There are a lot of traps you can fall into as a Christian but beware of this trap: love of money. It is the one snare that can have all the outer appearances of being right. It’s easy to justify and very hard to root out. It also spawns foolish and harmful behavior.
1 Timothy 6:9-10
“But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Lured by Your Surroundings
Paul is writing Timothy to warn the people of Ephesus about wanting to be rich. Ephesus was a prosperous port city where a lot of banking and trade happened. With opulence all around them, it was easy to fall into the trap or pursuing riches. Paul warns Timothy to beware of this trap.
Nip It in the Bud
Love of Money is at the bottom of a lot of motives. Whether it be a desire for more stuff or the prestige that comes from being wealthy, people are consumed by greed. Wealth is a trap that has destroyed many people. To rid ourselves of this desire we have to attack it at the root. We have to remove all desire for wealth and learn to be content with what we have. Jesus told the wealthy young ruler to sell all that he had because his money was a stumbling block to serving the Lord.
Don’t Get Lost
Beware of this trap because it can have fatal consequences. Paul says some who have craved the desire to be wealthy have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. The love of money can so consume people that they will become spiritually lost. I have seen multiple people stop going to church, abandon their friends, and ultimately change their lifestyle in their pursuit of riches. Sadly in their search for riches, it has only caused them and those around them great grief and pain.
The Path to Recovery
There is a way to overcome this. Repent of your lust for money. Tell God that you have let it become an idol. Next, begin to invest in what matters. Pour yourself and your resources into the needy. You will find that this will change your perspective faster than anything. Finally, learn contentment. Train yourself to be satisfied with what God has given you. You will find that hidden treasures are waiting to be discovered. Beware of this trap of wanting to be rich.