The love of money is the root of all evil.
From both personal experience and personal observation, I believe that statement to be true. Many a man or woman in love with money has compromised principle in order to obtain wealth. No doubt you have seen it as well.
There is just one problem with this helpful proverb: We’re quite sure the warning doesn’t apply to us. I mean, we’d never lie, cheat, or steal to gain more money. Therefore, the warning must be for someone else—probably the wealthy.
Herein lies the problem. Nobody ever admits to loving money. Everybody just wants more of it. (tweet that)
In America, if you ask a roomful of people who wants to be rich, almost every hand gets raised. The desire for wealth is almost a forgone conclusion in our society. So much so, in fact, anybody who claims they don’t want more is quickly labeled a madman, a liar, or misinformed.
But I don’t think this assumption concerning our relentless pursuit of money should go unchallenged. It might be a helpful exercise to measure our desires and weigh them against the alternative.
So let me pose a question.
What if the desire for money could be entirely removed from our lives? What riches might stand on the other side? What benefits would we discover?
Allow me to offer seven.
1. Happiness can be discovered. The studies always come out the same. Once our most basic physical needs are met, money adds very little happiness to our lives—even though we always assume it will. Zig Ziglar said it like this, “Money won’t make you happy. But everybody wants to find out for themselves.” Once we remove the desire for money, we are freed to discover happiness has been available to us all along.
2. Security can be found elsewhere. Research from Margaret Clark, a professor of Psychology at Yale, tells us that human beings look for security in two places: possessions and relationships. When one is abundant, the other receives less priority. As we shift the focus of our lives away from the accumulation of more and more money, we may just find that genuine relationships with other people provide far more security and fulfillment than possessions ever can.
3. The negative influence of wealth becomes more apparent. Most of us fear poverty. But very few ever consider the negative consequences of wealth: pride, arrogance, isolation, lack of empathy, and the clouding of moral judgment (just to name a few). Again, we are quick to dismiss the notion that money would ever have that type of influence on us. Because we imagine our life would only be better with more money, we never stop to even consider if that’s true.
4. Work would take on a new focus. If the pursuit of wealth was removed from our affections, we may change our career entirely and choose to do something more fulfilling for 40 hours/week… doesn’t that sound nice? But even if we didn’t change our work assignment, our focus would still change. We may care less about the paycheck and care more about doing a good job for the sake of doing a good job—or maybe for the sake of the person we are serving in our occupation. Work would no longer be selfish, it would become selfless.
5. Generosity could begin today. Generosity benefits the receiver, but it also rewards the giver. Those who are generous with their money and their time take hold of the life that is fully life. They make the world better and their lives fuller. Too often we fall into the thinking if we made more money we would become more generous. But the statistics don’t support that presumption. Generosity is more about priorities than it is about income.
6. Contentment would become attainable. Those who have all they need (food, clothing, shelter) but still constantly desire more, prove their discontent. It is displayed in the items they pursue. I realize that removing the desire for wealth does not necessarily result in contentment, passions can still be directed elsewhere. But it is a great start.
7. Regret is more easily avoided. People who want to get rich fall into a trap that often leads to ruin and regret. They make sacrifices with their time and energy to secure more wealth. They are quick to neglect their family, their health, or their soul. They make small sacrifices every day in order to make more money. But in the end, they will discover they traded the most important for the least. Rejecting an unquenchable desire for more opens up our life to regain focus on the things that truly matter.
This post is not a chastisement of those with money—that would include most of us. And this is also not an argument against hard work, compensation, or earning money.
Instead, this is a post designed to open up a conversation on this blog and in our minds—a conversation about the role of money in our lives. And it is a call to reevaluate our seemingly insatiable desire for more of it.
Kathy says
I will be one of those who do admit that I love money along with everything it can provide. I don’t think I have ever stolen it, cheated to get it or harmed anyone in my accumulation of if. I don’t think it is wrong to love it if you don’t let it lead to those evils. Until we get to the Star Trek future, where everything, including food, is by replicator and people work for the love of the job because there is no money then, we all need money to one extent or another. We are a ways away from that seeming Utopia.
Judy says
Joshua—I agree with your post 100%. I know that money is the root of all evil. I know, that I know, that I know!!!
Maureen@ADebtFreeStressFreeLife says
First let me say I do agree with you that money is NOT as important as relationships. With that being said, we live in a world where money is important. You can’t pay your mortgage without it, or buy food without it, or do any philanthropic work without it, so although the concept is nice, we don’t live in that world and probably won’t see it in our life time. Money is important if for nothing more than meeting basic needs.
