1 Timothy 6:6-10 Love of Money

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. [1 Timothy 6:6-10 NASB]

The gain of godliness is a heavenly reward, and has nothing to do with money. Godliness must be accompanied by contentment. It is enough that we have food and clothing. Jesus said;

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? [Matthew 6:24-26 NASB]

Desire for money and its trappings leads to a trap. Desire fulfilled doesn't lead to contentment, but leaves you craving more, and leads to more and different desires, even leading to depravity and a loss of faith.

Christians who follow the "prosperity doctrine" define prosperity as financial wealth. They have to either ignore these scriptures, or pervert them to mean something that they don't.

I once spoke to a Christian man who rejected the idea of contentment. He reasoned that it was God who gave him a desire for a bigger house and a more luxurious car. He said that if he was content, then he would no longer want to improve. He, of course, missed the point. He was blinded by his greed, and refused to listen to any scripture that might disrupt his plans.

I hear a lot of Christians say that they want financial freedom. "Financial freedom" means different things to different people. To some it simply means being out of debt. This is a noble and Biblical ideal.

To others, "financial freedom" means accumulating wealth and having a high enough income to fulfill their every desire.

Don't believe the lies of the prosperity preachers. They appeal to your greed, and lay a trap for your soul. Jesus was an anti-prosperity preacher. Mark gives this account of Jesus in the temple;

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” [Mark 12:41-44 NASB]

And remember what Jesus told the rich, young ruler;

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” [Matthew 19:21 NASB]

Jesus made it clear;

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [Matthew 6:19-21 NASB]

Financial prosperity has nothing to do with the prosperity that is taught in the Bible. True prosperity is doing the will of the Father, and storing up treasures in heaven. If you seek rewards in this lifetime, you may receive them, but, having received your reward on earth, you will forfeit your reward in heaven.

Father, I thank You that You have provided all of the things I need. Your provision has never failed me. I pray that You will give the grace to be content with what I have, and not to strive and long for more and more.