Day Two: First Love

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. 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 6:9-10 NIV)

I think most of us read this passage and immediately think, “Go, Paul! You tell them!! Those rich people need to stop being so greedy!” The last thing we think is that this applies to us. Paul is talking to you and me. So let’s be careful not to pass this off too fast, but think about what Paul is saying for a moment.

First, you and I can be emotionally attached to money. It is powerful enough to woo you into its grasp – into a trap it has laid for you – and lead you to things that Paul calls evil. In fact, he says when you love money, that takes root in your life and ultimately it will bear bad fruit.

I think we can see evidence all around us. You probably know of marriages that are on the brink of falling apart, or have fallen apart, over the pursuit of riches. Or perhaps you or someone you know is in the merciless hold of consumer debt. Or maybe it’s a loved one who’s fallen into money’s trap of materialism, with the result that their life is consumed by having the latest and greatest thing.

Here is a hard truth: Money becomes a powerfully destructive force when you love it.

That leads me to the second thing I think Paul wants us to understand: Money is dangerous. It is so powerful in its lure that it can actually cause you to wander from the faith.

Does that mean losing your salvation? Nope. But what it does mean is that your faith walk takes second place or is pushed aside because of the priority money has taken in your life. God is important to you, but not as important as your financial condition.

You need to treat money like it’s an electrically charged wire. If you grab on to it, it will burn you.

Which brings me to the third thing this passage teaches us: Loving money can lead to an extremely painful life. The joy it promises turns to excruciating pain as it fails to deliver the pleasure and security it falsely promises. The language here is vivid, as those who love money have “pierced themselves with many griefs.” Painful, self-inflicted wounds.

Who or what is your first love? Only Jesus can fulfill that role without disappointment. And money will always fail you.