The Pursuit of Money
By Pat Robertson
“Man cannot serve God and Mammon.”
The wage earner must earn money to stay alive. We call it “earning a living.” In earlier societies, if a man had no wages he faced literal starvation and death. A supply of food insulated him from the fear of death by starvation. Later, money became the substitute for supplies of food and clothing. Soon, those who had more forgot the reason they had accumulated so much wealth. The pursuit of money became an end in itself — a status symbol — a measure of achievement. The question, “How much is he worth?” almost always refers to money — not musical ability, athletic ability, or spirituality.
The rich man begins to feel superior to those who have to earn a living. He can enjoy a life of luxury that is not available to the average person. He is also given tremendous power and can use his money to control and dominate other people. Money has become so important that men will lie, cheat, bribe, defame, and kill to get it. The love of money becomes the ultimate idolatry. This is why Paul said, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”