“Those
who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many
foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the
love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it
have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
“St.
Chrysostom calls attention to the fact that St. Paul does not say, ‘They that are rich’, but ‘They that desire to be rich’ (R.V.),
they that make the acquisition of riches their aim. The warning applies to all
grades of wealth: all come under it whose ambition is to have more money than
that which satisfies their accustomed needs. We are also to note that what is
here condemned is not an ambition to excel in some lawful department of human
activity, which though it may bring an increase in riches, develops character,
but the having a single eye to the accumulation of money by any means. This
distinction is drawn in Proverbs
28:20: “A faithful man shall abound
with blessings: But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished”.
“We
see here the evil of covetousness. It is not said, they that are rich, but they
(who) will be rich; who place their happiness in wealth, and are eager and
determined in the pursuit. Those that are such, give to Satan the opportunity
of tempting them, leading them to use dishonest means, and other bad practices,
to add to their gains. Also, leading into so many employments, and such a hurry
of business, as leave no time or inclination for spiritual religion; leading to
connexions that draw into sin and folly. What sins will not men be drawn into
by the love of money! People may have money, and yet not love it; but if they
love it, this will push them on to all evil. Every sort of wickedness and vice,
in one way or another, grows from the love of money. We cannot look around
without perceiving many proofs of this, especially in a day of outward
prosperity, great expenses, and loose profession.”
So
everyone BEWARE! God strongly warns against being lustful and greedy to have
wealth and riches. But He does not prohibit being wealthy so long as you fear and
obey Him and are upright, gracious, compassionate, and righteous. “Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who
greatly delights in his commands. His
descendants shall be mighty in the land, a generation of the upright will be
blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his righteousness
shall endure forever. Light shines through the darkness for the upright; gracious,
compassionate, and righteous.” (Psalms 112:1-4)
Fellow
Filipinos, it’s an inside job - a matter of the heart - for all of us: so as to
strengthen our national moral fabric, which is everyone’s responsibility but weightier
still for those in positions of authority and influence. Those in business, in
government, and in churches (especially the leaders) might want to pay particular attention to this teaching...
So
how should we conduct ourselves? St. Paul advises: “Remind them to be under the control of magistrates
and authorities, to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise. They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate,
exercising all graciousness toward everyone. For we
ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires
and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one
another. But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior
appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his
mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom
he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be
justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life”. xxxx “But let our people, too, learn to devote themselves to good
works to supply urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive”.
(Titus 3:1-7; 14)
References:
New
American Bible Revised Edition
