“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Unreported income. Under the table cash. Failure to pay taxes. Extravagant spending resulting in excessive debt. Underpaying employees. Casino gambling. Online gaming for money. Fraud. Fudging the books. Hidden schemes not disclosed to unsuspecting customers. Inflating prices or ripping off an easy customer. Failure to be generous to those in need. Greed and selfishness. Pride and arrogance. Marriage breakups. Under-parented children. Crooked deals. Lack of total commitment to the things of God and the local fellowship of believers – and the list of kinds of evil is just beginning.
Loving money is the underlying cause of many evils in our lives, our homes and local churches and the world at large.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1Timothy 6:10
In the Old Testament, the very first scandal that rocked Israel after they crossed the Jordan River, heading into the new land of Canaan, was a money scandal. The embarrassing defeat in their attempt to conquer the little town of Ai was eventually traced to comrade Achan’s love of money. He had stolen some gold and other things from the ruins of an earlier conquest. What he thought was secretly stashed away in his tent was exposed by God and led to his demise. Be sure your sin will find you out! Yes, the first scandal in Canaan was a money scandal.
In the New Testament, the first scandal that rocked the Christian church was – guess what? Did the story in Acts 5 unfold something like this?
Sapphira: “Dear, we should do something. Others are donating their possessions to the Lord and His work. We look like we’re doing nothing. We look like we’re selfish.”
Ananias: “Look at what people are saying about Joseph Barnabas and his gift! We should sell off that land. Liquidate some of our assets. The developers want it anyway! If they were impressed with the Barnabas gift, wouldn’t people be wowed by our gift as proof of our generosity and what good Christians we are!!”
Narrator: And that’s exactly what they did. They sold their land, and just now, they’re talking in the kitchen:
Ananias: “So honey, we got the money. A lot of the people were asking about the property. Some of the Christians were wondering why I was selling it. I told them, I wanted to give the proceeds to the Lord. He deserves it all. They seemed impressed. But, even if we just give half of it and keep the other half for ourselves – who would know? It would still be a very big amount. They would think we gave it all. We would still have enough to do what we want. A Mediterranean cruise sounds nice.”
Sapphira: “Dear, I’m with you on this one. It sounds like a plan!”
Ananias: “Peter’s jaws will drop when he counts the money we bring to him. If he thought Joseph Barnabas’ gift was big – ours will knock the socks of him. It’ll blow him away.”
But it wasn’t Peter’s jaws that dropped. It was Ananias who dropped – literally. In fact, he dropped down dead. A direct intervention from the Lord to let Christians know, right at the outset of the Church, that sin is extremely serious. Sin must be dealt with.
Money is a huge temptation for most people. Not one of us should think we are ‘safe’ from ever committing a money sin. That sin can be committed in many different ways – but no matter what way we go about it, it’s serious.
Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions and be satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have; for He, God, Himself has said, “I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I willnot, I willnot in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!” Hebrews 13:5 AMPLIFIED
To flirt with money is to flirt with danger and disaster. Flirting leads to love, and love leads to action, which paves the way to a scandal. Think of the shame a scandal brings. It’s dishonouring to the Lord; it breeds cynicism in those who don’t know Christ; it brings shame on the local church, shame upon one’s family, and a strike against your very own name.
Read it here. Michael J Fox Fears His Religion Isn’t Working
May we cry to the Lord daily to be preserved from dishonouring His lovely and Holy Name by loving money or any other temptation.
Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you – in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.
