THE BIBLE AND THE LOVE OF MONEY

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BIBLE AND THE LOVE OF MONEY

Presented by: Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Devotional Text: 1Tim. 6:3-10

INTRODUCTION:

        “Silver and Gold” are the foremost biblical terms for money {see Acts 3:3-4}, which by DIVINE providence is given to mankind for the exchange of goods and services. Properly placed, money, as an instrument of economic transaction should not be granted the DIVINE position of affection which belong to GOD alone {Matt. 22:37}. And, everything goes wrong, when the love that should be directed towards our GOD, who is the KING of the universe, is mindlessly shifted to money {1 Tim. 6:10}, which, in turn, breeds all sorts of evil in human society. Money is good, and should be earned for its purposes {Eccl. 10:19}, but, it becomes an instrument of evil, when it is blindly loved and pursued. This, the Holy Scripture remarks that, ... “the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, have erred from the faith, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows, {1 Tim. 6:10}

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)       Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of it, {vs. 10}

(2)       The love of money leads to all sorts of evil, {vs. 10}

(3)       Money is supposed to be a servant, and not a master, {vs. 10}

(4)       The love of money makes it a master, and not a servant, {vs. 10}

THE LOVE OF MONEY AND EVIL IN SOCIETY

By way of information, all the people in families, communities, countries or people who share things in common can be referred to as society, and so, constitute all those the love of money can affect. The love of money has no limits, in terms of the extent it can draw humanity, as it can subdue both the religious and non-religious individuals; young or old, male or female, parents or children, irrespective of their environment.

The love of money is that affection one places on money above or against GOD, HIS WORD and fellow human, which, in turn, leads to complete desertion of faith and fellowship with GOD and HIS people. This is the level of apostasy or backsliding that leads to all sorts of evil in society, which the Apostle Paul, in his letter cautions against, {1 Tim. 6:10}. Here, the apostle affirms that the love of money is the root of all evil {vs. 10} and breeds covetousness, which the Holy Scripture refers to as idolatry, {Col. 3:5}. Generally, the love of money, by the verdict of GOD’S WORD leads to:

i)                     Godlessness and departure from faith in CHRIST, {vs. 10}

ii)                    All sorts of evil practices, which are evident in society, {vs. 10}

iii)                  Many sorrows which torment people who love money in society, {vs. 10}

THE LOVE OF MONEY AND EVIL IN GOVERNMENT

The evil which the love of money can stir in government officials and their law enforcement agents can readily be pictured in the biblical account of the bribe offered to soldiers, in a bid to deny the truth about the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR. The story shows that, “while the women were on their way to break the good news of HIS resurrection, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priest everything that had happened. When the chief priest had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the solders a large sum of money, telling them, you are to say, HIS disciples came during the night and stole HIM away while we were asleep.” If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So, the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed... {Matt. 28:11-15}.

The above narrative is the same or similar in today’s world, as government officials or functionaries in the contemporary world are often guilty of taking or offering bribes, at the expense of the people they govern. But, government officials or functionaries are, by the demand of GOD’S WORD, expected to shun every act that sponsor falsehood for personal gains {1 Tim. 6:6-10}, as soldiers and other law enforcement agents are enjoined to get rid of extortion, and be satisfied with their pay, {Luke 3:14}. Therefore, the love of money is manifest in government, when;

(i)                    Officials offer bribes to deceive the people for personal gains, {matt. 28:12-15}

(ii)                  Soldiers and other law enforcement agents are induced to take bribes to do things that are not lawful,{vs. 12-15}

(iii)                 Government staff or workers are no longer satisfied with their wages, but take bribes, in addition to what they are paid, {Luke 7:12-12}

THE LOVE OF MONEY AND EVIL IN THE CHURCH

The reaction of JESUS CHRIST our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR in the temple against those who turned the House of GOD into a business centre shows how the LORD our GREAT GOD frowns at the evil of the love of money in the church. The account reveals that ... “HE found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changes doing business. When HE had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple... and said to them, Take these things away! Do not make MY FATHER’S house a house of merchandise,” {john 2:14-16}.

No doubt, the highest form of the love of money and the evil it generates, are what play out in places of worship where money-making is at the centre-stage, at the expense of soul-winning and deliverance of the people from evil forces, which are designed by GOD, to be freely offered, {Matt. 10:7-8}. Today, people market prayers, tag prices for deliverance services, sell different types of religious ornaments {beads, apron, candle, hand-kerchief, etc} at exorbitant prices, under the guise of praying for people, whereas, the main motive is money, which has resulted in multitude of evil happening in the Christianity of our generation. Based on the foregoing, therefore, this lesson opines that the love of money stirs the evil(s) of;

(i)        Turning the House of GOD  into a business centre, {John 2:14-16}

(ii)      Paid deliverance services, against the WORD of GOD , which says is free, {Matt. 10:7-8}

(iii)     Marketing religious ornaments for prayer, instead of simple prayer of faith in the NAME OF JESUS, {Mark. 16:17-18}

In conclusion, this lesson is a demonstration of the biblical truth that the love of money and the evil it generates cuts across the society, government and the church, as well as shows that the LORD generally frowns at it. And so, to escape the damnation which the love of money brings, people are enjoined to repent and refrain from it, {Luke 3:12-14}. BEWARE OF GREED!