Money = Evil?!

Many of my friends and family know that I am very interested in economics, whether it be from a historical or current perspective I find in fascinating to study the economic systems of our country and the world. I have my own ideas about money from a worldly perspective about what works and what doesn’t. The trouble is that in the materialistic society we live in it is very hard to reconcile these views. A few weeks ago I and a group of friends were talking about the Bible’s view on money and here is my take. First off, the Bible never, ever, says that money is evil (despite the popular saying), it does however say that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6: 10. A few notes, first it says the love of money, money itself is not evil just like baseball, the Red Sox, or school work (despite my constant hopes for the last one). But loving those things any more than we love God is evil and becomes evil. If I put baseball before God then it will become my idol which is wrong. Also, the article that is often overlooked, “a”, it says “a” as in it is one of many, as in there are other roots of evil. This goes back to the fact that if anything in our lives becomes more important than God it has the potential to be evil, no matter what it is. Then there is the rest of the verse, “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” When our work takes over our life and our drive to make more money is what feeds us me miss out on a lot from what God has to offer. Let’s say someone works 80 hours a week. A quick calculation, 80 hours a week is about 11 hours a day that leaves 13 for sleeping (assuming 6 hours) eating (2 hours) and commuting (3 hours) which leaves us with a grand total of 2 hours for free time with the family and for ourselves. That leaves no time for God and a ton that you’d miss out of life. Money is not a bad thing, it is not inherently evil; it is not the cause for all our problems. It is a thing, and like all things when it consumes our lives and takes over it replaces God which is something nothing, no matter what it is, should do.