GREED AND COVETOUSNESS – “THE LOVE OF MONEY”: THE THREE MAJOR CAUSES AND THEIR SIDE EFFECTS!
“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) (Emphasis Mine).
Money (Finance) is a de facto medium of exchange. On it’s own, it’s not EVIL or an EVIL or the ROOT of EVIL or ROOT of all EVIL as some acclaimed; but it is ‘THE LOVE OF MONEY’ and to simply say – “THE LOVE OF THE MONEY” itself, that is, the ROOT of ALL EVIL.
Money is GOOD. It’s a great means of defence that answers and it’s answering man’s QUEST in doing life, especially when diligently, wisely and prudently obtained and expended without prejudice and dissimulation.
However, ‘THE LOVE OF MONEY’ has some CAUSES and side EFFECTS especially when obtained by GREED and COVETEOUSNESS.
Herein are THREE WARNING SIGNS in order not to be in a position of being captivated and enslaved by – THE LOVE OF MONEY – obtained by GREED and COVETOUSNESS:
#1. It causes WORRY: A lack of Sleep – sleepless moments when the balance sheet is not meeting expectations or overwhelmingly breaking your set point.
“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: BUT THE ABUNDANCE OF THE RICH WILL NOT SUFFER HIM TO SLEEP” Ecclesiastes 5:12.
“The sleep of a working man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; BUT THE FULL STOMACH (GREED) OF THE RICH [WHO HUNGERS FOR EVEN MORE] WILL NOT LET HIM SLEEP” Ecclesiastes 5:12/Amplified.
#2. It causes DISSATISFACTIONS: It allows greediness and covetousness to breed in all forms, thereby create discomfort and unhealthy sphere.
“He that LOVETH SILVER shall not be SATISFIED with SILVER; nor he that LOVETH ABUNDANCE with INCREASE: this is also vanity” Ecclesiastes 5:10.
“He who LOVES MONEY will not be SATISFIED with MONEY, nor he who LOVES ABUNDANCE with its GAIN. This too is vanity (emptiness)” Ecclesiastes 5:10/Amplified
#3. It causes TEMPTATION: It allows and leads to the breaking of set rules and regulations, even the statutory law, in order to get and acquire more at any cost – which many have become accustomed.
“A FAITHFUL man shall ABOUND with blessings: BUT HE THAT MAKETH HASTE TO BE RICH SHALL NOT BE INNOCENT. 21 To have respect of persons is not good: FOR FOR A PIECE OF BREAD THAT MAN WILL TRANSGRESS. 22 He that HASTETH TO BE RICH hath AN EVIL EYE, and considereth not that POVERTY shall come upon him” Proverbs 28:20-22.
“The TRUSTWORTHY person will get a RICH reward, but A PERSON WHO WANTS QUICK RICHES WILL GET INTO TROUBLE. 21 Showing partiality is never good, YET SOME WILL DO WRONG FOR A MERE PIECE OF BREAD. 22 GREEDY PEOPLE TRY TO GET RICH QUICK but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty” Proverbs 28:20 NLT.
Money is good in itself when it’s made to serve or be a servant and not as lord to any and every vital and legal means of living and doing life. Make it your servant or errand tool only and not your life controller, then you will experience the PEACE of mind indescribable. With peace of mind one is able to be CONTENTED, live GODLY, and to keep temptation, worry – anxiety and dissatisfaction at bay.
I pray you will not be entangled in bondage as a money lover for a mere self and selfish gratifications at the expense of others, the rule of law, and the decency and order in and for the community.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“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) (Emphasis Mine).
“A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: BUT MONEY ANSWERETH ALL THINGS” (Ecclesiastes 10:19).
“If any man teach OTHERWISE, and consent not to WHOLESOME WORDS, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to GODLINESS; 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, SUPPOSING that GAIN IS GODLINESS: from such WITHDRAW thyself. 6 But GODLINESS with CONTENTMENT is GREAT GAIN. 7 For we brought NOTHING into this world, and it is certain we can CARRY NOTHING OUT” 1 Timothy 6:3-7.
“But if anyone DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS OWN, and especially for those of his HOUSEHOLD, he has DENIED THE FAITH and is WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER” 1 Timothy 5:8/NKJV
“WISDOM is good with an inheritance: and by it there is PROFIT to them that see the sun. 12 FOR WISDOM IS A DEFENCE, AND MONEY IS A DEFENCE: but the EXCELLENCY of KNOWLEDGE is, that WISDOM giveth LIFE to them that have it” Ecclesiastes 7:11-12.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: STAY AWAY FROM ALL BELIEVERS WHO LIVE IDLE LIVES AND DON’T FOLLOW THE TRADITION THEY RECEIVED FROM US. 7 For you know that you ought to IMITATE us. We were NOT IDLE when we were with you. 8 WE NEVER ACCEPTED FOOD FROM ANYONE WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT. We WORKED hard day and night so we would NOT BE A BURDEN to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an EXAMPLE to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “THOSE UNWILLING TO WORK WILL NOT GET TO EAT.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are LIVING IDLE LIVES, REFUSING TO WORK AND MEDDLING IN OTHER PEOPLE’S BUSINESS. 12 We COMMAND such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to SETTLE DOWN AND WORK TO EARN THEIR OWN LIVING” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12/NLT
REV. CHUKIE MORSI