1 Timothy 6:3-10
New International Version (NIV)
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Deuteronomy 8:18
New International Version (NIV)
18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Ecclesiastes 10 : 19
New International Version
A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry and money is the answer for everything.
Some people may think these scriptures contradict themselves. If the love of money is the root of all evil then how is it that money answers everything and it’s God that gives us the ability to get wealth? Does He want us to have money or not?
For starters, you can’t live in this world without money. You need it to buy food to eat, pay for the house you live in, buy gas for your car etc. The same way Love is the currency for Heaven’s economy, Money is the currency for the world’s economy. With this in mind, I believe God wants us to have money but He doesn’t want money to have us.
1 Timothy chapter 6 vs 6-10 clearly says that the love of money and wanting to get it by all means (greed) is the root of evil and causes people to do crazy things.
If you’ve noticed, the more money people have, the more they want and the more they’ll do anything to get it. That’s exactly what the scripture in Timothy above is talking about. The fact that they have money may also go to their head and cause them to become prideful and mistreat people.
Exodus 20:3 (NIV)
“You shall have no other gods before me”
Not only are people greedy but they make money their god. The first commandment God gave to Moses is listed in Exodus 20:3 above. God doesn’t want us to serve anything but Him.
People also get comfortable to where they feel they don’t need God and the thought of losing that money makes them choose their wealth over God. Hence the scripture in Matthew below.
Matthew 19:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
God never competes with anything that has us. He definitely wants our hearts and wants to be the center of our lives but if anything becomes more important to us than Him, He withdraws himself and once He does, we’re no longer under His protection and open ourselves to all kinds of things.
Mark 8:36
King James Version (KJV)
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Check your heart today and make sure God is at the center of it. He wants you to have money to live but He doesn’t want money to have you so that it becomes your god and you serve it rather than Him. If obtaining wealth is your motivation rather than God it could be the reason you don’t have that money you so desperately seek. If you have money, then make sure Money hasn’t become your god. Is it really worth it to lose your soul because of money? I don’t think so. If you make God your all and all then you best believe He will give you the ability to get wealth and it will be like it says in Proverbs below.
Proverbs 10:22
New International Version (NIV)
22 The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
without painful toil for it.
or as another translation says: “The blessings of the Lord maketh rich and adds no sorrow.”