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The Apostle does not wrap things up, but clearly warns Timothy and those who stood
with him of the dangers that would result if this pernicious teaching was embraced. Not
only were these false teachers leading believers astray, but they were making a good
thing out of it financially. "They imagine religion is a paying concern" is Moffatt's
translation.
Having touched on the topic of money, Paul gives it a closer scrutiny and points out
some of its dangers in relation to the believer:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world,
for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering, we shall be
therewith content. But they that desire to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and
many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. For the
love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, which some reaching after have been led
astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (6: 6-10,
R.V.).
These are indeed graphic words and need to be constantly before the mind of the
believer. The Father's gracious provision sees to it that His children get all the
necessities of life but not necessarily all they desire. It is important to note that "they that
will be rich" of the A.V. is not just the future tense, but refers to those who desire or
make it their object to amass money. The futility of this is seen in verse 7 which Paul
apparently bases on Eccles. 5: 15:
"As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and
shall take nothing of his labour which he may carry away in his hand."
This is a lesson that so few learn. Materialism is dangled before people in so many
ways today and represented as being essential for happiness. Thus governments
constantly bring before the electorate the desirability of a `rise in the standard of living'
and people really believe that if they had more money and more possessions they would
be perfectly content. This deceptive myth is accepted by millions and most of modern
living is geared round it. The believer needs to be constantly on the alert that he avoids
this attitude of mind for it can only lead to frustration, spiritual barrenness and a poverty
of Christian witness and service. The Lord warned: "Take heed, and beware of
covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he
possesseth" (Luke 12: 15), and "ye cannot serve God and mammon (riches)". To see a
Christian ensnared by this sort of attitude is pathetic in the extreme. Solomon's
experience of materialism should be a warning to all (Eccles. 2:) and his conclusion is
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver" (5: 10). Rather than satisfying,
Paul asserts that such a view can only lead to serious hurt and destruction (I Tim. 6: 9).
Verse 10 in the A.V. is not accurate. The Apostle does not say that money is the root
of all evil, because this is not true. An inordinate love of money is at the root of much
evil, but not all evil. The definite article is omitted in the Greek. The R.V. is more
accurate, "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil". How much better is it for the
believer to look on money and the ability to earn it as a gift from the Lord and for Him to
have first claim upon it! "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of