Why is the love of money the root of all evil?
Question: "Why is the love of money the root of all kinds of evil?" Answer: The apostle Paul, in his first letter to his young disciple, Timothy, had this to say: “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” (1 Timothy 6:10).
What does the Bible say about money and evil?
The Bible makes it quite clear that sin is the root of all evil in the world ( Matthew 15:19; Romans 5:12; James 1:15 ). However, when we reflect upon the correct citation of this verse, we see that it is the love of money, not money itself, that is a source of all different kinds of trouble and evil.
How does the love of money work its destruction?
The love of money works its destruction by luring the soul to forsake faith. Faith is the contented trust in Christ that Paul referred to in verse 6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Faith says, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content ” ( Philippians 4:11 ).
What did Jesus have to say about money?
Jesus had much to say about wealth. His most memorable conversation about money is His encounter with the rich young ruler ( Matthew 19:16–30 ). The young man asks Jesus what he must do to obtain eternal life, and Jesus tells him to follow the commandments.
What does the Bible say about money?
The Bible verse in question here is 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. ”. First, let’s read through a few different translations of this Bible verse to get a sense of how the Apostle Paul is using it:
What does Paul say about wanting to be rich?
“‘ They who wish to be rich’ After having exhorted him to be content , and to despise riches, he now explains how dangerous is the desire of having them, and especially in the ministers of the Church, of whom he expressly speaks in this passage. Now the cause of the evils, which the Apostle here enumerates, is not riches, but an eager desire of them, even though the person should be poor. And here Paul shews not only what generally happens, but what must always happen; for every man that has resolved to become rich gives himself up as a captive to the devil. Most true is that saying of the heathen poet, — ‘He who is desirous of becoming rich is also desirous of acquiring riches soon.’ Hence it follows, that all who are violently desirous of acquiring wealth rush headlong.
What was the Apostle Paul's point?
The Apostle Paul was making a deeper point about how to live our lives for a vision and a purpose that is bigger than money so that we know how to use that money well.
Why was Paul a tentmaker?
Paul himself was a businessman—he owned a tent making business (Acts 18:3). Paul was a tentmaker so that he didn’t have to take money from churches. If tent making enabled Paul to do ministry without taking money from churches, then this means he turned a profit—more than that, it means he desired to turn a profit.
What does it mean when you feel guilty about money?
If you feel guilty about money because of this verse, liberate yourself from that guilt. If you guilt others about money because of this verse, you are now free to stop. But most of all—in Christ, we are free not to pursue money above all else, but to live for something bigger than ourselves: loving God and neighbor.
Why do Christians feel guilty about making money?
Christians often feel guilty about making money—especially because of a misunderstanding of 1 Timothy 6:10. Take this opportunity to ease people of that guilt and change their understanding of this text from a prohibition against wealth to a warning about wealth . 2.
Who is Paul Maxwell?
Paul Maxwell, Ph.D., is the Content Strategist at Tithe.ly. Find him at paulmaxwell.co.
What does the Bible say about money?
Bible Verses About Money. Ecclesiastes 7:12: “Money is a protection. ”. Meaning: When used wisely, money can be beneficial because it adds a measure of security. Luke 12:15: “Even when a person has an abundance, his life does not result from the things he possesses.”.
Why is money beneficial?
Meaning:When used wisely, money can be beneficial because it adds a measure of security.
What does it mean when a camel is easier to get through a needle's eye than a rich?
Matthew 19:24: “It is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. ”. Meaning: Jesus had just invited a rich young man to follow him. The man refused because he was too attached to his possessions. So Jesus was giving a warning.
Does greed give you everlasting life?
Greedy people will not gain everlasting life. ( Ephesians 5:5) For one thing, greed is a form of idolatry, or false worship. ( Colossians 3:5) For another, in their effort to get what they desire, the greedy often abandon good principles. Those “hastening to get rich will not remain innocent,” says Proverbs 28:20.
Is money wrong?
Meaning:Money in itself is not wrong. But people who lovemoney—who make it their main focus in life—bring problems on themselves, such as broken families and poor health from overwork.
