It is often said the root of all evil is money.

This saying is a misquote of 1 Timothy 6:10 that says “For the love of money is the root of all evil”.

 In reality, the root of all evil is the devil and his use of our own free will against us.

And sometimes, that means our love of money can be used the same way a carrot is used when it's being dangled in front of a horse.

 In Ecclesiastes 1:9, it says there is nothing new under the sun.

What we see in our world today can be traced back to Bible times.

 Money has been used for conquest (Numbers 22:7), murder (Esther 3:9-11, Esther 4:7; Judges 9:4)

and betrayal(Genesis 37:28; Judges 16:4-5, Judges 18; Matthew 26:14-15).

Money has even been used to buy the indwelling of the Spirit (Acts 8:18-19).

But you can’t buy your way into salvation.

 The Lord cannot be bought (Acts 8:20).

That’s what makes Him good.

We should feel so comforted by the truth that, in all His power and glory, He does not seek to buy our loyalty.

He does not seek to buy our trust.

He does not seek to buy our obedience.

He does not seek to buy our attention and time.

He does not seek to buy our heart.

He does not seek to buy our faith.

He does not seek to buy our love.

Others refuse to make a sacred sacrifice, and instead, use money to buy us.

 God, however, made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave His Son (John 3:16).

He didn’t offer money. He offered His only begotten Son. For you and for me.

Not so that we would be forced to love Him or serve Him.

But so that we’d simply have the choice to.

 Many people don't understand the price the Lord God paid for us.

The Lord reminds us that we were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 7:23).

There are people who want to exact evil in this world.

Followers of Jesus are given the strength  to resist their use of money in exchange for our contribution to an unjust cause.

We ask the Lord to search our hearts as we search our own hearts.

We ask the Lord to lift any uncleanness from our hearts and minds.

We ask that our treasure be found in His Kingdom… not in our bank accounts, our homes, or other material possessions that will turn to ash.

Reveal our weaknesses to us, Father.

So, that we yield to Your correction and embrace the spirit of contentment.

Ready our hearts and our minds to chase away evil thoughts and desires.

We don’t wrestle flesh and blood, but principalities of the night (Ephesians 6:12).

You give us the might to trample them under our feet. For we were bought at a price: Jesus’ blood.

You sacrificed for us lost sinners. And You didn’t have to do it.

So, may our allegiance be to you alone, because it cost Jesus everything.

 May we be Your people. A people who cannot be bought, just as you cannot be (Numbers 22:18, 24:13).

When the wicked try to buy us with their gold, may the price He paid lay on our heart to ask ourselves, “What’s the cost?”.

Giving

“For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, “You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land. ”Deuteronomy 15:11