Money is just paper with ink on it, so we know that money in itself isn't evil. Rather, it's what money can do--it buys us things and pleasure! So the Word of God is actually warning that the love of THINGS AND PLEASURE is the root of all evil. This is covetousness.
We read in 2nd Thessalonians 212, "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." We are commanded in the Word of God NOT to love this world ... "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
God has blessed mankind with the privilege of enjoying the pleasures and things of this world; BUT, He sets divine limits and establishes moral Laws for us to obey. Greed and covetousness are the sins which causes us to cross those moral lines. It is a constant battle in a land as plenteous as America not to become covetous. As Christians, we are commanded NOT to be covetous of this world, "Let your conversation be without covetousness..." (Hebrews 13:5).
It's a disturbing paradox! ... Covetousness is the ROOT of all other sins; yet, it is not recognized for the villain it is, and few preachers preach against it.
The Ten Commandments forbids coveting in Exodus 20:17, "Thou shalt not covet..." Most people today don't think they are covetous. Very few people recognize what covetousness is. Balaam became covetous, and led Israel into fornication and idolatry because of it. Jude 1:11 states, "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." In Numbers 22-25, we read about the false prophet Balaam. The Israelites had just defeated the Amorites in Numbers 22, and now Moab was scared they were next. The king of Moab (Balak) had sent his princes to make Balaam an offer.
If Balaam the prophet would curse the Israelites, the king of Moab promised Balaam fame and ANYTHING he wanted (Numbers 22:17). Wow! Anything he wanted—gourmet foods, fame, women, fortune, et cetera. Balaam stood his ground in refusing to curse the Israelites; BUT, at the same time devised a mischievous plan to where he could have the best of BOTH world's. Balaam wanted the good life that the king of Moab had promised, as made evident in 2nd Peter 2:14-15...
"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."
Balaam knew that he dare not curse the Israelites, and I don't think he really wanted to either; BUT, he was sinfully covetous, like many people today. They want that money! Balaam "loved the wages of unrighteousness." What does that mean? It means that Balaam was willing to compromise his integrity and disobey God to get rich. The entire pornography industry would evaporate overnight if they stopped making money. Women are selling their souls to Satan to make money, to buy things. So they sacrifice their virtue on the alter of covetousness, greed, and immorality. This is idolatry! Pornography is a horrible sin rooted in covetousness.
This is why right-wing conservative preacher, Jerry Falwell, was willing to accept $3,000,000 from sex-pervert cult leader, Sun Myung Moon for his struggling school. Moon actually convinces women to have sex with him as a purification process. Why would Jerry Falwell yoke up with such a God-hater? Falwell has also endorsed the demonic ministry of Benny Hinn. Oh how men and women love the wages of unrighteousness. The entire Christian rock industry is rooted in greed and covetousness. I triple-dog dare you to show me even one mainstream so-called "Christian" rock group that presents the Biblical Gospel on their website. They are a bunch of sell-outs, sold out to Satan! Christian rap, or hip hop, is just as sinful.
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