The Love of Money
Introduction:
Jesus was the Master Storyteller. On one occasion while a multitude of thousands was gathered, a man in the crowd told Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Note Christ’s reply in Luke 12:14-21. “15 And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. . . . 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater,’ . . . 19 ‘And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ 20-21 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” NKJV Greed, or covetousness, is the desire for wrong things. It is the desire to gain worldly possessions for your own sake; not to help others. Note I Timothy 6:9-10. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” NKJV
There was nothing wrong with the possession of wealth. It was the wrong use of it that Jesus condemned. Wealth and possessions can lead one away from God and into ruin. See Proverbs 15:27 “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.” and James 5:1-6. “5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.” NKJV
