Money motivates. Unfortunately, it doesn’t bring lasting satisfaction. You’re probably familiar with the story of John D. Rockefeller, the Ohio native who started Standard Oil:
“Rockefeller was at one point the world’s richest man and first ever American billionaire. Considering he was a billionaire in the early 1900’s he is still considered as the richest person in modern history. When a reporter asked him, ‘How much money is enough?’ He responded, ‘Just a little bit more.'” (Read the article here.)
I’ll never be a billionaire, but I’ve caught myself sharing this same mentality — focusing on getting just a little more. And when a little more is deposited in the bank account, it doesn’t bring contentment. Have you experienced the same thing?

It’s nothing new. The people in Timothy’s church in Ephesus struggled with the same thing. The apostle Paul dedicated a portion of his letter to Timothy to this very topic. Paul reminded Timothy and his congregation of the evils of loving money:

Notice that Paul is calling out those who want to be rich, not those who already have wealth. Those who have a strong desire for money, pursue it as a priority, and end up creating a false god. Loving money, not money itself, is identified as the root of all evil.
Take a look at the fall out associated with greed: being deceived, hurtful lusts, destruction, sorrow, and wandering away from the truth of God’s Word. Not things I want to experience. So what is the solution?

Paul gives the key to dealing with this problem:

Do you see it? Paul was encouraging Timothy and his church members to refocus on God – to love and reverence Him, and live a life of holiness. He was their Creator, giving them life & breath. They wouldn’t take anything to heaven when they died. They had the necessities, they should choose to be content.

Paul had endured a lot in his lifetime. From having all his needs met, to going without for days on end, he knew contentment was a choice. In a letter written to the church at Philippi, Paul shared:

What a fantastic attitude. Paul had learned to stay focused on Christ instead of his circumstances. He didn’t allow himself to be distracted by the temptation to accumulate things, rather he ran life’s race to honor God (2 Tim. 4:7).
Paul wanted Pastor Timothy and his congregation to do the same. And all these years later,

Let’s refocus on God and obeying His Word — the things that bring lasting contentment.