For the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.People often go wrong on several fronts when trying to unpack what is being said in this verse. We take it out of context. We leave words out. We twist it to say something it doesn't, because that fits our own narrative. In order to understand this verse, we need the entire verse, all the words, and not cherry pick for our own purposes.
Nowhere in this verse does it say that money itself is evil. Neither does it say being wealthy is bad. Paul was never one to mince words, and if that is what he had meant, he wouldn't have hesitated to say it. Paul had lived a life of wealth, and saw the pitfalls he was warning against. He understood there is no inherent virtue in being poor, and it is quite possible to do the right thing, even if you are rich. It isn't about quantity of money, it's about the quality of how you use it that matters. Taken in context, this verse is a lesson about the motives of false leaders, and the troubles we get ourselves into when we worship at the foot of someone temporal and transient, instead of the God of all eternity.
Jesus had followers from many walks of life. He was an itinerant teacher, wandering from town to town to spread his message, and I am sure he had need for money to pay for food, some transportation and other items needed by those dedicated to his ministry. In Luke 8:1-3, we are told that Jesus was supported by a number of women out of their own means, and we know from other passages that he had a few followers who came from wealthy backgrounds. His disciples came from a variety of backgrounds, as well, and it's not hard to imagine that they, or their families, may have provided support along the way, too.
Paul was telling us in this passage that money is a tool, much like any other tool. It can provide for needs, and it can assist us in reaching a goal. But when the money itself becomes the object of our desire, that is where we run into trouble, because we shift our focus from what we are trying to build together to what we can acquire for ourselves. We to me. There was no me in the teaching of Jesus. He lived his life, and died a horrible death, in the service of others. That is our example, and how he expects us to live our lives.
We all need money to live, especially in this day and time. We can no longer eek out a subsistence living, growing our own food and living in a cave or a tent or log cabin in isolation. The world is simply too interconnected, and we are too dependent to go backwards now. God doesn't criticize us for working hard, for supporting our families, for planning for retirement, for taking a vacation, for doing anything that money allows us to do. But he also wants us to use our money for the right purposes, to put it into the proper perspective, to stay focused on the power of the cross and not the dollars we put in the bank.
I am grateful for the money we have to live a decent life. I am thankful each time I pay a bill, buy food or care for my health that I can afford to do so. God has provided for my needs in many ways, and money is just one of them. It is up to me to use this tool in a way that glorifies the God who gave me everything I have.
Dear Lord, thank you for providing us with the money to support our lives and pay for the things we need. I will keep sight of the real gift as I journey to the cross, and keep money in the right perspective. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment