THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. 1Tim.6:10
This sounds very dangerous and mysterious. What could be the root of all evil? In order to understand the root of all evil we must consider what actually happened when sin came into the world.
God said; “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Gen1:26
The image of God is only manifested by the Spirit of God, and is seen in the fruit of the Spirit . When God created Adam he gave him a physical body, a soul and spirit. Adam knew God in the Spirit and walked with God and was content. God had given Adam something that He himself didn’t have and that is a physical body. ( The bible says that God is a Spirit and we must worship Him in Spirit and truth.) John 4:24 The body has needs and God was very gracious and supplied all the needs for his body.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them. And God
blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold,
I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the
face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a
tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Gen.1:27-29
Adam and Eve lacked nothing God had supplied all their needs.
The time came however that they would be tested, to see if they
trusted in their Creator. For this purpose God had placed in the
midst of the garden one tree that they were forbidden to eat the
fruit thereof. This tree was called the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil and they were told to not eat from it and if they
did they would surly die. (See Gen.2:17) Not only did God put
this evil tree there, but he also allowed satan to come into the
garden to tempt man. Satan knew that this tree had been
forbidden by God and this enemy of God thought he would
bring destruction on the man who was made in God’s Image.
God loved Adam more than he could understand therefore he
allowed this testing of his faith knowing all along that Adam
would fail and then God would reveal His great love for
mankind.
Satan had a two fold plan he first would cause Eve to question
God’s integrity toward them. He knew their weakest side was
their flesh because the flesh is very weak and needy. He would
cause her to see that the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, was to be desired and would provide all that she
could ever need. Then she could be independent from God and
could rule her own life.
Satan started his temptation with a question. Hath God said?
Full well he knew what God had said. He is deceiver and attacks
the word of God to destroy his integrity. Then he told a bold
lie, “Ye shall not surly die.” Then he began to cause Eve to
become self conscious (instead of God conscious) and to see that
the forbidden tree would make her wise like God (independent
from him of course).
Then Eve saw (new satanic revelation) that the tree was good
for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be
desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did
eat and gave also unto her husband with her and he did eat. (see
Gen.3:1- 6)
This is the root of all evil, man lost his faith and love for his
gracious creator and lusted after all that would make him wise
an independent from God. He believed the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil could fulfill all his desires.
When Adam disobeyed God and trusted satan’s lie he turned
over his dominion of the world unto satan and satan became god
of this world. The world system is operated on this evil
principle and the men of this evil world came up with a
monetary system, that has fomented the love for money because
money (much like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil)
they say is all you need to fulfill all your (fleshy) desires.
Money itself is not evil, but the love of money is evil. The love
of money has brought in lying, stealing, murder, war, hatred,
jealousies, revenge etc
This rage for money has entered among many professing
believers and has brought much havoc. We thank God for His
unadulterated word that brings light and Godly instruction. In
first Timothy chapter six we find warning about men who
believe that gain is godliness and we are told that we should
withdraw from such men.
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing
nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words,
whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of
the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw
thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
destruction and perdition. 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.”
1 Tim.6:3-10
Contentment is the blessing that we all need. Adam had all that
man could ever need but through lust of the flesh he denied his
Lord and started this quest for heaping up treasures on earth. It
has become the norm; even many who are professing believers
are caught up in the frenzy. And they fail to see the wickedness
of their sin. For this purpose God gave us the law of Moses like
Paul said in Romans 7:7 “I had not known sin, but by the
law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said,
Thou shalt not covet.” It seems today that people are not
even aware of the tenth commandment which is,
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt
not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor
his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing
that is thy neighbor’s.” Ex.20:17 To covet is to desire
greatly or to lust. To lust after the things of the world is
as wrong today as it was for Adam and the penalty for
sin is the same, death.
This root of evil is now coming in sheep’s clothing,
beware many wolves have entered in among God’s
people ravishing the flock. Jesus told us how we can
know who the false prophets are; he said you shall know
them by their fruits. He also taught us that out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. When
people who claim to be men of God spend more time
talking about money than they do teaching the word.
You know that they love money therefore flee from
there before you also fall into this same err.
In First Timothy chapter three we find the qualifications
for an Elder or overseer. One of the qualifications is that
he is not greedy of filthy lucre (dirty money). I believe it
is time for Gods’ people to refuse to support men who are
lovers of money. In Psalms 1:1 it says; : “Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and
in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Ps.1: 1,2
The false teachers are coveting your money and they are
teaching you that by giving unto them you will
be blessed with much money. We were warned that they
would do this. “ But there were false prophets also among the
people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise
of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and
their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Pt.2:1-3
Nevertheless we can truly thank God for his wonderful
love that He has revealed for Adams race. He sent His
only begotten Son Jesus who was made flesh and
was tempted in every way that we are tempted yet
without sin. Thus he became the perfect sacrifice for our
sins. He paid for our sin in full and all who will repent
and turn back to God will find forgiveness and the gift of
Eternal Life. He who raised from the dead promises that
He will never forsake us and we are told if we will walk
in the Spirit, ye will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Ga.5:16
