"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 evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
-1 Timothy 6:9-10
In our society, becoming rich and famous often correlates to success. But the Bible warns against following money and acceptance from others. Even Christian content creators can get wrapped up in followers and how much profit they make.
So what do these verses mean?
When you begin to chase money, you let go of God. When you let go of God ["wandering away from the faith"], you let go of your morals. You get involved in 'quick fixes' that you know God wouldn't approve of, and you find yourself doing things you never once dreamed of.
And even if you're not doing anything illegal or morally wrong, money is fleeting. It's purpose is to be spent. When you chase money and wealth, you throw yourself into a viscous cycle of looking for new ways to make money, spending it, and then looking for new ways to replenish it. Money becomes your idol and you become its servant.
In 1 Timothy 6:10, the Bible talks about money being the "root of all evil". But why?
If we all need money to survive, how can money be bad?
Is the Bible saying that making money is bad? No.
Money becomes a problem when it becomes an obsession. When you wake up, instead of talking to God or thanking Him for the beginning of a new day, and you think "How can I increase the number in my bank account?", "How are my stocks doing?", or "I hope I have some new orders to fulfill today."
In fact, when you put anything before God, you make it your idol. Whether that's social media, your job, and even fellowship. And yes, it is possible to make an activity that is church-related, your idol.
Have you struggled with idolization of money or anything else? How were you able to overcome it and make God your top priority again? What are some things we can do to ensure that we don't make money an idol in our lives?