October 20, 2023 – Devotions – Does the Bible Say…?

Does the Bible Say “Money is the Root of All Evil?

“Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness, is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” 1 Timothy 6:3-10

We might call this kind of use of scripture as a “Pocket Verse” – you know, when someone needs some scripture to support their argument, they reach into their pocket and pull out a line of scripture, a card to play and throws it in your face. After all, if it is in the Bible, it must be true, right? Look, we all know that money can be used in evil ways. Money can cause people to seek evil outcomes, and to do evil things. And, in the ever “soul-crushing” desire to have more and more “stuff”, some people will be lured into evil deeds and decisions. But, my friends, money is not the root of all evil – that is not what Paul is saying. When you read the scripture, you see that he says “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”

Paul does teach people to be content with what they have, not to get lost in seeking more and more, for “…there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it”. In other words, empty handed have we come into this world, and we will go out of this world empty handed, as Martin Luther so famously said: “We are all beggars”.

My friends, we all need money to live. But, we are not to live for money. Paul does not teach that rich people are going to hell, or that rich people should become poor to be closer to G-d. He does teach that those who have should be generous with and toward those who do not have – and that we must always thank G-d for the abundance of blessings, material and spiritual, that we have been showered with. Money must not become a “god” for us – but we always thank G-d for the money we have – and then pray for the strength and guidance to share out of our abundance.

Pastor Dave