So, is money the root of all evil? Apparently that is advice given to us in the Bible.

You might know this: The answer is NO, money is not the root of all evil.

Here is an old quotation:

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Fight the Good Fight of Faith But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. (1 Timothy 6: 6 to 11)

That is the original quotation; the source of that old saying. What is missing, for many people, is the word “love.” “The love of money is the root of all evil.” or more correctly, in this translation “all kinds of evil.”

I am writing as a Christian, and I usually write something about religion. One of our biggest problems is religion. That word doesn’t always cover the topic. People have choices about God or a god, and we easily put something in the place of the actual God who made us. 

One of my brothers told me a story, many years ago, that I have never forgotten. He was a student in a university, and he was studying to be an engineer. If you are wondering, he graduated and a few years later, he became a teacher in a college, and he made a career in that work.

One day, as a student, my brother was walking down a hallway and he saw a sign directing students to a special meeting. The title of the meeting was “How to marry money.” Seriously, someone had a meeting on that topic, in a place where people studied for careers that paid well.

My brother walked past the room where the special seminar was happening, and he looked inside. He was shocked to see so many young women, in that meeting. Apparently those women wanted to find, and marry a man with money. That was an important meaning in their lives, and the meeting was packed.

Sometimes we show what is really important to us, what give meaning to our lives, also known as the god that we have chosen. This is something that we need to see in ourselves.

Here is some advice:

Many years ago, I carefully saved my money, and eventually, I had almost fifty thousand dollars in my fund. That was amazing for me. I was raised in a poor family, and I wanted to make a good down payment on a house. Somewhere, in this process, my bank was merged with another bank, and I had to visit the office of a new investment adviser. I went to that appointment, and I didn’t enjoy it, but the “advisor” spoke with authority. I gave in and put my money into the places where I was told to put it. 

This seemed harmless, but a few weeks later, my fifty thousand dollars melted down to seventeen thousand. I remember seeing the new number, from the new bank, and I felt like the meaning was taken out of my life.

If I chose to worship money, my “god’ had just failed me.

That was a big emotional crash in my life.

Don’t worry about me. After a few years, my finances came back to their old position, but I learned something about myself. It would be so easy to make money the central meaning, the “god” of my life. There are some attractive idols out there.

I’m surprised by how many people have stories like mine. Investing money can be risky and scary.

If you are wondering, I mostly chose to work hard and manage what I earned, after that experience. Some people are wealthy and successful investors, but my one bad experience scared me back into my life of work and careful management.

You might have a similar story.

It is so easy to develop a love for money, and to make that the true meaning of life. Material things easily become spiritual things, and that is the real disaster that I almost had.

I’m glad I missed that bus.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2: 15 to 17)