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For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

1 Timothy 6:10a

Imagine you were the manager of an unruly employee, who comes into work whenever they please, hardly sit long enough before they take a lunch break. Imagine this employee declines most of your requests for a meeting and even when they do have a sit-down with you, you can hardly get a word in amidst their overly dramatic interjections and clear lack of respect for authority.

Now, imagine that you, the manager, is head over heels in love with this employee. You cannot bring yourself to discipline or get rid of them. This employee is the object of your affection, you cannot go as much as an hour without daydreaming about what life would be like with them. Since this employee knows that you have a soft spot for them, they would periodically dangle before you a carrot of hope, which never truly materialises into anything, but gets them out of whichever predicament they are in. This employee also knows that you will always cover for them, and that you, on more than one occasion, have even put your own employment on the line to save theirs.

By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:10b

What a predicament!

Unfortunately, this analogy paints the picture of the relationship some of us have with money. Instead of being a good manager of money, we have allowed ourselves to develop an entangled attachment to it. We are afraid to confront issues relating to money, we identify so much with it that we would rather sacrifice health, family and relationships for it.

This verse does not in any way demonize money, neither does it prescribe the amount of it you should have, it certainly does not prohibit you from having lots of it if you so desire. However, it does warn against an unhealthy relationship with money. You are to be a good manager of your money; and if your money habits are unruly or causing you angst, you should be willing to confront it and bring it under discipline: You are not your money!