I’m sure most of you have heard the saying, “Money is the root of all evil.”

While sometimes it may look like it, is it really?

It’s not hard to see those who make hundreds of thousands a year, like pro football, basketball, and baseball players, throw their money around spending it wildly on wasteful things, often drugs, women, cars, etc. Does that make money evil?

What about those people who don’t have much, who often go out and steal money from others, robbing stores and banks? Does that make money evil then?

If the only thing that matters to you is how much money you have in the bank, is money still evil?

There is no question in my mind that sometimes when people have a lot of money, they do foolish things with it. The simple answer to the question is no. Money is not the root of all evil.

On the surface, it may look like money caused the drug use, gambling, fornication, dishonesty, and anything else that can be blamed because of it. What it really boils down to is the individual.

Money is not the root of all evil; Satan is. Yes, people use money for bad things, for their own pleasures. People make unwise decisions when it comes to handling money.

What I see from these people who are spending money on needless things and wants is the desire to find something that will fill an empty hole in their lives. They are soul-searching, wanting, knowing there has got to be some reason for their existence, a reason for living. So naturally, they turn to things, being powerful, being important. Having lots of money will help you be or get to all that, but it will not satisfy the soul. Money can’t buy a soul.

Money can bring you happiness for a little while, but like everything else in the world, it’s not going to last.

There is only one way that I know of that will feed the hunger of your soul.

That way is through Christ alone. You can’t get to heaven by doing good deeds; you can’t buy your way into heaven either. There is nothing you can do yourself to get you into heaven.

In John 14:6, Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one may enter the Kingdom of God except through me.”

God did a marvelous thing. He sent His Son to this earth to live as a sinless man, and then He sacrificed His Son, who was nailed to a cross and had committed no crime. Jesus was blameless, yet by doing that, God’s Son took upon Himself all of man’s sin. Not just some of it, ALL OF IT, and died taking it all with Him. When God resurrected Him three days later, the earth changed forever. God gave us a way to get to heaven. God denied death. Death no longer is the end of life. You don’t—or shouldn’t—be afraid of death. Death is really a new beginning.

But there is a catch. In order to beat death, you must first deny yourself. You must throw away your pride and be willing to give up everything you have. Confess to God that you are a sinner and not worthy of His love. You then must believe that God is God over all things, believe He has made all things, and accept His gift of salvation, knowing Christ has already paid the price of your sins for you.

A simple prayer to God, asking for forgiveness, and then believing through faith that God has saved you will get your name written in the Book of Life, and your only way into heaven.

A wonderful transformation will happen to you if you are serious about your salvation. The Holy Spirit will immediately come down upon you and change your whole way of thinking and outlook on life. You will have found what your soul was looking for; you will begin to understand what life is about. You will experience love, joy, and peace like you’ve never experienced before.

The road with God is not an easy one, but God has promised you will find peace, love, and joy. God also promised He will be with you with each step you take with Him. You will never be alone; you will find strength to handle situations you never thought possible.

As a believer in Christ, you shouldn’t be scared of death; you should embrace it. Death was broken when Jesus arose on the third day after His death. Death is not the end, but the beginning of life with God forever.

If you have enough money, you can buy anything, but it won’t buy you the happiness, love, and joy that God can give. It cannot buy your way into heaven either.

Money is not the root of all evil; it is only a false promise of happiness and satisfaction. Only the people who use money for the purpose of boosting themselves up are evil. Money is not the cause; sin is.

Use what God gave you, and proclaim it to His glory. God made all things, and for that, we need to give thanks.

May God’s peace always abide with you.