Beware of the love of money
Raphael Oye Taiwo
www.ucevam.com
1Timothy 6:10
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.
A person who loves money will cheat, steal or do anything, however evil, to get money and to keep it. That is why we see Christians today involving themselves in shady deals and dishonest acts, making it hard for even a Christian to trust another Christian.
Simon offered Peter money so the apostle could give him divine ability to get people to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Peter roundly chastised him for attempting to buy, dishonestly, spiritual gifts, which he did not deserve in the first place (Acts 8:18-22).
There are money-loving ministers today who would receive the money from Simon, publicly ‘anoint’ him to receive ‘his inheritance from his Father’. Worse people have been ‘anointed’, ‘blessed to prosper’, laid hands upon to receive the ‘double portion anointing’ – just because they made ‘generous donations to the ‘Lord’s Work’, ‘remembered’ the church regularly with big monetary gifts, or gave gifts of luxurious car to the ‘man of God’. That is how much the love of Mammon has gained ground in the Church of Christ.
The love pf money destroyed Judas, who could have otherwise become one of the greatest men of God on earth – John 12:3-6; Matthew 26:14.
Friend, beware of the love of money. Forget about those unscriptural prosperity messages that tell you the Lord wills that you own a fleet of luxurious cars and rows of mansions … that the Lord desires that you stuff your gut with the best food in the world every time.
See what the Lord says:
Luke 12:15: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Heb 13:5: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
1John 2:15: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
