I Tim. 6:8-11
8 - And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 - But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 - But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."
This is a subject that may not "seem" important, but in truth it could save you from going down a destructive path, so please heed the scripture passage herein written (this passage in I Timothy is not written by man, but by the inspiration of God).
Let's go through this passage verse by verse:
v. 8 - And having food and raiment let us be therewith content (Gk. Arkeo - Sufficient or Satisfied).
We need to learn to be CONTENT with the necessities of life (food and raiment). It is when we are not 'Content' here that we get into trouble with the possibility of falling into "the love of money" as we will see in the following verses.
v. 9 - But they that will be (Gk. Boulomai - wish, desire, aim at) rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
"They that will be rich" - Can be translated - "Desire to be" , "But men who keep planning to get rich". or "crave to be rich".
I believe what this verse is talking about is an unhealthy (over) desire for
money or another words a LOVE OF MONEY.
We as Christians must guard against craving to be rich, or to keep planning to get rich. This is
not talking about wise Godly business practices, resultingin financial blessing, but I have met
people (Christians) who have Fancy cars,big houses, etc., on their refrigerators, bathroom
mirrors, and plastered inother places of their home. Ask them about it (if they don't mention it
first) and they'll tell you it's their vision of what their believing God for. Are they in God or
Self? If you're going to saturate yourself with thoughts, put pictures of lost souls, and sick
people needing a touch of God on your walls. Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His
Righteousness and all the essentials of life will be added to you - Matthew 6:33
What is the outcome of this unhealthy (over) desire for money:
"fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."
v. 10 - For the love of money (Gk. Philarguria - Friend of money, Lover of money, Fond of money) is the root (Gk. Rhiza - Figuratively the cause or source of something) of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
"FOR" is connecting verse 9 and 10. Verse 9 & 10 are both dealing with the LOVE OF MONEY. Please note it is the Love of Money that is the root of all evil, not money. Money can do good things, provide for your family, support ministries, missionaries, poor, etc. But the Love of Money is the root (cause/source) of how much evil? - ALL EVIL! Wow that's pretty serious!
I like this quote from Matthew Henry:
So what is God's answer for this? It is found in verse 11
"People may have money, and yet not love it; but if they love it, this will push them on to all evil. Every sort of wickedness and vice, in one way or another, grows from the love of money."
v. 11 - "But thou, O man of God, flee (in Greek it means to be constantly fleeing) these things; and follow (in Greek it means to be constantly following/pursuing) after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."
If you are constantly pursuing RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, and MEEKNESS, you will NOT fall into the Love of Money.
In closing, Praise God for those whom GOD has financially prospered, and for the good finances can serve in the Spreading of the Gospel, etc. But also please let this study free you from the destructive trap of the love of money.