“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”.

1 Tim 6:10 NIV

We live in a materialistic age. The concentrated pursuit of wealth to the exclusion of all else is a common feature of life today. Rich and poor alike can become completely besotted by the love of money. Christian believers should be fully aware of the dangers of what is, in our time, a spiritual disease.

“Alistair Maclean quotes a story from Tauler, the German mystic and saint. One day Tauler met a beggar. ‘God give you a good day, my friend’ he said. The beggar answered, ‘ I thank God I never had a bad one’. Then Tauler said, ‘ God give you a happy life, my friend’. ‘I thank God’ the beggar said, ‘I am never unhappy’. Tauler, in amazement said, ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Well’ said the beggar, ‘When it is fine, I thank God; when it rains, I thank God; when I have plenty I thank God; when I am hungry, I thank God; and since God’s will is my will, and whatever pleases him pleases me, why should I say I am unhappy when I am not? Tauler looked at the man in astonishment, ‘Who are you?’ he asked. ‘I am a king’ said the beggar. ‘Where then is your kingdom?’ asked Taul- er. And the beggar answered quietly: ‘In my heart’. Isaiah said it long ago: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’” (Isa 26:3KJV) (W. Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, p264).

Be wary of coveting money. It has caused much unhappiness. And it has undermined faith.

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, help me to be content and grateful.