The Love of Money

In this article, I would like to offer these light yet apt thoughts on money, from a Christian (biblical) perspective, and consider what happens when right and wrong approaches are taken toward it.

Nearly four years ago, I published two articles (here and here) titled “What is the right Christian approach to money?” and rather than over repeat what I said then, I refer readers to these.

To begin with and to set the scene, I refer to the song I like, from the musical Cabaret: “money makes the world go round” and the Bible text to do with the love of money. “Money” is mentioned 125 times in the Bible and is touched on many more times, indicating it is an important subject we need to take seriously. The following is a favorite example since it helps to reveal a harsh reality:  

I couldn’t help but smile when searching for a suitable meme to find one on the lack of money, which contains an element of truth. While I wanted to argue love of self, sex, power could qualify as roots of all evil and not unsympathetic to those who point to it being lack of money and, while all concerns are valid, I will stick with St. Paul.

Not sure how to continue but decided, rather than lose folk in deep theology or go down numerous rabbit holes concerning the many related happenings in the world as I write, many of which touch on money, I will reflect on what I can see in the here and now, mindful that, by doing so with the Bible to hand, it will lead us to the truth.

I start with dear Dan Bongino, not that I have yet read the book but I can guess at the connections. Sadly, when looking at the swamp worldwide, it seems clear many who lead the world have become seriously rich when before they weren’t. The cynic who came up with the saying: “follow the money”, was correct, as was Solomon when he repeated the point that bribes corrupt those who receive them.

Which brings me to not so dear Klaus Schwab who, with his billionaire entourage, have taken it upon themselves to tell us plebs how we ought to live, including owning nothing and still be happy.

Regarding evil elites who run the world, it is worth being reminded enslaving the masses is linked to debt enslavement, the very thing that the US Federal Reserve was about. There is little doubt much of the world’s wealth is in the hands of the few and while honest gain is ok, a lot of it is dishonest. According to my sources, things will soon change (whether for better or worse, who knows? Watch this space).  

Back to our title, my hero is John Wesley, for reasons given in my two money blogs. While I got flak for not promoting tithing, I was rather taken with the Wesley approach of earn and save and give, which he did from the outset, having first taken for his daily living expenses. Towards the end of his life, he gave 90% of his income.

The Bible doesn’t condemn those with wealth; neither does it tell us it should go to government for re-distribution purposes. In fact, regarding left and right politics, it remains silent. But it does tell us to be good stewards of what we have and here I hold my late father-in-law up as my role model, who saw money as a mere commodity.

A lot more can be said, including a full-blown study on what the Bible teaches concerning money. The practicalities around money are real and we need to be wise in our approach, realising we are God’s unprofitable servant when it comes to handling what He has entrusted to us. As for a final text, I offer the above from Proverbs!