The Root of All Evil…

I saw something elsewhere online yet again misquoting 1st Timothy verse 6:10 – claiming that money itself is the root of ALL evil. This is one of those deliberate misrepresentations that has always annoyed me. First, the actual verse says:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…

MONEY is nothing but a tool. It can be used to help the poor, feed, clothe and shelter your family, etc… It’s when money and the material possessions it can buy become more important than God and your fellow human being that your attachment to it becomes an evil thing.

This SHOULD be common sense, but the verse is frequently distorted by people promoting class warfare and / or who are simply trying to excuse their failures in life. Unfortunately, too many well meaning people trying to be spiritual just accept the premise without questioning it or the people that spout it.

The same is true with Buddhist teachings on wealth and material possessions. It’s not those things that cause suffering; it’s ATTACHMENT to them. There IS a difference. Too many Western people feigning Buddhist knowledge though can’t differentiate between owning something and worshiping it.

If you’re still not convinced, consider this. It wasn’t money that made Cain smash Abel’s skull in. Emotions like lust, jealousy and hate cause just as much suffering as greed and avarice.

The irony here is that I’m not rich by any means myself. More accurately in the lower half of the middle class. I also despise much of what I see done by SOME mega-corporations and SOME super rich. HOWEVER, it’s not fair to lump anybody that wants more out of life in with those.

Long story short, it’s fine to have as much or as little as you want so long as you came by what you have honestly and don’t think your status or possessions (or lack of them) make you any better than anyone else.

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