Who says money is evil?

According to the Bible, money is the answer for everything. Ecc 10:19  A meal is made for laughter, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is the answer for everything. The Bible speaks about our material needs here on earth. We do need money to live, but living is not all about money.

Money gives us protection – Ecc 7:12  Wisdom protects us just as money protects us, but the advantage of wisdom is that it gives life to those who have it.

Money or wealth is often misunderstood by many people. There are sects that believe money or wealth can be a hindrance to enter to the kingdom of Heaven. These sects are preaching the gospel that in order to enter heaven, one must be poor because rich people will not be allowed to go to heaven. So, they urge their members to give their possessions to the congregation and use it for missionary purposes. The poor members meanwhile suffer from this teaching because they do not give importance to the other aspects of life.

Another disadvantage of this teaching is that it makes their members lazy and totally dependent on the miracles and blessings of God, as if God will give them food in their tables. God will pay for their bills and bless their every day lives even if they don’t work at all.

Although we can not live on bread alone (of course we need a spiritual life), but it doesn’t mean that we have to throw away our material life, that we can throw away things that can give us abundance and prosperity here on earth.

Jesus says, He had come so that we may live abundantly.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV)

Joh 10:10  The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness. (GNB)

Joh 10:10  A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need. (GW)

Joh 10:10  The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (ISV)

We made use of the different translation to give emphasis that the life offered by Christ is not only in the spiritual aspect but also in the material aspect.

But in order to achieve such state, of being abundant spiritually and materially, one must work hard for it. If we just sit down and do nothing, we can not live abundantly, be it spiritual or material.

Wealth and money which would have answered every good purpose, and served for every emergency, is too often spent in feastings and revellings. This is the reason why many people say that money is indeed evil.

Money alone is not evil.It is the love of money that is evil.

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Having wealth or money can be an opportunity to do wicked things. But it is also a great opportunity to use it to help other people. As the saying goes, “we can not give what we don’t have,” we can not give anything to our love ones if we don’t have money or wealth.

Apostle Paul mentions about providing or taking care of one’s family is our immediate responsibility. Without wealth or money, how can we provide?

1Ti 5:8  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Notice, that we will be much more worse than those of an infidel if we can’t provide for our family, we deny the faith that is in us.  Our faith therefore tells us that it is not wrong to provide good life for our family. We can serve God while we are providing for our family members.

Some sects urge their members to live their families and serve the church in full time. We admire the dedications of these people, but we must not forget that while we are here on earth, we have other obligations too, such as giving a descent life to our children, providing for their needs spiritually and financially, and we will need money or wealth for both aspects.

Like what we need to understand about money, it is only a thing that people use. We can use it for good, yet many people chose to use it for their wicked desires. Use money to help people, to help the church, for the glory of God.