1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Do you realize that you can be broke and still have the love of money in you? I see so many people when talking about The Love of Money, they are always pointing to others but never to themselves who have greed in their hearts too. Let’s break it down a little bit.
Think of it this way, when you put money ahead of your beliefs, your values and your morals, that is the love of money. Does that not change your perception of The Love of Money?
Let’s say you can’t afford one of those flat screen TVs so you decide to put one on a credit card. Is that not a form of the love of money? I am betting you are saying no because culture has you believing that you deserve this. The Bible says in Romans 13:8 – Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Meaning no debt!
Remember 1 Timothy 6:10 also talks about greediness and sorrows. Well having no patience and having to have that thing RIGHT now is a form of greediness. Also, by putting this on your credit cards, now you have a stupid monthly payment on something that you don’t really need.
Imagine this, you keep putting things like this on credit and now you lose your job so you can’t pay your bills. Will that not bring sorrow to you? You may be blaming losing your job on this but in reality it was your greediness that got you there not losing your job.
I know people who for years stayed away from consumer debt so when they lost their job they were not hurting because they had enough money to get back on their feet. They felt they didn’t need to go into consumer debt. Very wise choice but most people don’t make that choice. They make choices based on their greed of having to have that thing now.
Here is another situation that maybe you have not thought of, if you believe the Bible is 100% accurate and you believe that Jesus is the truth and you were taught how to live right but have decided that since you are engaged why not move in together to save money, then is that not another form of the love of money because you are putting saving money ahead of your beliefs and what’s right?
One more example, you believe you should be raising your kids because it is the right thing to do even though society believes differently. But you start getting into debt so now you have to take a job just so you can stay afloat. Have you not again put money ahead of your moral beliefs?
Again, it is putting money ahead of your beliefs, your morals and your values that makes it the love of money. There are so many examples I could use here when looking at the love of money but you get the picture.
Remember money is not the root of all evil but the love of money is. Everything we do revolves around money and there is nothing we can do about that. If you choose to live by the Bible on what it says about money then your life will change. Now is the time to make these changes before you get in too deep with whatever you are doing.
So the next time money is involved in any decision, ask yourself one question, is this decision being made based on my morals and values or is this decision being made based on money? If it is being made based on money then STOP and make a new decision. If it is based with your beliefs first then move forward but keep a check to make sure your beliefs don’t start being put aside.
PRAYER – Dear God, please help us make the right decisions when it comes to money. Help guide us in the way you would want us to go. Help us to see that any decision where money is put ahead of our beliefs is a decision that becomes the love of money. Help us not believe in the lie that only rich people have the love of money but we all have a little bit in us. Help us work on this issue right now Lord and help us have the strength to see this for what it is and the courage to change it. – AMEN!