By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
1 Timothy 6:9-10 "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - NIV
Paul linked false teachers with unsatisfying search for materialism. He described them as robbed of the truth and take godliness as a means of financial gain(v.5). Their lack of godliness with contentment, desire for riches at any cost, and the love of money drives them to fall into temptations and foolish and harmful desires that plunge anyone involved into ruin and destruction. They affect their faith too.
Materialism makes those in their grip to become very susceptible to ungodly means of acquisition and eventually jeopardise their faith. It made Gehazi (Elisha’s servant), Ananias and Saphira, to lie. Judas Iscariot betrayed his Master for money. If we are to be discerning enough against falsehoods we should steer clear from the obsession with materialism, and instead bring it under control by godliness with contentment.
The devil’s scheme is to lure his victims using wealth as he attempted with Jesus. Satan told Jesus to just bow down and worship him, and he would give Him all these things. Many have done this, by yielding to the deception of Satan to bow to him to acquire wealth and fame. The love of money made them stray from the faith into many ungodly bitter griefs. Let God help us love Him more than money, and to acquire wealth in the fear and honor of God. Then we will escape deception.
Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing…" Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Shalom children of God.
Great Message.