Signs of the Love of Money

Signs of the Love of Money | Daily Reflection | John MacArthur

"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." 1 Timothy 6:10

When a person is a lover of money, one or more of the following danger signs will often appear.

First, the person will be bent on making money any way possible. He may have little regard for using only honest means or working hard. Christians, on the other hand, will strive to work honestly and with diligent excellence, knowing that God may reward them with abundant earnings, but that He is not so obligated.

Second, a person is a lover of money if he never seems to have enough. But the one freed from such enslavement will agree with Paul, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil. 4:11 NASB).

Third, if someone loves money, he will likely flaunt it. He derives inordinate pleasure in showing off his luxury purchases—and today many of those likely were made with an overextended credit card.

Fourth, lovers of money usually hate to give it to others, no matter how much those people might need it. And if they give any money at all, it is usually a small amount given with the intent of bringing them some honor.

The final red flag, closely related to the first one, is that people who love money are often willing to sin to acquire more or keep as much as they can of what they have.

They may lie on their tax returns, pad their expense accounts, or steal from their workplace. They are willing to compromise their principles for riches, which reveals a heart that loves money more than God, righteousness, and truth.

Which of these signs, if any, do you see in your own life?
Whose Money Is It Anyway? 23–24

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