Jeremiah 37-38 / 1 Timothy 6 / Psalm 89:38-52 / Proverbs 25:28
There is something that irritates me; well, there are several things that irritate me, but today we’ll talk about only one. I’m sure you’re relieved! One of my biggest pet peeves is when people misquote or misrepresent scripture. It doesn’t take much time or effort to look up a verse you’re trying to remember so you quote it properly. When scripture is misquoted, the meaning is usually totally changed.
I’ve heard people say, and I’ve seen it written that money is evil, or money is the root of all evil. I cringe every time someone says or writes that. Money is an inanimate object and cannot by nature be evil. Objects are not evil, people are. The same could be said for guns, but I don’t want to open that can of worms today!
This is what the referred to verse states: 1 Timothy 6:10 NLT 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.
The love of money is “a” root of “all kinds” of evil. “A” means one of several and “all kinds” means there is also more than one. As said above, money is not “the” root of all evil. I will dare to say that the devil is the root of all evil. And his influence in the hearts of men and women spreads that evil across the earth.
There are other sayings I’ve heard that people attribute to the Bible and that is equally disturbing to my sense of Truth. Here’s one, for example, The Lord helps those who help themselves. Nope, not in there. And does that mean if I don’t help myself, He’ll ignore me and let me suffer? I’ve experienced the opposite. God has stepped in many times when I’m drowning and unable to help myself.
Back to our verse about money being the root of all kinds of evil. What kinds of evil might this verse be referring to? Greed, control over others, thievery, unkindness toward those in need, just to name a few. Let’s talk instead about what our attitude toward money ought to be.
We put our hope in God, not in wealth. We are to do good, and that includes our giving of all our resources – time, treasure, and talent. We are to be rich in good deeds instead of seeking to be rich monetarily. Not that there is anything wrong with being rich, especially if one uses that wealth to further God’s Kingdom. And finally, we are to be generous and willing to share.
None of that sounds like a Scrooge or a miserly person. God expects us to live with the perspective of abundance and generosity in every area. We cannot be small thinkers, selfish or stingy. If you notice yourself being that way, it’s time to find a place to give of what you have, whether that is your time, your resources, or your heart.
The Father is our example of a loving, unselfish giver in that He gave His one unique Son to us to reconcile us back to Himself. If the Father would give His beloved Son, what could we consider giving? I know of one other father in scripture who was asked to give up his son; that was Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. Of course, God provided a sacrifice and Isaac lived to fulfill the promise of filling the earth with Abraham’s legacy.
God does not physically ask us to give up our children, but He certainly asks us to give them to Him spiritually. That means we are not to worry about them. Truthfully, we are not to worry about anything we need. If God is asking you to give, you can be assured He will provide both what you need and enough extra to satisfy the needs of others around you.
I encourage you to ask God where you can be a blessing today. Then, quickly make it happen!
