Love money and you will go to Hell
Actually, I don’t know if you’ll go to hell or not. Being an Atheist I think it’s quite unlikely. Nonetheless, there is the general feeling amongst Christians and in fact all people that money is evil and corrupts - and they’re not always wrong. Accumulating money, like anything, can be addictive and blinker your view on the world. However it isn’t the money that is evil itself - I think human nature has a strain of greed, or self preservation. That said, when people go out of their way to say “No, wait, it’s okay, the Bible says it is okay to make money” then I think (whilst correct) there’s another agenda. It’s usually “leaders” in MLM companies such as Amway / Quixtar that are so energetically spouting the “It’s okay” line to pull their wavering followers back into line. I really don’t know Tim Russ’ motives for writing the article that got me thinking this are, so don’t hold anything against him. Read on…
Money Isn’t Evil!
(1 Timothy 6:10 NIV) 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.
Somehow the Church seems to have gotten the idea into their head that being rich is a sin. Christians tend to look at verses like this one and say to themselves, “Money is evil”.
This is a classic mistake. The scripture doesn’t say that money is evil, rather that the LOVE of it is evil. It doesn’t say that ALL people seeking money will wander away from the faith, merely that SOME who have an improper desire for money have fallen away.
Jesus spent money. Jesus paid taxes. Jesus had a man who carried the purse that held money for his ministry. Jesus received money for his ministry. Jesus knew that money was a necessary tool to accomplish things in this world.
Our attitude toward money ought to be that it is gospel fuel. The more money we make the more we can contribute toward establishing God’s kingdom in this world. Christian’s ought to be the lenders, not the borrowers. We ought to be helping to feed, clothe and house those in need.
If you look throughout the bible you’ll quickly see that God used finances as a blessing to those he found worthy. God has definitely not rejected his own character. He still blesses people today with finances when he approves of them.
Tim Russ is the Publisher of Candle Light Magazine. If you liked this article you’ll find more at http://www.clmag.com.
May 18th, 2006 at 4:51 am
Correct, money is needed, and the churches also need money for ministries. The quixtarians will twist things around and say why don’t you work for free if money is not important to you.
The book of Timothy does say that the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of evil. The reason why is because you are taking your focus off God and putting it on money (compared to worshipping a false idol), which would be a sin. The book also says that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven.
Money is needed in this day and age, but the hyperconsumption and materialism portrayed by the diamonds appears to be a love of money and the things money can buy.