One of the things that everybody knows for sure about money is that it is the root of all evil, right? Well, er, no. The Bible says that it is the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil. Can you see the difference?
Money is just a tool—it’s portable power. It’s a convenient way to turn labor into goods and the need for goods into labor. Money is a far better way to store wealth than livestock.
If you are poor, God most certainly loves you, and he will help you survive. And yes, materialism and cash idolatry are deadly sins indeed. But it is certainly not God’s desire that his people should all be poor. He approves of your making money, and he would like you to build wealth for your family’s needs, for community investment, and for generosity in spreading the gospel. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4).
Did you catch that? God not only allows you to pursue building wealth; he actually promises to bless your hard work with a decent financial return. Don’t love the wealth, but love the one who allows you to earn it.
