The Love of Money

By the time you receive this, the election will be over. Emotions will have subsided and most of us will be back in our “rut.”

Americans have been changing rapidly (not just Americans but the people of the world.) These changes seem to have increased in speed. One does not have to be aged to recognize how fast things are changing. My children have seen them and some of my grandchildren are aware of them. While changes in technology and manufacturing have improved our living conditions, waning moral and spiritual convictions may soon jeopardize those same living conditions. I really don’t know why we wring our hands at these conditions because Paul stated two thousand years ago:

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13

Another thing that fits hand in glove with our present world thinking, whether it be on Wall Street or Main Street is man’s attitude toward money.

“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.” 1 Timothy 6:10

Notice that Paul didn’t say that “money” was the root of all evil. He said the “the love of money.”

One can be as poor as a church mouse and still “love” money. Someone has said that the rich know one thing that the poor do not…that money does not bring happiness. In every election the candidates are going to penalize the rich and give to us poor people. There seems to be a general animosity toward wealth, yet every person on earth, especially the political candidates, strive to attain more wealth. It is like a man campaigning against lung cancer while smoking four packs of cigarettes a day. We had two U.S. senators promising to get us out of the mess we are in, without accepting any blame for the mess. We really have the inmates running the asylum!

It is eye-opening to see how much this “love of money” plays in the lives of Christians. There is something about the promise of big bucks that draws mankind, both saved and lost. Think of the money spent by Christians on lottery tickets. If you want to get people’s attention, promise them money or the equivalent thereof.

Saul’s appeal to the men he was enlisting to fight David was, “will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds” (1 Samuel 22:7.) Have you ever wondered that if every soldier becomes a captain over hundreds and thousands, who will do the fighting? Promises, promises, promises!

The soldiers who were guarding the tomb of Jesus were bribed with money by the chief priests to claim that Jesus’ disciples stole Him away (Matthew 28:11-15.) Bribing guards is not a new thing, whether it be drugs, tobacco or cell phones.

Ananias and Sapphira, two members of the First Church of Jerusalem, lost their lives because of their love of money. They could have simply told the truth about keeping their money and no harm would have occurred (Acts 5:1-5.) They wanted to look spiritual and be recognized.

Television preachers make a fortune telling people that if they will give money to them, God will give them more. If this were true every banker in town would get in on it. To give to get more is simply investing, it has nothing to do with giving as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23.)

Of course, the ultimate story of selling out for money is Judas Iscariot (Mark 14:10-11.) He sold out our Lord for thirty pieces of silver. It seems there is nothing someone won’t do for money. It has been said that every man has a price.

Just as Satan lied to our first parents in Eden, his followers continue to lie today. What is horrendous is that we believe those lies. Adam and Eve fell by faith! They believed Satan instead of God. God said, “Thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:17.) Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4.) Who do you believe? It doesn’t even take a GED to make this choice. Do you really believe our leaders can continue to mock God, ignore God and even blaspheme God and get by with it? We do not have to answer for our leaders, but we do have to answer for ourselves. Just as the lost must stand before God’s great white throne and be judged (Revelation 20:12,) Christians must stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 3:24-25) and be judged.

Whether you are delighted or despondent over the election, I pray your faith is centered in the One Who alone can affect your eternal future.

Keep Looking Up!

Leland Maples