The Root of All Kinds of Evil

"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 (NIV)

A few years ago, I read about the true story of a 34-year-old man in China who staged his own death to collect $110,000 in life insurance, hiding the deed from his wife. Believing her husband was dead, she took their two children and drove into a pond to "join him in the afterlife." When the man discovered what had happened, he turned himself in, knowing his love of money had killed his family.

The Apostle Paul's warning speaks to this danger. Notice he doesn't say money itself is evil: money is morally neutral, like a tool. The danger lies in loving money more than loving people, and more than loving God. This twisted affection can begin to feed all kinds of evil: greed, fraud, violence, broken relationships, and spiritual destruction.

You might think you don't love money that much, but consider the warning signs: do you ever feel unsatisfied with what you have? Or how about feeling anxious when you can't acquire something you want? Do you find that spending and keeping money matter more than giving it away? These symptoms reveal where our heart truly rests.

But you don’t have to allow money's love to make you wander from the strength of your faith. You can stay close to God. Instead of your spiritual priorities shifting or material pursuits consuming your attention, you can turn to God today and love Him fully. 

Ask the Lord to search your heart, revealing roots of greed you didn’t realize were there. As you give your heart’s complete devotion to Him, you’ll possess the only real treasure that lasts forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for promising to provide for all my needs. Father, I pray for Your wisdom to manage money well without pursuing it. Guard my heart from loving money more than loving You, and help me treasure eternal riches. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.