Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (New Living Translation)

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 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 translation uses different words from the King James. The King James has verse 10 stating the famous, “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” The translation shown above repeats “the love of money” phrase and then follows it with “craving money.” That is a powerful desire for money. Craving money has lead some people to wander from the true faith.

Yikes. Money. Can’t live with it; sure can’t live without it. Or something like that. I believe there is nothing wrong with money. It is a medium of exchange. I cannot trade my job for a house, but the money earned in a job can be exchanged for the use of a house. Something like that.

Money: earn it, use it for necessities, give away large amounts of it to people who need it. And give away large amounts of it to people who can then spend all day spreading the Gospel. Hoarding money? Not good. Craving money? Definitely not good.

How much is a “large” amount? Subjective answer. Now we argue and justify and all those things.