not pursue making money at all? No, God’s desire is to prosper us and the life He gives us is a more than abundant one (John 10:10). It is a more abundant, overflowing life! We all need money and loads of it to make the most of life in this world, but we must do it His way. We must prosper according to our growth in Christ.
III John 1:2 NKJV
[2] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Do you want to enjoy the blessings of God that makes you rich without the sorrows and pitfalls of life? This is what you need to do above and alongside seeking for money.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 NLT
[11] But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.