THE “LOVE” OF MONEY: THREE MAJOR CAUSES AND THEIR SIDE-EFFECTS!
“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” 1 Timothy 6:10/Emphasis Mine.
MONEY – Finance – is a DE FACTO medium of exchange. And “MONEY” on its merit is not EVIL, nor an EVIL, nor the ROOT of EVIL, nor the ROOT of all EVIL as some claim. But it is THE “LOVE OF MONEY”, that is the ROOT of ALL EVIL, as the scriptures indicate. Money is GOOD. It is a great means of defence in life, when wisely and prudently expended.
“WISDOM along with an INHERITANCE is good. And an [excellent] advantage for those who see the sun. 12 For WISDOM is a protection even as MONEY is a protection, But the [excellent] advantage of KNOWLEDGE is that WISDOM shields and preserves the lives of its possessors” Ecclesiastes 7:11-12/Amplified.
Money is good when it is made to serve- when it is a servant – and not made to be as lord over every vital and legal means of living and doing life. And as my Father of blessed memories would say: “money is a good servant that runs errands without charge. And it must not be misappropriated nor ordered to do any erroneous errands, otherwise it will expose you.” And as the saying goes – follow the money – that is, trace and track the movement of money. If you want to catch the culprit or thief in his dealing or deed. So, you must make money a servant or an errand tool only, and not your life controller. For only then will you experience the PEACE of mind that is indescribable and incomprehensible. And with peace of mind, one is able to do life wisely, to be in CONTENTMENT and to LIVE GODLY, and to keep THE “LOVE OF MONEY” temptation at bay. You must know and understand, as God’s own, that GAIN is not GODLINESS, nor equal to GODLINESS. But rather, GODLINESS with CONTENTMENT is great GAIN, as the Scripture enjoins.
“. . . 6 But GODLINESS actually is a SOURCE of GREAT GAIN when accompanied by CONTENTMENT [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the SUFFICIENCY of God]” 1 Timothy 6:3-6/Amplified.
And in as much as Money is good for the causes already explained, there is a problem when one falls into the phase and sphere of – “THE LOVE OF MONEY”. For “THE LOVE OF MONEY” has CAUSES and SIDES EFFECTS. And herein are THREE WARNING SIGNS to observe, in order not to be in a position of being captivated and enslaved by “THE LOVE OF MONEY” syndromes:
“THE LOVE OF MONEY” CAUSES WORRY: This brings a lack of Sleep – sleepless nights – if and when the balance sheet is not meeting expectations or when profits are overwhelmingly below set point.
“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich [who hungers for even more] WILL NOT LET HIM SLEEP” Ecclesiastes 5:12/Amplified.
“THE LOVE OF MONEY” CAUSES DISSATISFACTIONS: It allows and breeds greediness and covetousness.
“He who LOVES MONEY WILL NOT BE SATISFIED with MONEY, nor he who LOVES abundance with increase. This also is vanity [emptiness]” Ecclesiastes 5:10.
“THE LOVE OF MONEY” CAUSES TEMPTATION: It allows and leads to the BREAKING OF RULES, even THE LAW, in order to get and acquire more at any cost, irrespective of the underlying consequences.
“He that TILLETH HIS LAND shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after VAIN persons shall have poverty enough. 20 A FAITHFUL man shall abound with blessings: but he that MAKETH HASTE TO BE RICH SHALL NOT BE INNOCENT. 21 To have respect of persons is not good: FOR A PIECE OF BREAD THAT MAN WILL TRANSGRESS. 22 He that HASTETH TO BE RICH HATH AN EVIL EYE, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him” Proverbs 28:19-22.
I pray you will not be entangled in bondage as a MONEY LOVER, for mere selfish gratifications at the EXPENSE of others, of the decency and order of the RULE of law, and of the worth of living right to yourself, to your family, to your community and to the nation you serve.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“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” 1 Timothy 6:10 (Emphasis Mine).
“A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: BUT MONEY ANSWERETH ALL THINGS” Ecclesiastes 10:19.
“Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For WISDOM is a DEFENCE, and MONEY is a DEFENCE: but the excellency of knowledge is, that WISDOM giveth life to them that have it” Ecclesiastes 7:11-12.
“. . . 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, AND TO THE DOCTRINE WHICH IS ACCORDING TO GODLINESS; 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that GAIN IS GODLINESS: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN” 1 Timothy 6:1-6.
