The Love of Money

I Timothy 6:10 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.

 The love of money is the root of all evil. Money is not the problem and Paul does not condemn having wealth The covetous desire for wealth is the root of all evil. A poor man can have just a great love of money as a rich man can. Paul warns professing Christians of the danger of loving money. A love of money takes the place of a love of God. You cannot have godly contentment and love money. You cannot give sacrificially and love money. Loving money is covetous and idolatry. Loving money will lead you into various other sins on the quest for obtaining the beloved object.

With the love of money, the desire becomes it's own judgment. That's the way with most sins. What the souls lusts after is what will destroy you. As you covet after money and reach out for what God hasn't given you and you stretch yourself for another dollar, you fall away from the faith and land on the dead fall trap of many sorrows.

The love of money will cause you to forsake the Lord's house. The love of money will lead men to forsake their families. The love of money will tempt you to lie, cheat, and steal for every last penny. Men and women who will lie to your face, rob you blind, and swindle you out of your last dollar, and then pick your pocket in "christian love". Certainly this pertains to the celebrity preachers, but they are not the sole offenders. You can be a poor pastor and love the little money you have and do what it takes to get more and more. When serious error arises in the church and the big tithers are wrong, what will you do? When men preach false doctrine  but calling it out will cost you half the congregation and most of your salary, what will you do? Or, to turn the tables, the man who held the money in the church who betrayed Jesus. No one suspected Judas because they let him keep the money and he was probably one of the most pious sounding. We could have given that money away to the poor!

If you have wealth, thank God for it and use it for His glory. Love God and not money, and you'll be fine.