I don’t believe money in an of itself is the root of all evil. Money is just another form of energy and it’s what we attach to it that becomes the problem. Money just sitting there is just money sitting there.
We as human beings do need to be careful. I know lots of people who are multi-millionaires. Some are the most generous people I’ve ever known. They are generous with their time, resources, their friendship. They are not focused on the collection of wealth, but wealth has easily come into their lives.
I also know people who are broke and struggling and their resentment of those who have more I believe prevents them from every breaking out of the chains of poverty. Their attitude is their roadblock in even getting their basic needs met.
There’s many sides to this and the best anyone can do is to keep their relationship with money in check. To not make the acquiring of it more important than anything else. And, if you’re fortunate to have more than the average person has, to do good deeds with it and make the world a better place.
I don’t think money changes you. I think if your a good person, money will only enhance that as stated above. If on the other hand you’re a jerk, you’ll be a jerk with money.
Mary says
Well said!
Bob Pepe says
Maureen, I just went to your website and it looks amazing. I am in HUGE debt and my house of cards could be tumbling. I look forward to learning from you. You really struck a nerve with me.. You are exactly what I need (and I also love Dirty Martinis)
Maureen@ADebtFreeStressFreeLife says
Hey Bob! Glad to have you join me over at my site. Look forward to getting to know you. If there’s anything I can do to help you on your journey don’t hesitate to drop me an email. Cheers!
Maressa says
Once again enlightening and exactly what I needed.
I also liked your interaction in the comment section Joshua.
I am trying to make of my full time job a safe place for personal growth and a platform to bless others. The job in itself is not something I’m passionate about and I feel that I’m there ‘cos God wants me there now and that’s what gets me through the days.
I find joy in writing and being creative. I am praying and asking God to open doors for me in a place that I can find more fulfillment and use my gifts to full potential.
I want work to be fulfilling and I want to do the best I can, always. Today, work is just work for me, but I’m praying and hoping for better opportunities.
Thomas Finch says
Beautifully crafted post! I can really resonate with number 4. I’m trying to get all my basic needs met as simply as possible such as growing my own food, walking or using a bike for transport etc. so that I can have more time for the things I want to do rather than have to do. Our society places far too much emphasis on money when really it is a fabrication of our own doing!
Ethan Bridges says
Such a conversation, indeed!
Well, to put it simply, to me, it’s Freedom + Contentment.
Without contentment, one will look for more, and then more. It won’t stop. In a sense, you will be content when you’re “rich” if you’re already content when you’re not.
chandarashekhar Vairale says
Money is just a means ….but it could be a menace or turn your future to a ‘mean’ one.
nicely penned article…
Jake says
When I was in high school my grandparents passed away and left myself and my sister to split all of their wealth they left behind. They were farmers and teachers, so they did not leave an excessive amount, but still a large amount for an 18 year old boy to receive. I feared that having far more money than any of my acquaintances would fill me with arrogance and a love of money, but I actually found the opposite. I have found that everyone else around me is always talking about how they want more money or wish to be rich, but I do not share those feelings. Through getting a large amount of money I quickly realized that more money was not going to make me happier, and I shifted the focus of my life onto things that I knew would bring me true happiness without just being motivated by money. I work as hard for my money as I ever have, and I have enough money so that I can live comfortably and have quality possessions, but I understand that I should not lead myself astray by chasing money. I was able to decide to become a teacher and commit to worldly travels and live my life the way I believe is best simply because I was able to understand what it is like to have enough money. I understand that my situation is not the norm, but I am extremely grateful for being able to realize the true value of money early on in life.
ren says
Not interested in vast wealth, but would like security for retirement and no debt.
Tina says
My husband and I retired when I was 53 and he was 55. We didn’t need our full pensions because the kids were done with college and we had always lived simply. We volunteer, take classes, I do crafts and we travel. When you don’t care what the Joneses do life can be very simple.
Linda Sand says
When we were poor I thought that when we had enough money to be more than comfortable we would be very charitable. Instead, I worry about having enough to get life long care for my aging mind and body. I am not happy with that. I don’t love money but I do fear being poor again without the physical and mental resources we had back then to help ourselves out of the hole. We do give now but not as much as I would like. It’s a challenge to find the right balance.