The Love of Money: Is it the Root of All Evil?

Many people believe that money is the root of all evil. But is money really evil? Is the love of money evil? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1zVsI6Inpg Today, we’re taking on a topic that creates so much confusion, tension, and challenge for people. We’re talking about money, the love of money, and the real root of all evil. And we’re revealing how this one huge mistake in our thinking literally causes all the money problems we see in our own life and the world. So if you want to dig deep into what the love of money is—and what it isn’t—so that you can flourish in the right relationship with people, yourself, and with God… tune in now! Table of contentsWhat Does the Bible Say About the Love of Money?Understanding the Context of Money in the BibleIs This “Prosperity Gospel”?Reconciling What We Know with What We DoIs Money the Root of All Evil?New Living TranslationThe MessageThe Amplified TranslationThe Love of MoneyWhy “Loving Money” is EasyMoney is a ToolParting Thoughts About the Love of MoneyBook A Strategy Call What Does the Bible Say About the Love of Money? Earlier this year, we had special guest Rabbi Daniel Lapin join us to talk about his book Thou Shall Prosper. We thought his biblical wisdom about money was so profound, and we actually had him join our show two more times this year. However, we also received many comments about biblical interpretation. We thought it would be a good idea to break down what we interpret in the Bible.  As we lay the groundwork for this discussion, we think it’s important to point out that English-speakers are reading a translation. We don’t have the benefit of reading the text in its original language. As such, there are many modern translations we can seek, with different interpretations. Then, on top of that, we have our own human interpretation of the texts we read.  The Money Advantage is not a ministry, but a business. As entrepreneurs, and particularly as ones in the financial, we talk about money. Wealth can be a taboo topic in many religious circles, and in an effort to talk about money from all angles, we want to touch on biblical wealth. Whatever you believe, we think this topic can help to assuage shame or guilt around money.  Understanding the Context of Money in the Bible Many people draw their feelings and philosophy on money directly from the Bible. When you’re building and protecting your wealth, it’s important to have a solid understanding of things so that you can make the best decisions possible. Without it, you’re financially coasting. We think this same logic can apply to your understanding of money in a biblical sense. If your entire philosophy of money is Biblically centered, it makes sense to dig deeper. The more you can understand the cultural context and original meaning of the text, the more concrete your understanding can be.  Is This “Prosperity Gospel”? Prosperity Gospel is a term that often comes with negative connotations. Wikipedia defines this as: A religious belief among some Protestant Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology This, however, is not the reason that we find value in looking at the Biblical context of money. We believe that wealth is something accessible to all and is directly proportional to the amount of value you provide others, and the number of people you provide value to. However, we live in a society that often vilifies wealth, which can cause negative feelings to fester within us all.  However, based on our own understanding of the Bible, we see that wealth is not “evil,” or something to be despised. This does not, however, mean that we advocate that the wealthy are favored by God more than others. We are proponents of obtaining wealth through peaceful trade,