1 Timothy 6:7-12 (BBE)
7 For we came into the world with nothing, and we are not able to take anything out;
8 But if we have food and a roof over us, let that be enough.
9 But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all evil: and some whose hearts were fixed on it have been turned away from the faith, and been wounded with unnumbered sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour.
12 Be fighting the good fight of the faith; take for yourself the life eternal, for which you were marked out, and of which you gave witness in the eyes of all.
How much is life worth?
Our worth is so often based on what other people tell us about ourselves, how much we earn or have and sometimes our jobs or careers.
If you could get paid for everything you do in life, you’ll be surprised at the steep cost most people will attach to the most basic things like offering a friendly smile.
Do we have money sign in our eyes when dealing with people? Is the thought uppermost in mind what is in it for me or what can I get out of this?
Paul didn’t say money leads to evil but that the love of money is what leads to all evil, he likens covetousness, one of these evils idolatry in Colossians 3:5, which is the worship of money as a god above God the Father.
Nobody is born rich; we must be content with food and raiment, not to excessive acquiring of wealth. Paul further states that those who are determined to get rich; who make it their main object in life; who lives to get money; who get all they can, save all they can, and keep all they get; who don’t seek to be rich by honest means falls into the snare of the devil and are tempted to do whatever to gain money.
For Delilah in Judges 16:4-21, the love of money drove her to offer Samson’s life for eleven hundred shekels from each of the five rulers of the Philistines according to vs5. That may have seemed like good money to Delilah-that was how much Samson’s life was worth but not to him or his family.
Judas loved money according to John 12:3-8, he was already stealing from the purse regularly.
In Matthew 26:15 we hear Judas ask the condemning question. What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver Him up to you?
Thirty pieces of silver! That was the offer, which was the worth of our saviour’s life. God didn’t put that price on him, man did.
Do you ask the same question when you’re called upon for a task?
What’s in it for me, how much does it pay?
Or do you offer to do something that is desperately needed for financial gain?
You say to someone “I can do this for you, but it will cost you,”
How often have we told those seeking help from us that we want something in return for helping them?
Did our parents ask us for any returns for birthing, training, and loving us? They spent money and time, didn’t they?
Did God ask for a return of any kind for giving us His son, Jesus? No! but the love of money sees so many trying to sell the word of God in appalling ways.
The love of money in our society has created “businesspeople” who sell guns used for wars and street fights, narcotics that destroy lives, peddle sex that established human trafficking and destroying lives and families in the process.
The love of money has created the culture of “I’ll do anything for money, easy money, and get rich quick ideologies.
We cannot love money and God; one will always rule, money or God? How much is life worth?
Shalom