Over the past 4 weeks we’ve been talking about some popular verses in the bible that have been distorted, misquoted and misunderstood. We only looked at four, but believe me, there are more. We didn’t even get to the sayings that many believe are actually in the Bible, but aren’t. Like “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Not there. Or “God helps those who help themselves.” Nope, not there, either.

On Sunday we looked at one of the most misquoted scripture out there, “Money is the root of all evil.” The Bible doesn’t say that at all! Though I have to admit the restaurant sign is clever ;)

What the Bible does say is, “The LOVE of money is the root of all sorts of evil.” Money is neither good nor bad.

Scripture does however, have something to say about our attitude towards money: how we acquire money, how we spend it, and where wealth ranks in your list of priorities.

In Matthew 6:24 we are told, “You cannot serve both God and money.” We must decide who we’re going to love most. When we choose to love money, it can lead to all sorts of compromised decisions and makes us much more vulnerable to temptation.
(We don’t have to look hard to see how this is true.) God’s Word makes very clear that if we make money a priority over God, we’ll bring a lot of unnecessary grief into our lives.

But here’s the thing, having money in and of itself is not bad. The trick is to have it but not to let it have you. If we are blessed with riches we are to enjoy it but we are also to be generous and share it.

Paul said it best as he guides Timothy on what to say to the rich — you and me (and we are rich), he said,

18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Let’s love God first and foremost and realize that everything already belongs to Him anyway. God has entrusted us with much —and to those who much has been given, much is required.

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.’" Luke 10:27