The Root of All Evil
“Money is the root of all evil.” All our lives, most of us have heard and believed this misquote from the Bible.Like all biblical misquotes, this misleading statement is perpetuated by people who will not read the Bible for themselves.
The truth is money is not the root of all evil. Money is just a tool. Just like all other tools, money is not a source of evil. Evil comes from the heart of the ones who misuse the tools God has given us.
The actual quote from 1 Timothy is, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Not money, but the love of money is a singular root of all evil. A study of horticulture reveals that plant life is nurtured by many roots from all directions. In the same way, evil has many roots. These roots begin in the hearts of men who lust for things, not of God.
Evil grows stronger every day because its roots are sunk deep into the hearts of selfish people. The hearts of these people are proud. They know nothing but are obsessed with disputes, and they argue over words that mean nothing. From the depths of these hearts come hate, disunity, and evil suspicions. For our own good, God tells us we should stay away from such people.
What is the root of all evil?
As a gardener, I have fought with weeds that would destroy my vegetables. I have found it does no good to cut these weeds off at ground level. If I am going to defeat them, I must pull them up, roots and all. It is the same with the evil we face in life. It does no good to attack the part we can see. We must dig out and destroy the roots. We must start by weeding out sin in our own hearts.
God wants his people to be like fruitful trees whose roots are sunk deep into His living water. Before that can happen, we must let Him clear from our hearts any roots of bitterness or evil desires. Then, we must seek godliness, faith, love, and gentleness. After this, we will find ourselves loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is how we will destroy the root of all evil.
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
I Timothy 6:3-10 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/1ti.6.3-10.NKJV
Douglas & Deborah Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
email-pavementendsministry@gmail.com
Overcoming the root of all evil.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
I John 2:15-17 NKJV
