5 … men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. I Timothy 6:5b-10 [NASB]
The famous ‘root of all evil’ passage is found in a discussion about material possessions.
The larger context is Paul’s strong indictment of people who teach false doctrine. Among their faults is the supposition ‘that godliness is a means of gain.‘ How many times have we heard versions of this supposed truth? The idea that if you live right, God will bless you materially. In some cases it is taught that if you give right, God will bless you materially.
Paul says almost the opposite here. Godliness is gain with contentment. If we are content with what we have, godliness is a benefit to us. Not that we will gain more, but that we will be satisfied with what we have been given.
The verse is question is frequently misquoted as “money is the root of all evil.” The King James Version (which is the version being misquoted) actually declares that “The love of money is the root of all evil” [emphasis mine].
The problem is not the money or the lack of it. The problem is not the things that money can buy nor the lack of them. The problem is the love, the desire and the craving for money and material possessions.
May we learn to be content with what we have…
– SSXG