Contentment
Good Morning,
There is no end of evil in our world, no end of the pain inflicted upon one another, and no end of the ways Satan moves mankind to do ill to their own. We read a b statement in 1 Timothy 6:10 that is very familiar, yet unheeded: "For the love of money is the root of all evil…”
Look at the context of this passage.
First, the exhortation to be content. If we have food and clothing, we need to intentionally develop a contentment with the bare necessities. The opposite of being the "root of all evil" is that contentment is "great gain."
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
vs. 7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
vs. 8 “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
Paul proceeds to warn about the dangers of greed, covetousness, and the desire for more.
vs. 9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
Look at the list of terrible things one can fall into: temptation, a snare, foolish and hurtful lusts, destruction, and perdition. Verse ten adds “erred from the faith” and “many sorrows” to the list.
That list ought to instill fear in anyone with even half a brain, but in fact, most do not believe this anymore than they believe "it is better to give than to receive."
Paul goes on to state the famous quote about all evil.
vs. 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.”
Solomon writes about the wretched end of those who love money enough to do wrong to get it: "So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain..." Mark 4:18-19 says that the love of money chokes the word of God out of our lives. Joshua 7:24 tells the sad story of Achan and how his love for money cost the lives of his entire family. Judas went to Hell over thirty pieces silver. Acts 5:5 tells how Ananias and his wife died over covetousness.
In our world, much of the legal activity is over twisted words and circumstances in hopes of gain. The Bible warns of the dangers of bribes or allowing gain to move us to utilize a different perspective than truth would call for.
"Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.” (Deuteronomy 16:19)
Businesses are ruined; friends break relationships; family members tear each other apart in hopes of gaining an inheritance; employees slander and attack employers over little matters turned into significant events: all of these are done in hopes of gain – let us remember Paul quote’s: “For the love of money is the root of all evil."
I have listened to good people who could not find a way to save their marriage. They went from decent, honorable people to corrupt, evil workers of iniquity over the possessions they were splitting.
Expounding on this aspect would take another article, but I will mention the marriages that have been broken because someone wanted to succeed at work more than keep their marriage. Countless hurts are caused because one or both parents sought lucrative careers and failed to "train up a child in the way he should go." Others chose to work extra hours and failed to teach a Sunday school class or go soul winning – eternal loss also follows the love of money? The harm caused by the love of money is beyond human description.
Contentment - that is what Paul urges us to seek.
Pastor