Thought 141
Greed
“…men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain . . . People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:5-6,9-10 (NIV1984)
We need to have wisdom in our finances, be faithful stewards of all the resources the Lord has given us, and work hard. However, if you love money and think that being a Christina is a way into getting more money, be careful! The Bible is full of financial principles in the Proverbs and elsewhere, but the Word also says, “Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse. (Proverbs 28:6 NIV1984)”
I am not saying that it is holier to be poor than rich, but I am saying that contentment with the Lord is where the real gains lie. Gains of peace, joy, and eternal things.
Loving money is not providing for your family or working hard to save for a house or other need. The passage in 1 Timothy simply teaches, don’t be eager for money. Greed is the problem, that is the attitude/motivation/spirit that God is dealing with in Scripture. So don’t be afraid to work hard, give, save, invest, and manage money wisely. Thank the Lord for what He has given you and for providing for your and others’ needs through your labors. The Lord simply wants us to be faithful with everything that He has given us and He has warned us of the common pitfalls of leaving faithfulness to self-centeredness to guide us.
Read 1 Timothy 6:3-10.
May God bless you in your finances and stewardship. And may you be humble and thankful for what the Lord has given, no matter how great or how small.
