“Money is the root of all evil” is the common misquoting of 1 Timothy 6:10: Here, as in other areas of life, leaving out love perverts truth. The truth is: “…the love of money is the root of all evil”.

The word translated love in this verse means lust. A lust for money is the root of all evil. In Alford’s commentary on the New Testament, he quotes Chrysostom on this verse as follows: “Lusts are thorns: and as among thorns, whenever one touches them, one’s hands are bloodied and wounds are made; so he who falls among lusts shall suffer the same and shall surround his soul with griefs.”

Only eternity will reveal how many have suffered as a result of lusting for money. Families have been neglected, friends lost, futures sacrificed and lives taken all because of the love of money.

If you make money your goal, you are certain to be disappointed. If you do not get a large amount of money in life you will be disappointed because you will think you would have found happiness had you done so. If you do acquire a large amount of money, you will be disappointed because you will have discovered that money doesn’t satisfy. Either way you lose!

Money and all it can buy is tied to time. A dying queen once cried, “Millions in money for an inch of time.” She should have gladly given her wealth for another day. But money cannot buy time when that day arrives.

A few follow the advice of Jesus and will meet their treasures later. Money or the Master, which will it be?