But
godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into
the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we
have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who
want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and
harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the
love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money,
have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy
6:6-10
We
all like money. Getting a sizeable check
for an inheritance feels good. Finding
$20 is a blessing. Let’s not put those
feelings and greed in the same category.
Paul
warned Timothy about the “love of money.”
When you are in love, you will sacrifice everything, do anything to
obtain that goal. However, money is not
a person, nor can it show you all those feelings of care, forgiveness and
sacrifice. Money is a cruel lover and it
comes and goes as it pleases.
Striving
for money creates evil opportunities to obtain it. If you are eager for money, you will give up
going to church, maybe even hurt yourself physically to get more and experience
griefs in your life like broken relationships with your family. Is it worth it?
Many
say they are giving up so much to get money so those around them can have a
better life and be secure. That’s a
lie. What people want is time, attention
and communication. That gives them
security. Money pulls people away from
family relationships. Money demands that
the person has a relationship with it.
Paul
told believers to be happy with what you have, even if it is just food and
clothes. Don’t strive for any more or
you will fall into a trap of ruin and destruction. Contentment keeps you from being greedy.