St. Paul wrote to Timothy that the love of money is the root of all evil. Over the centuries, through the editorial power of folk recollections, at some point we got to the statement that money is the root of all evil. As a result there have been those throughout time who’ve cursed its existence, their disdain for it becoming part of utopian dreams. A love of money mostly has to do with a love of the things it can purchase. And it is this love of things that leads to many problems in our world. Just look at the rate of bankruptcies, foreclosures and people walking away from homes in the U.S.

If and when I see St. Paul I shall have to ask his forgiveness, but the things going on in this world necessitate a slight revision and expansion of I Tim 6:10. It’s not the love of money that is the root of all evil, it’s the love of power. We often hear people say “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It’s kind of a catch phrase. It is usually said by people who don’t think they’ll ever have to come face to face with either scenario…at least not in their lifetimes. In looking back over just the last 50 years of history I’m forced to say we are face to face with men and women the world over who lust and chase after absolute power and control.

The love of money is a large part of evil’s root system, if we can conceive of such a thing. It’s the love of power that is its core.