Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:3-10

³If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

⁴he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

⁵and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

⁷For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

⁸If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

⁹But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Today, there are many preachers of the prosperity gospel. In the Bible, we have already be warned about this. Yet, millions of people are still flocking to these places which they call church.

Clearly, they are just chasing after the pot of Gold from the true God.

Mark 10:17-24
The Rich Young Man
¹⁷As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁸And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

¹⁹"You know the commandments, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"

²⁰And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."

²¹Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

²²But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Misinterpretation of Scriptures to say that God hints us on how to increase our wealth

Example:

This man was young just like many of you here today. The bible said he was also rich and how did he become rich? This passage gave us a clue… he kept the 4^th to the 10^th commandments since he was a youth. You see in the 10 commandments given from God to Moses and the children of Israel, the 1^st 4 commandments deals with our relationship with God and the last 6 deal with our relationships with others. Hence, when you are able to good relationships with others, you are likely to have good success in life.

Clearly totally misinterpreted and definitely the person here is picking cherries. Let carry on to see what Jesus has to say about wealth.

²³And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

²⁴The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁵"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷Looking at them, Jesus said, With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

²⁸Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."

Beyond doubt, that rich young man certainly gains wealth and he is just to sad to part with his wealth. Yes, he has gained the whole world but clearly, he loses his soul.

"How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"

Mark 8:36
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

If you anyone uses this text to preach about Wealth. Know that you just are asking people to take the path down to Hell :)

Ask yourself, have u left everything to follow Jesus Christ? or are you hoping that God is so kind as to grant u all your worldly desires (the same reason why that guy beside u believe in Dua Pei Kong/ Guan Yin Ma/ Prosperity Buddha etc) and at the same time gives you the membership pass to Heaven?
Think Twice

Again,

Matthew 7:21-23

²¹"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

²²"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

²³"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

I hope these people wake up!