PASSION FOR MONEY

“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 Tim. 6:10 NKJV).

Regardless of one’s material possessions, this verse is needed lest the passion for money leads to ruin. Thus, we want to note the clarification of the passion for money, and the corruption from the passion for money.

Clarification - “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” This verse is often misquoted. Some folks think it says that money is the root of all evil. However, it is the love of money that causes evil. Furthermore, it is not the possession of money that is the cause of problems but the inordinate affection for money. Also, it is not how much money one has that is the problem, since this sin is not limited to the rich. A person may be a pauper and still have a problem because of their inordinate affection for money. And on the other hand, a person may be wealthy but not have this problem.

Corruption - “Some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Two corrupting problems are cited here that come from an inordinate love for money. They are an unholy creed and an unhappy condition. First, unholy creed. “Strayed from the faith.” Love for material possessions does not help one maintain a strong stand in the faith. Affluence can easily make one an apostate. Love for money corrupts spiritually. It keeps people away from church earning that extra buck on Sunday. Money often causes one to lose his devotion to the Lord.

Second, unhappy condition. “Many sorrows.” Andrew Carnegie, a multi-millionaire, said, “Millionaires seldom smile.” So, money is not the key to happiness. In fact, money can cause more sorrow than joy. If you are short on cash today, do not be too upset; a lack of money is not as bad as a love for money. The Bible calls believers to guard against a passion for money. Instead, our focus should be on generosity, contentment, and faithfulness to God.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life!”

William (Billy) Franklin Graham (1918 – 2018)

American Evangelist and Southern Baptist Minister

Word Study

Flesh

In Rom. 8:5 we read, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (NKJV).

“Flesh” is the Greek word sárx (σάρξ = sarx). The word has a range of meaning that extends from the physical flesh (both human and animal) to the human body, to the entire person, and even to all humankind. The context of each use of sárx is important to accurately discern which meaning is intended. As used here by the apostle Paul in Rom. 8:5, sárx describes the viewpoint that is orientated toward self, is prone to sin, is opposed to God and which pursues its own desires in self-sufficient, independence from God. It denotes the entire fallen human being, including the soul and mind, as affected by sin. To “live according to the flesh” is to be ruled and controlled by these evil desires. However, because of the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf, the sinful flesh no longer reigns over us; we now have the power to “live according to the Spirit.”

Did You Know…

According to Josh. 20:4, the Israelite elders or leaders of a city could be found at the city gates (cf. Ruth 4:1-11). Further, the city gates were also places of prophetic activity (cf. Jer. 17:19-20; Amos 5:15).

Bible Quiz

According to 2 Kings, what was the one thing Elijah left behind him when God took him to heaven?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

What was the disciples’ reaction to the Lord Jesus waking up and calming the storm? They were terrified - "And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:41).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

He went about doing good (Psalm 38:20; cf. Acts 10:38)

"Those also who render evil for good, they are my adversaries, because I follow what is good” (Psalm 38:20 NJKV).

Although he had sinned, David had not cut himself off from returning to God. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-24, the Psalmist had lost his way, but he had not forgotten to “follow what is good.” In his message to the Gentiles gathered at Cornelius’ house, the apostle Peter stated that the Lord Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Indeed, all that the Lord Jesus Christ ever did was good (cf. Mark 7:37), yet He was treated like a criminal by much of society. This is an unmistakable reminder that those who are favored of God are not exempt from suffering. Times have not changed. Wicked men still “render evil for good.” However, the key to the success in any ministry is God’s presence. God not only sent the Lord Jesus, He continued to be with Him in all His ministry activities. In fact, His miracles showed the goodness and kindness of God as well as God’s power in every situation, thus giving proof that the Lord Jesus was and is indeed God’s “Anointed One.”

Did You Know – Christian History

Apolloinia of Alexandria - Martyrdom or Suicide - February 9, 249

According to legend Apollonia was born sometime during the 2nd Century, in Alexandria, Egypt, to a mother who was barren as long as she prayed to her heathen gods but conceived when she resorted to Christian intercession. Apollonia became a Christian as a teen and eventually a respected deaconess in the church of Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Philip “the Arab” (244–249). In 249, during a pagan celebration marking the 1,000^th anniversary of Rome’s founding, Alexandrian mobs turned violent against Christians. The claim was that the violence come because of the presence of “atheistic” Christians who did not sacrifice to the popular gods. Three well-known Christians, Metras, Quinta and Serapion, were killed after cruel tortures. Government officials did nothing to stop these outrages.

Apollonia risked her life to comfort other Christians who were in prison, reminding them that suffering here is temporary, but the joy of living with Christ is eternal. Her courage would cost her life. According to tradition, Apollonia was seized by the mob on February 9, 249. She was tortured, included having all of her teeth violently pulled out or shattered. For this reason, she is popularly regarded as the patroness of dentistry and those suffering from toothache or other dental problems.

The mob then built a large bonfire and threatened to burn her alive unless she renounced Christ and repeated blasphemous words after them. Apollonia pretended to think it over. She asked them to loose her for a moment and they did. Rather than risk betraying Christ, she immediately leaped into the fire of her own accord. Those who saw this were astonished. How could faith give her such courage in the face of so cruel a death? Some became Christians. The early church respected her faith and courage, but a few wondered if her action were not a form of suicide. Eventually, Augustine of Hippo decided that her death was no more to be questioned than Samson’s when he pulled down a pagan temple on himself to kill his enemies with strength God had restored to him in answer to prayer. The Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Churches have canonized Apollonia as a martyr, not as a suicide. Her feast day is celebrated on February 9 in both Catholic and Orthodox traditions. The Church teaches that martyrdom is the voluntary offering of one’s life for the faith, even if the death is self-inflicted, provided it is done in obedience to God’s will and not out of despair or personal choice to end life.

A Little Humor

A boy asked his Sunday school teacher, “Why did the angel sit on the stone?” She said, “To show the tomb was empty.” He nodded. “Also, probably because angels get tired too.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“When life isn’t a bed of roses, remember Who wore the thorns!”