Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Timothy 6:10 (New Living Translation)

10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

This is a well-known verse. The King James Version has the shorter, “for the love of money is the root of all evil.”

Let’s step back a moment into the financial realm of the 21st century. Money is a medium of exchange. We don’t carry gold coins in a sack. We have spreadsheets and bank accounts and cashless stores. I move “money” from my checking account through my credit card to my iPhone to Starbucks…or something like that.

Money is worthless. It does, however, bring me goods and services (a cup of coffee with a smile and free WiFi). I can allow my life to be ruled by the pleasures of goods and services. Craving them can pierce myself with many sorrows.

Money? Who cares? The goods and services I can have in exchange? Those are the stuff of ruin, if I love and crave them too much.