“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
 
A basic question for a Christian is this: Is money a good thing or a bad thing? It’s not a good a thing and it’s not a bad thing. It’s what it is. It really depends on what you use it for. And it really depends on the heart of the one who possesses it. Money, when it is for good or for goods, is good. But money, when it is good in and of itself, becomes idolatry.

The most important thing to remember here is that money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money is the root of all evil. And that really makes sense for a Christian because, when you think about the teaching of Jesus, Jesus teaches about love, doesn’t he? You love your neighbor, you love God, you love his kingdom, you love the things he loves, you love people, you love children. But to be a person who loves money is like a betrayal to the most core value of Jesus’ teaching.

You can’t love money and love God. You can’t love money and truly love people because the love for people that you claim to have is only made truly evident in sacrifice. And people who love money sacrifice people for money. They don’t sacrifice money for people. That’s why you can’t love both God and money. You can’t serve both God and money. You can’t worship both God and money. And you can’t trust both God and money. You trust one or you trust the other.

Prayer: Dear Lord, though I sometimes worry that I don’t have enough money, I pray that I can depend more on you, trusting you will provide all I need. Amen.

Reflection: What do you trust more? God? Money?