Does the Bible say money is evil?
The Bible’s answer. No. The Bible does not say that money is evil, nor does it identify money as the underlying cause of all bad things. The common expression “money is the root of all evil” is an incomplete and misleading Bible quotation.
What does God know about money?
God knows the tendency of our hearts, and the temptation to hold onto our money. In giving it away, it keeps the love of money at bay, and God on the throne of our hearts. When we’re willing to let go of it, we learn to trust He provides for us, not our astute ability to earn money. “It is not money that is a root of all kinds of evil, ...
What did Paul warn Timothy about?
Paul warned Timothy of the correlation between money and evil. Expensive and flashy things naturally capture our human craving for more stuff, but no amount will ever satisfy our souls.
Why does God command us to tithe?
God commands us to tithe as an issue of heart loyalty , not a number to religiously check off our to-do list. God knows the tendency of our hearts, and the temptation to hold onto our money. In giving it away, it keeps the love of money at bay, and God on the throne of our hearts.
What is the root of all these evils?
But the root of all these evils is the love of money, and there are some who have desired it and have erred from the faith and have brought themselves many miseries.
What does "for the love of money" mean?
International Standard Version. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain. Literal Standard Version.
What does the Bible say about the love of money?
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils, which some, stretching after, have been seduced away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many sorrows. King James Bible.
Which while some coveted after?
Which while some coveted after. --There is a slight irregularity in the image here, but the sense of the expression is perfectly clear. It is, of course, not the "love of money," strictly speaking, which "some have coveted after," but the money itself. The thought in the writer's mind probably was--The man coveting gold longs for opportunities in which his covetousness (love of money) may find a field for exercise. Such inaccuracies in language are not uncommon in St. Paul's writings, as, for instance, Romans 8:24, where he writes of "hope that is seen."
Is the love of money a source of evil?
For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows. GOD'S WORD® Translation. Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
Is money a root of evil?
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
What is the root of all evils?
Only desires for anything minus God destroy. That is what the love of money represents. Therefore, this love is the root of all evils that men commit. Because all evils come from that root desire — the desire for anything minus God.
How does the love of money work?
How? “Through this love of money some have wandered away from the faith .” The love of money works its destruction by luring the soul to forsake faith. Faith is the contented trust in Christ that Paul referred to in verse 6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Faith says, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content ” ( Philippians 4:11 ). Faith has contentment in all circumstances because it has Christ, and Christ makes up for every loss: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” ( Philippians 3:8 ).
Why does the desire to be rich not just result in one desire for money but “many desires”?
Paul is tracing the cause of these “man y desires” back to the love of money as the root of “all evils.” Why does the desire to be rich not just result in one desire for money but “many desires”? Because the love of money is the root of vastly more than we usually think it is. It is the root of all evils that men do. Paul is tracing the multiplicity of desires that flow from the desire to be rich down deep to a root that accounts for “many” because it accounts for “all.”
Why does Paul say the desire to be rich has this effect?
Then Paul says the desire to be rich has this effect “ because the love of money is the root of all evils.”. The “desire to be rich” in verse 9 corresponds to “the love of money” in verse 10a.
What does sin mean in Romans?
Or, to put it another way, sin is “exchanging God for the creation” (see Romans 1:23, 25 ). In other words, at root, sin is preferring anything above God. “All evils” come from this preferring, or this desiring. If something is desired for God’s sake, that desire is not sin.
Is it nonsense to talk about money as the root of all evil?
So, whether we focus on the way 1 Timothy 6:10a relates backward to verse 9, or forward to the rest of verse 10, the conclusion is the same: It is not nonsense to speak of the love of money being the root of all evils. Changing this in translation to “all kinds of evil” is unnecessary (and when you think about it, “ all kinds” is probably just as problematic as “ all evils”).
Is "every kind of evil" a parallel?
Many translations render this “of all kinds of evil.” . . . But there is no parallel for taking a construction like this to mean “all kinds of” or “every kind of.” The normal sense is “all evils.”
