Is it Wrong to Desire Money?
Thoughts on 1 Timothy 6
1 Timothy 6:12 “For the love of money is the root of all evil for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
In his letter to the young leader and preacher, Timothy, the apostle Paul was warned Timothy about the danger of desiring to be rich opposed to, and in contrast to, the beauty of contentment and godliness. Before this famous quote about the love of money, Paul had been talking about the great gain of godliness and contentment when combined together and how ”…those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Why? What is wrong with riches and money? Why is it wrong to love money? To me, it is an issue of the condition of our hearts. It is a symptom of greed. Greed is never satisfied and opposes contentment.
Paul exhorted Timothy to flee the love and desire for riches and to “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness”. All these qualities are eternal qualities, attributes of God and also the fruit of His Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). Paul admonishes Timothy to fight the good fight of faith and to lay hold of eternal life to which he was called. This fruit of the holy, eternal Spirit, alive in the heart, are part of the blessed eternal life to be laid hold of and to which we are called. These qualities/fruits are riches that are priceless and immeasurable in value and worth. As Jesus says; Treasures in heaven that cannot grow old or rust, treasures that do “not fail, where no thief approaches or moth destroys” (Luke 12:33-34). Jesus goes on to make a point “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:25).
These qualities/fruits are worth fighting for and the way we fight for them is by faith. They are the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven received, kept, pursued and grown by faith. Jesus said “Do not fear little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
As I see it in my heart, Paul’s statement about the love of money being the root of all evil is a matter of the heart, where our treasure is, and being discontent and unwilling to trust God. It is desire gone astray, focus eschewed, greed becoming rooted. The desire for riches draws our attention away from the fixed gaze of our heart upon God and all He is and trusting Him, to fixing our gaze upon the uncertainty and deceitfulness of this world’s riches to fulfill our lusts and give us what we need and want. In essence, money becomes our God. We become like whatever we are fixing our thoughts and hearts upon, whatever we are gazing upon, whatever we make our pursuit.
In the context of the quoted scripture, Paul was warning against those that supposed godliness was a means of gain and used godliness to get what they lusted after. Using godliness to make money or become rich. He made the point that godliness with contentment is certainly great gain. He described how we came into the world without anything and will not be carrying anything with us when we leave. He made a point about the importance of being content in contrast to those who desire and long to be rich. This longing and desire causes us to fall into temptation, becomes a snare, causes men to fall into foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and the love of money causes a straying away from the faith by greediness piercing the heart with many sorrows.
This is what happens when we make our aim and quest money or riches, when our heart attributes riches as the quenching of the needs and lusts of our hearts. The unsatiable appetite of “wanting more” instead of contented peace.
Paul spoke about contentment not as an indifferent, poor, poverty state of mind and heart that doesn’t desire anything. He clarified what contentment was in his letter to the Philippians. He said he had learned in whatever state he was in to be content: “I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and be hungry, both to abound and suffer need – I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).
Back to his letter to Timothy, Paul also addressed those who were already rich, already wealthy at the time he was writing this letter. He told Timothy to command them “…not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God Who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold of eternal life.”
The question for me is not the question is money evil in and of itself. I don’t oppose that it is possible that money is evil because of the corruption of the human race. The point highlighted to me is the condition of the heart, what we are desiring, pursuing, seeking… what and in who we are trusting in and the need for and power of contentment, humility and the eternal treasure of the fruits of the Spirit.
Proverbs 4:23 says “Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life”
Colossians 3:2 says “set your mind on things above , not on the things on the earth for you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” Set your mind on things above is really to fix and set your mind and heart on those things that are eternal.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – 1 Corinthians 14:1 says “And now abide faith hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love. Pursue love…” Love is the greatest pursuit with the richest reward.
2 Peter1:5-9 says to give all diligence to add to your faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love…”for if these things are yours and abound, you will neither be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” Adding all these qualities to our hearts and lives causes us to more intimately know our LORD Jesus in Whom are all these qualities.
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
The greatest, most priceless eternal treasure we could ever have is Jesus, Himself, living in our hearts. The priceless, eternal treasure of Jesus with all the fullness of His unending love and resurrected life, all He is living inside this vessel of clay, along with His promise to never leave us or forsake us. This priceless, precious, matchless, reconciled, intimate relationship with God cannot even be compared to any form of wealth and riches. Once we become rooted in this truth, money, or any other thing that might be trusted in apart from God, loses its appeal and draw… and we find the peace of contentment in any and every situation we find ourselves in. If riches increase, we don’t set our hearts upon them, but upon God Who gives us all things to enjoy and to give.
Paul’s instructions to the rich contrast with those of James. Paul commands the rich to be humble, trust God, giving, doing good works, be willing to share. Another words, realizing they have been blessed to be a blessing. James, in contrast, addresses those that are rich, whose hearts have been captivated and corrupted by the pursuit of riches… whose riches “are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire… You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury, you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just…” This is a picture of being consumed with riches and the desire for it.
Psalm 62:10 “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
Lamentations 3:24 – “The LORD is my portion says my soul, therefore I hope in Him.”
When we realize that the LORD Himself is our portion, when the powerful, divine revelation, insight and understanding hits our hearts of the unending, indescribable, immeasurable riches of salvation; the incomprehensible, everlasting love of God, the unsearchable gift of Jesus living in our hearts and all He is, and the priceless treasure of eternal life in the Kingdom of God, our desires are overwhelmingly filled with longing for Him and to grow in intimacy with our God. The desire for material things and riches loses their shine and appeal. If we should be drawn away into the desire to be rich, we will be pierced with many sorrows. We need to run away from the desire of riches and run to God. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life.
“Cursed is the man who trust in man and makes flesh is strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
Blessed is the man who trust in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leave will be green. And will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17: 5-8
