Love of Money

Nigerian pastor Michael Okonkwo says God provides for his children to be wealthy here on earth: “When I say wealthy, I mean very, very rich…. Break loose! It is not a sin to desire to be wealthy” (Christianity Today, July 2007, p. 23). Of course, there’s no shortage of prosperity preachers in the USA who say the same thing.

When people are telling Christians that longing to be rich is acceptable and good, it’s time to open the Bible.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV): “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

So the Word of God is clear: wanting to get rich is dangerous. It brings you into “temptation” (e.g., the temptation to find joy and security in earthly things), and you fall into a “trap” (e.g., the trap of self-serving materialism from which you can’t escape). What’s more, the longing for wealth ignites other harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

Ponder the term “plunge.” Picture a water slide with a steep drop—it feels like a free fall. Then imagine what it would take to stop mid-plunge and turn around! And think about the outcomes, “ruin” and “destruction”—not vague or subtle terms! Setting your heart on wealth leads to “all kinds of evil,” including wandering away from the faith—from authentic faith in Jesus Christ.

MUCH is at stake when it comes to your heart. Deep down, is your longing to gain earthly riches? I plead with you to ignore the prosperity preachers, set your heart on Christ, and be content (6:8)!