“But if any PROVIDE NOT for his own, and specially for those of his OWN house, he hath DENIED THE FAITH, and is WORSE than an INFIDEL (UNBELIEVER)” 1 Timothy 5:8.
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye WITHDRAW yourselves from every brother that WALKETH DISORDERLY, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we BEHAVED NOT OURSELVES DISORDERLY among you; 8 neither did we eat any man’s BREAD FOR NOUGHT; but wrought with LABOUR and travail night and day, that we might not be CHARGEABLE to any of you: 9 not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, THAT IF ANY WOULD NOT WORK, NEITHER SHOULD HE EAT. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you DISORDERLY, working not at all, but are BUSYBODIES. 12 Now them that are such we COMMAND and EXHORT by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they WORK, and EAT their OWN bread” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12.
SUMMARY:
This is a biblical charge and warning on money, contentment, and godliness. The message separates MONEY from THE LOVE OF MONEY, and calls believers to keep money as a servant, not a master.
- THE FOUNDATION: MONEY IS GOOD, THE LOVE OF MONEY IS EVIL
MONEY IS A TOOL: Money — Finance — is a DE FACTO medium of exchange. On its merit, money is NOT EVIL. It is GOOD and “a great means of defence in life, when wisely and prudently expended” — [Ecclesiastes 7:11-12].
“BUT MONEY ANSWERETH ALL THINGS” — [Ecclesiastes 10:19].
It provides for family and fulfils responsibility — “if any provide not for his own… he hath denied the faith” — [1 Timothy 5:8].
THE PROBLEM IS THE LOVE OF MONEY: “FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL” — [1 Timothy 6:10].
While some COVETED after it, they ERRED FROM THE FAITH and PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS.
- THE RIGHT POSTURE: GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT
Money must be made to SERVE, not to RULE.
As stated: “money is a good servant that runs errands without charge”. Misuse it and it will expose you.
GAIN ≠ GODLINESS. The Scripture corrects this error: “GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN” — [1 Timothy 6:6].
This contentment comes from inner confidence based on the SUFFICIENCY OF GOD.
When money is servant and not controller, you experience INDESCRIBABLE PEACE OF MIND to live wisely, godly, and free from the temptation of the love of money.
- WORK, INTEGRITY AND ORDER
The message rejects laziness and disorder:
“IF ANY WOULD NOT WORK, NEITHER SHOULD HE EAT” — [2 Thessalonians 3:10-12].
Believers are to work with labour, not be busybodies or chargeable to others. This preserves decency and the rule of law.
- THE THREE WARNING SIGNS OF “THE LOVE OF MONEY”
Here are the CAUSES AND SIDE-EFFECTS to watch for:
WARNING SIGN 1: IT CAUSES WORRY
The love of money brings sleepless nights when balance sheets fail, or profits drop below set points.
“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet… but the abundance of the rich [who hungers for even more] WILL NOT LET HIM SLEEP” — [Ecclesiastes 5:12].
WARNING SIGN 2: IT CAUSES DISSATISFACTION
It breeds greediness and covetousness. There is never enough.
“He who LOVES MONEY WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH MONEY… THIS ALSO IS VANITY [EMPTINESS]” — [Ecclesiastes 5:10].
WARNING SIGN 3: IT CAUSES TEMPTATION
It leads to breaking rules and even the law to acquire more at any cost, regardless of consequences.
“HE THAT MAKETH HASTE TO BE RICH SHALL NOT BE INNOCENT… FOR A PIECE OF BREAD THAT MAN WILL TRANSGRESS” — [Proverbs 28:19-22].
- THE FINAL PRAYER AND CHARGE
“I PRAY YOU WILL NOT BE ENTANGLED IN BONDAGE AS A MONEY LOVER, FOR MERE SELFISH GRATIFICATIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS, OF THE DECENCY AND ORDER OF THE RULE OF LAW, AND OF THE WORTH OF LIVING RIGHT TO YOURSELF, TO YOUR FAMILY, TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE NATION YOU SERVE.”
THE BOTTOM LINE IN ONE LINE:
Let GODLINESS rule you. Let MONEY serve you. Reject the love of money, embrace contentment, work with integrity, and you will walk in peace, provision, and great gain.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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