See http://www.joelwnelson.com/articles/On Love of Money.pdf for a current copy of this post!

The Love of Money is the Root of. . . society
(And how Christians are called to something different)
Part One

Scholars have proposed that money, possessions, and finances are among the leading causes of arguments and marriage failures in Western societies. Is this an accurate statement to make? Or, more specifically, what might it be about money that would lead some to make this proposition?

First, if we look at some Scripture references pertaining to money, we see some grave warnings about its power to corrupt.
Examples:

  • Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) – Kept back a portion of money being given, while trying to appear to be giving all.
  • The rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) – Attempted to store up much in order to relax and live well for years.
  • The rich young man (Mark 10:17-31) – Was unwilling to give up what he had in order to follow Jesus.
  • The servant (Matthew 18:21-35) – Was forgiven a large debt, and was unwilling to forgive a small debt owed him.

Paul, writing to Timothy, also warns about the love of money, saying that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” (1 Tim. 6:10)

Perhaps the strongest warning of all, however, is Jesus’ direct statement that “no one can serve two masters… you cannot serve God and money.” * This isn’t just an advisory to ensure that one loves God more than he loves what he owns. This is an either-or choice between two items that are mutually exclusive to each other.

*Greek mammon – involving money as well as material goods, possessions, etc.

Either-or? At this point one may think that cannot be, and name off many who appear to be very spiritual and very prosperous. I would respond that this may be for various reasons – it could be that they have been given much in order that they may give much – or it could also be that money is really the primary goal and appearing spiritual is only the means to get to the goal. We can’t pretend to know the motives of another – nor should we attempt to judge another in this way – but what we do clearly know from the Word of God is that loving God and loving money are mutually exclusive. It is not possible to serve both, to seek both, to crave both, to live for both… no, it cannot be. Only one can be master of anyone’s life, at the exclusion of the other.

Our society, and beyond that, even our identity, is so firmly rooted in prosperity that we have allowed this saying to be diluted so that we allow a duopoly of God and money to control us. To the one who disputes this (and perhaps my own nature wants to dispute it more than any reader will), let’s take a look at an oft-quoted passage from the Sermon on the Mount. I think that upon hearing the statement that one cannot serve both God and money, the natural inclination is to question it – both now as well as two millennia ago. That may be why Jesus immediately followed this radical statement with an explanation of what it looks like to love Him and not money. We’ll look further at the next passage in the next installment; it is a passage that flies in the face of the “American Dream” and shakes the very foundation of what our society (and even the church) has set up as an example of security and responsibility.

Maybe I need it more than the reader – so please bear with me!