The Bible often warns us against covetousness. It tells us that we brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. So if we have enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear, we ought to be content. We ought not to always be coveting after, grasping after, more and more and more.
Those who have a strong desire to be rich place themselves in a very dangerous position. They leave themselves open to the kinds of temptations that destroy people. This is true because the love of money is the root of all evil.
Henry Ford once had an employee by the name of Dudley. One day Mr. Ford said to him, “Dudley, what is your big ambition in life?” “That’s easy,” said Dudley. “It’s to make a million bucks and make it fast. I’m going to get myself a nice home, a nice car, a yacht, and then I’m not going to work any more.”
A few days later Mr. Ford called Dudley into his office and handed him a box. “This is a present for you, Dudley,” he said.
Dudley opened the box and found in it a pair of spectacles. The glass had been taken out of them and two bright new silver dollars had been put where the glass had been. Ford then said, “Put them on.” Dudley did. “Now, Dudley, what do you see?” he asked. “Why,” Dudley said, “I don’t see anything.”
“Of course you don’t see anything,” said Ford, “because the dollars are in your way. They have blinded you. But if you put the glass back in them you will be able to see the world and all kinds of human needs around you. If you will give yourself to meeting those needs and forget about dollars, then the dollars will take care of themselves.”
It is true today that many people are blinded by material things. They get so caught up in a desire for possessions that the finest qualities of life are lost.
The solution? Paul gives it to us when he writes, “For the love of money is the root of all evil … flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:10-11).
Run from evil and run toward good. That’s good advice and good exercise!