ICS Daily Devotions
Don’t Fall in Love with Money
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The church needs to have a balanced biblical perspective of money because not only do we need money to live in this world, we also need money to finance the preaching of Gospel. So how do we to live in this world but not live like the world?
First, we need to understand that money in itself is neutral. Much faulty teaching has equated being poor with holiness and being rich with worldliness and not loving God, but the opening verse says that it is the love of money that is the root of all evil. In fact, both the rich and the poor can love money, and not just the rich. Both of them may seek a quick return on their money; they only differ in the ways that they go about it.
It is interesting that the palms of newborn babies are always clenched as if they are ready to pursue all that they want in this world. They then spend their whole lives slogging it out with all means. It can either be an honest living, or unscrupulous means of making a living with much sorrow whereby their health, families or relationships are strained. However, even if they attain wealth, fame and success, they are still not satisfied with life because of the emptiness in their hearts. Have you noticed how people’s palms are when they pass away? They are opened up as if they are letting go, because they won’t be able to bring anything along—status, money, property or belonging. Everyone leaves this world empty-handed.
The “happiness” of many super-rich and successful people is nothing but a façade. They hide themselves behind alcohol, drugs, sex, and merry-making; they boast to make themselves feel good. The reason why many celebrities get into drugs, homosexuality and suicide is because of emptiness.
Many people in authority will also realise the emptiness in their lives when they relinquish their posts. When they are no longer powerful and mighty, they lose the respect from people that they used to have. They then realise that what they have been pursuing is just emptiness without a destination or objective—they have been nothing but a slave of mammon.
Sermon Series: Finding True Rest
