Why Money Is Not the Root of All Evil

Posted by Shannon Christman
September 18, 2007

“Money is the root of all evil.” How many times have you heard that? I’ve heard it more times than I can count, and I’ve even spotted it hanging on the wall of the Monkees’ apartment on TV. It’s a popular thing to say, but it’s not true.

Without getting into a theological debate about evil or its roots, I will say that “Money is the root of all evil” is a misquote of a biblical source, in 1 Timothy 6:10. English translations vary, but they all say something along the lines of “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Notice the difference? It’s about the love of money, not money itself, being the root of all kinds of evil, not all evil. A few small words make all the difference.

If any major religions truly pointed to money as the root of all evil, a lot of people would be trying to be as poor as possible. Money would be treated like a communicable disease. (”Please don’t pay me so much; it’s not right for you to spread it around!”) Some people of faith do give away most of their income or take a vow of poverty so that they are better able to serve others and do good works, but most of those will describe their lifestyles as a special calling or a gift, something beyond what God requires of most adherents of their faith.

Even if you’re not a believer, think about the logic of saying that money is the root of evil. If money were the root of all evil, only people who had money would do evil things, and the people with the most money would be the most evil of all. Though some people without money like to think that’s true, it’s not. Poor people can cheat and steal and assault and kill as well as rich people and people in between.

Looking at it from another angle, greed (the love of money) does cause people to do some pretty horrible things, but so do lust for power or sex, hatred, the desire for revenge, jealousy, and even some more noble things, such as a desire for purity or an attempt to protect someone else. Money is rarely on the mind of a man who drops a drug into a woman’s drink so he can take her home practically unconscious.

I’ve sometimes heard “Money is the root of all evil” used as an excuse for not saving, as if to say, “I’m a better person if I’m poor.” But intentionally spending all your money as soon as you get it does not make you a better person (unless, maybe, you’re giving it all away). Rather, it makes you irresponsible. On the other hand, making good use of your resources by saving for your future does not make you evil; it makes you more able to help others (or avoid needing the help of others) when the need arises.

Image courtesy of K’an

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Information: September 18th, 2007; 19 Responses

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Categories: Personal Finance

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Reader Comments

Comment Number:: 1
Written by:: Money Blue Book
Posted on:: September 18, 2007 at 9:08 am

Man is usually the root of all evil..

No matter, how much we try, we have a tendency to stray into bad things. Money is just a conduit. Sad but true.
-Raymond

Comment Number:: 2
Written by:: Fred
Posted on:: September 18, 2007 at 9:24 am

Money simply magnifies the qualities of the owner.

Comment Number:: 3
Written by:: M E
Posted on:: September 18, 2007 at 10:33 am

LACK of money is the root of all evil.

Comment Number:: 4
Written by:: Chad
Posted on:: September 18, 2007 at 11:01 am

I agree – the lack of money is the root of all evil!

Comment Number:: 5
Written by:: Aubrey (Subscribed)
Posted on:: September 18, 2007 at 12:22 pm

Required reading:

http://www.awgibbs.com/money.html

“So you think that money is the root of all evil?” said Francisco d’Aconia. “Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can’t exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?

“When you accept money in payment for your effort, you do so only on the conviction that you will exchange it for the product of the effort of others. It is not the moochers or the looters who give value to money. Not an ocean of tears nor all the guns in the world can transform those pieces of paper in your wallet into the bread you will need to survive tomorrow. Those pieces of paper, which should have been gold, are a token of honor — your claim upon the energy of the men who produce. Your wallet is your statement of hope that somewhere in the world around you there are men who will not default on that moral principle which is the root of money. Is this what you consider evil?

Comment Number:: 6
Written by:: A Marino
Posted on:: September 18, 2007 at 2:35 pm

My brother is a Minister and for years I knew that his finances were limited. Years ago, he had called me long distance and I became concerned about the costs and asked him about it. He said to me

Comment Number:: 7
Written by:: A Marino
Posted on:: September 18, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Somehingwas left off

My brother said tome that money is only sa good as you can use it.

Comment Number:: 8
Written by:: dare2baware (Subscribed)
Posted on:: September 19, 2007 at 2:38 am

Money is definately NOT the root of all evil…it is what we THINK, our PERCEPTION and our ATTITUDE towards money that is the root of all evil.

Comment Number:: 9
Written by:: Cindy M
Posted on:: September 19, 2007 at 3:41 am

You’ve got the bible verse all wrong!! The bible says it’s THE LOVE OF MONEY!! And it IS true.

Comment Number:: 10
Written by:: Cindy M
Posted on:: September 19, 2007 at 3:50 am

Sorry, should have given you the verse precisely or more accurately, YOU should have looked up the verse before you wrote the comments:

“For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows,” Paul in I Timothy 6:10. In its context in chapter 6, Paul is instructing Timothy in the running of the church. You need to read the book of I Timothy and in particular the chapter to fully understand the verse in its context, particularly those verses around it.

Comment Number:: 11
Written by:: Shannon
Posted on:: September 19, 2007 at 4:45 am

Cindy,

I did look up the verse — in five versions. Both the NIV and the NAS are worded exactly as I quoted above. Thanks for including the context, though.

Comment Number:: 12
Written by:: Shannon
Posted on:: September 19, 2007 at 4:58 am

Correction — both the NIV and the ASV have that wording.

Comment Number:: 13
Written by:: cuckee
Posted on:: September 23, 2007 at 2:49 am

Very logical line of argument. Money is only the meauserment tool for a person’s efforts. The same tool can be used differently by different people. Some use money for the benefit of people and are inspired to take the society to the next level while some are not.

Comment Number:: 14
Written by:: Kenny
Posted on:: September 24, 2007 at 8:12 pm

Humans are the root of all evil.

Comment Number:: 15
Written by:: The Virtual Handshake Blog | » Carnival of the Capitalists 9-24-2007
Posted on:: September 25, 2007 at 2:05 am

[...] presents Why Money Is Not the Root of All Evil posted at SavingAdvice.com Blog, saying, “If any major religions truly pointed to money as [...]

Comment Number:: 16
Written by:: Tia
Posted on:: July 14, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Humans are the root of all evil money is just a side branch of it

Comment Number:: 17
Written by:: cabanagj
Posted on:: July 22, 2008 at 7:02 am

if money is the root of all evil? how come these preachers and sects collects money? religious sects are cults.

Comment Number:: 18
Written by:: Ryan @ SpillingBuckets
Posted on:: July 26, 2009 at 6:24 am

Good thoughts. The key is what you do with it.

Comment Number:: 19
Written by:: chris (Subscribed)
Posted on:: August 8, 2009 at 11:29 pm

naw all of you are wrong. Money is the root of all evil because if money is not used correctly and you use it for the wrong intentions money will eventually grow like a tree and lots of problems will come your way. If money is used incorrectly the root will grow into a tree of evil and the only way to destroy it is to cut it down! For example. Tupac Shakur was starting a movement and exposing the corporate lies in the music industry. So what did the industry do? THEY SHOT HIM TO DEATH BEFORE HES SEED COULD GROW! So when people say money is the root of all evil it means exactly that. Dont change GODS word in the bible that would not be a good idea.

One love, One peace, One GOD

Ps: to those of you who are saying LACK OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL YOUR WRONG! If that were true then why do people who have lots of money do more crimes than people who are strucken with poverty? Dont believe me? look it up for yourself! My gosh people can be so stupid! The media has you all brainwashed!