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.

1 Timothy 6: 10 (KJV)

This verse often gets misinterpreted and I also misunderstood it for the longest time. I used to think that the verse was saying money was the root of all evil as that’s how it was frequently quoted. I thought that it meant anyone who got money, had a good job or was rich, would eventually turn evil.

However that is not what the verse is saying. It is saying that the love of money is the root of all evil. As money in and of itself is just paper that’s been given value. It’s an inanimate object that when you think about it is meaningless in the big scheme of things in the universe.

But when you love money that is when there is a problem. Like that time Jesus was talking to the rich man in Matthew 19: 16-30 who asked Him how he could get into heaven. Jesus answered his question by saying keep the commandments and the man was like, I do that. Then Jesus said if you want to be perfect then give up your possessions to the poor and come and follow Me. The man then left as he could not bear to part with his possessions as he had many. Then Jesus said the famous verse: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (verses 23-24).

So the love of money, of material wealth, can get in the way of your relationship with God and your journey to salvation.

However it is not just a problem for Christians it is a problem for everyone. I mean look at the world right now. The governments of this world are more concerned with the economy and keeping the rich, rich than beating this virus. Even when there is no virus the rich work very hard to make sure they stay rich and we stay poor.

And does that money bring them happiness? I don’t believe so. All it gives them is power and what is power in the afterlife. It’s just so meaningless.

Sometimes I think those who love money are like Tinker bell. In the story of Peter Pan and Wendy it is said that Tinker bell can only contain one emotion at a time because she is so small, so when she is angry that is all she feels.

So when people love money that is all that they can love. The love of money eventually consumes them until money is all that they can see and all that they value. Whereas when you love God it opens your heart to becoming a more loving person and loving others as much as you love yourself.

It is not just the rich who are in danger of getting dragon’s disease (it’s interesting that the love of wealth, greed, was such a dangerous thing in The Hobbit and LoTR) but ordinary people too. We can fall into the trap which is why I think there are verses in the bible warning against it.

At the end of the day you have to check yourself when you find yourself falling or have people in your life who are genuine and would check you and bring you back from the brink. If you’re Christian prayer is good and very helpful too, even if you’re not Christian you can still pray if you want to.

So yeah the love of money is dangerous not so much money itself. You can have money and be middle class and yet not love money. You can share your wealth and help others to have financial security too. Instead of loving money and hording it and letting it consume you, you can share it and use it to help others.