Money Is The Root of All Evil

I was never one to look at the cost of a dozen eggs because I knew I was going to buy a dozen organic eggs and the same with other items I buy on a regular basis.  However, recently I picked up my dozen eggs and saw the price - $6.99.  As my Granny would say, “highway robbery!’  Most of us see the price of gas going up, up, up!  These things scare us.  The word inflation scares us.  I have to remember that while things may not be going like I want, I have not "wanted" for anything.  Money is not my security.  God is my security!  These tough experiences are how we learn to lean on God.  

A group of us, from church, were talking about the latest sermon series, “Did God Say That” and how we keep thinking of sayings that we have always heard.  We find ourselves picking them apart like Pastor Tim has done for us.  Someone brought up, “money is the root of all evil.”  And then the group discussed it and pretty much wrote my blog and Pastor Tim another sermon.  The timing was perfect with all the prices going up.  

Most of us agree that money is not evil but the love of money is evil.  Jesus seems most concerned about what money is doing to us?  Money can control us and it can dominate our lives which in turn turns our attention away from God.  Matthew 6: 31:34, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

If we put God first in our life, He will take care of the rest.  God told the people of Israel to do this in the Old Testament.  The people were instructed to pursue God and his righteousness. When they did so God promised he would take care of them. He is telling us the same thing.  We need to put our hope and trust in God for today and for whatever comes to us next.  How many times have I worried about something for the next day and let it keep me up at night, etc.  The next day came and there was nothing to worry about.  Maybe this is why God tells us to live in the moment!  It always comes back to trust - trusting that God provides for our needs!  Psalm 56: 3, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."  Are you trusting God?

Jill Jarrell-Newsome