The Cost of Money

The love of money is the root of all evil.

Unfortunately, money makes our world turn. We have been brought up in a society that measures success and happiness by monetary wealth. From the time we are talking we are told to do well in school and get a degree so that you will make ample amounts of money. For believers, I feel like this is a skewed mindset. Let me clarify before moving on.

Having money is not a problem; it is the lust for money that corrupts. “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”- 1 Timothy 6:10. Yes you should do well in school. We all need food, shelter, and clothing and having a college degree makes acquiring money to purchase those things much easier. However, I’m not talking about having just enough for the necessities. My point is that as Americans we are programed, more or less, to achieve the “American Dream.” Everyone wants the newest sports car, the highest paying job in town, a house with more bedrooms and bathrooms than the amount of people living there (including pets), so on and so forth. By continually reaching for these material possessions, we become susceptible to greed. Greed then worms its way into our minds and convinces us that it’s okay to step on others or to ignore other’s needs as long as our fortune keeps growing. “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”- 1 Timothy 6:9.

Recently, I read Radical by David Platt and in one of the chapters he discusses how Americans hoard all their excess stuff while people across the world are dying by the thousands per hour because they do not have food or clean water. He does a better job of outlining the issue than I can, so I’ll just recommend that you read the book for the full picture. I myself am a hoarder, yet it’s so easy for me to forget about how all my excess could change lives if I gave it away for God. Giving away my money/possessions costs me little if anything; not giving away my money/possessions could cost someone in a third world country their life. This might sound dramatic, but in all seriousness giving to organizations that fight hunger or provide medical care to the poor will actually save lives.

This book opened my eyes and my prayer is that the Lord will keep my eyes open and my heart willing to give.