Having a history in computer programming, it’s safe to say that I’m a numbers guy. I also like to think that I have a good sense of humor. My wife will often say that my oldest son is just like be because “he thinks he’s funny.” It’s true, while I like to logically and systematically think through problems, I also have a lighter side that loves to laugh.
Because of this combination of humor and numbers, I found it quite entertaining when one day I stumbled upon an interesting equation that seemingly proved that girls are evil. The equation goes like this:
Obviously this equation is just for fun, and I don’t really think that girls are evil. If I did, I’d be sleeping on the couch. However, these old adages do make for a good laugh, at least for some. “Time is money,” and “Money is the root of all evil,” are clever sayings, but how true are they? One could argue that if you’re not using your time to earn money, you’re effectively losing money. Depending on your point of view, this may or may not ring true.
What about “Money is the root of all evil”? Truth be told, this is actually a misquote. While we all know that adage, “Money is the root of all evil,” the phrase actually comes from scripture, 1 Timothy 6:10 which states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” While it may be more accurate, it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, and like I’ve always said, you can’t take a single verse out of context. This morning, I want to take a look at the context around this often misquoted verse to see if, as we understand it, money is evil.
As we look at 1 Timothy, Paul has many words of advice for the young pastor, but as he begins chapter six, the attention turns sharply to those teaching false doctrine. Paul states that people such as this are not interested in edifying Christ but only in malicious talk, controversies, and quarrels. It’s at the end of verse five that he makes the pivot from these false teachers toward the idea of money when he says that these men “think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” With this in mind, he then goes on in 1 Timothy 6:6-10 to speak on this idea of godliness and money.
The theme throughout this passage rests on the idea of contentment. The word translated here as “contentment” is only used as a noun in the New Testament in this verse and in 2 Corinthians 9:8. In that verse it’s not translated as contentment but as sufficiency or “having all that you need.” It’s brings about the idea of having enough of everything.
We often look at others, especially those in third world countries, and bemoan the fact that they have to worship in hut too small for everybody to fit in, if they even have a building at all. We take pity upon them because they have so little in the way of material things. However, if you have the opportunity to sit through even a single worship service with them, you will discover true and incredible joy. This is the kind of contentment that Paul speaks about, not that you have the best of everything, but that you have everything you need and enough of it. It’s not the material things that sustain these people, it’s their godliness, their love, devotion, and commitment to Christ that is their source of well-being.
It’s a foreign concept in our American, consumerism society. This thought that we can reach a place where we can be complete without having the latest iPhone. I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this as well. As much as I love and trust in God, and as much as I’m definitely not in this for the money, I find myself always looking to the next big thing.
My wife has never really cared what type of phone she has. As long as it can text and do some basic things, she’s happy. A month or so ago her phone suddenly stopped working. As I began to look at the options and tried to figure out the least expensive phone I could find that would meet her needs, she made a suggestion that typically comes up whenever I look to buy her a new phone. She suggested, since I care about what phone I have and she doesn’t, that I buy myself a new phone and just give her my old one.
Right now I’m sporting a Samsung Galaxy Note 4. It’s far from the newest model, but it’s a good phone. To my wife’s surprise, I declined her offer. For the first time since I bought my first smartphone in 2009, I actually like my phone. Yes, there are better phones out there, and someday I know I’ll upgrade, but for now I’m content. I have enough.
The type of contentment that Paul is talking about goes beyond just being happy with your current smartphone or car. As he states in verse 7, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” Growing up, my pastor used to put it this way, “I’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” We spend all of our time and energy collecting things, but the truth is, we can’t take it with us. We came into this work with nothing and we will leave this world with nothing. Everything in between is just a means to an end.
Some people have a legitimate hoarding problem. Others will deny it’s a problem at all. For many of us, we like to tell ourselves that we’re merely saving for a rainy day. It’s a noble thought. It would be irresponsible to not be prepared. Preparing for the future so that you don’t become a burden to others certainly seems reasonable, from a certain point of view. But what about from God’s point of view?
Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. […] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? […] And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, […] will he not much more clothe you? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ […] Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.” (Matthew 6:25-34). Jesus insists to us that God will take care of your needs. You are worth so much more than the birds or the grass. If he takes care of them, how much more will he make sure that you have everything you need?
With this understanding, gathering up stuff for ourselves, in light of God’s promise to take care of us, doesn’t make sense. In fact, the accumulation of wealth can become a curse in two very real ways. First, it takes us away from the place where we truly need to rely upon God. Why should I trust in him for my food, shelter, or clothing if I can take care of it myself?
Second, having money means you need to manage that money. It stands to reason that the more money you have the more time and energy is needed to manage that money and ensuring that it isn’t stolen or squandered.
John Wesley, in his sermon, “The Dangers of Riches,” asked the question, “What is it to be rich?” He goes on to explain that by the standard set by Jesus, those that have sufficient food and shelter and have something left over are rich. This is certainly a rigorous standard, and by that standard, most every person in America is considered rich. Certainly, life is a bit more complex, but we must nevertheless guard the tendency of making financial gain the primary concern in our lives.
The time is long overdue for the church in America to start tackling these questions. We get so caught up in keeping up with the Joneses. It’s an infectious lifestyle. When you stop and look at it all, how can you justify it knowing that there are people struggling to find their next meal?
This kind of lifestyle, this unchecked desire for money, leads to a love of money. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10). It’s a dangerous path to be on, because most of the time you don’t even realize you’re on it. This desire for more things, always looking for the next thing, leads to all kinds of evil. What would you do just to get a little more? Lie? Steal? Murder?
Money can be quite useful, but one must always be wary to use the tool and not to be used by it. Financial security and striving to not be a burden on others is an admirable goal. The question becomes, how much do you need?
Paul said, “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:8). Is that enough? If your basic needs are taken care of (food, shelter, clothing, etc.), is that enough to be content? If you have a reasonably good car, TV, cell phone, is that enough? There will always be things out there that you don’t have, but can you be content without them? Is what you have sufficient? At what point do you draw the line and say, “I have enough. This is all I need”?