Money Is The Root Of Evil?

   We have heard it said many times that “money is the root of evil”. The band Pink Floyd even used it in their song Money, and either knowingly or not was actually referring to the Bible. The songs says “Money, so they say, is the root of all evil today.” That songs has stuck in many minds; and people who don’t know the Bible have a false misrepresentation of the verse as seen here, to make God look like we should all live in poverty and misery. That we should shun money because it’s evil, but really is just an excuse for them to not follow God. They have never really investigated what the Bible says and read it in context.

This is what the Bible actually says:
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. 1Tim. 6:9-10

   When we follow money and not God we get into all kinds of trouble. Many people have lost family, friends, their faith, their health, broken laws, put aside morality, done unmentionable things…… all for money. So you see, the problem is not the money, the problem is the love (lusts, obsession, passion) to obtain it.

   Notice the words “the love of” in this passage, which the world conveniently omits. It’s not the money itself that is evil, it’s the love of it. Also, money isn’t the main root, but “A root“. So that means there are many other roots. And last, not just evil, but “all kinds” of evil. All shapes and forms. Small evil. Big evil. Evil that pulls us away from our faith that pierces us with many sorrows.

   I’d like to paraphrase this verse and say, “It’s OK to have money and things, just as long as they don’t have you”.

   Read those verses again and again, there is a powerful truth contained therein. No wonder the world has changed the meaning of it to keep people from following God. Truth is, when we put God first, we obtain riches untold. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and these things shall be added to you”. Matt. 6:33

Blessings!
Elder Steve Smith