1 Timothy 6:9-10
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  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.

This verse is so often misquoted where people will say that money is evil.  But as is the case with so many things, money itself is neutral.  There is nothing inherently good or evil about it.  And it is not an evil thing that we are forbidden to have.  There is nothing wrong with money or having money.  But it is our heart attitude toward it that matters.  When money becomes our god, in a sense, when it becomes the thing we love and the main pursuit of our lives, that is what leads to sin and evil.  That is when it fills a place in our hearts that should be reserved for God.

At the heart of so much sin and evil is this unquenched desire for money, to have more and more of this treasure that the world says is so valuable.  And that is very evident in our world today.  But Paul’s point here is not to speak against money or rich people, but to warn us to be careful about our attitudes and our hearts, because loving money can lead us down a slippery slope that pulls us from God and prevents us from trusting fully in Him.  It is something that can damage our relationship with God and cause us a lot of trouble.

Contentment is great gain because an attitude that what we have, what we’ve been blessed with, isn’t enough is what pulls us toward doing things we will regret just to satisfy that longing.  But when we are willing to be satisfied with what we have and thankful for what God has given to us, the focus of our pursuit changes, as well.  We seek after what is truly valuable to us.  And when it is God Himself and that righteous life He wants for us that is most valuable, we will seek to be rich in Him and accumulate heavenly treasure instead.

People today pursue so hard after money and wealth.  They think it is the solution to all of life’s ills to just have more.  They think if they have more and better possessions that they will be happy and fulfilled.  But this kind of greed and greediness only produces a thirst for more.  An unchecked desire for more for ourselves often leads to sinful choices and things that draw us away from God.  And sin always leads to sorrow.  So may we put things in the proper perspective, using money for its intended purpose and reserving our love and passion for a pursuit of God and His righteousness.