Don't Let Money Be a Root of Evil

There are so many things I can say from the pulpit without very many people becoming upset. If I say that all men have lied at some time in their lives, very few will ever dispute it. I can say that we have all been careless with our words and many will tell me that I am "stepping on their toes" but they won't be offended. However, I am the most selfish preacher only after sordid gain when I say that people are robbing God when they neglect their tithes.

Money has control over so many people. They can work diligently at the church without regard to their time. They will take mission trips, learn to share their faith and take discipleship courses without much regard for the time and effort these things take. However, these same people may not see the need to give their money without regard to the intrinsic benefit that this giving allows. They want to buy something rather than give to whatever God wills.

Money has become the litmus test which reveals a person's heart. People may be excellent Christians while speaking of so many things but let money get involved and they will break ties with their own families to get more of it. They will maneuver, deceive, manipulate, lie and forget their faith and reputation to take another's inheritance. They will end friendships of years for a few dollars. They will destroy their churches if it means more money in their pockets.

Money is often a destructive force in ministers lives. They may be trustworthy in every care put in their charge but money insidiously destroys them. They seek it with such diligence that it taints their whole ministries. The love of money will eliminate the good character they show in every other area. Their congregations believe the minister should be above this evil and lose all trust for their ministers when they find them to be wanting for more money.

The Bible calls money the root of all sorts of evil. The root is at the heart of the plant.

And maybe that's the reason we guard this love so carefully. Kill the root and you kill the plant. Maybe we are afraid it will kill us. We think money is life for our hearts but it is merely an evil that influences our hearts.

A plant generally has many roots that feed it. Evil has many roots but money seems to be a large root in many a person's life. This root is like a tumor which grows on the heart. It claims it cannot be removed because to do so would take a piece of the heart but it can. It claims to be essential but it is not. It is more like an addiction in our lives for it claims to be life giving when it is really life destroying.

How is it with you and your money? Do you get upset when money is mentioned in a sermon? Do you start justifying your lack of giving? Do you give cheerfully and anonymously or do you give grudgingly and make sure people know you give? Do you give and tell the preacher that you do so that you can "buy" his good graces?

Money will get the best of you if you don't watch out.

1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV)

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.