by Brinda Junkere

Created on: October 29, 2009

The phrase 'money is the root of all evil' is one which has been persistently misquoted. This phrase originated from a verse in the Bible which says that 'the love of money is the root of all evil'. Money in itself cannot cause any evil; it has no life of its own. However, it is man's greed and selfishness which has instilled in them a love for money and that love gives them the ability to cause evil and injury to others.

Evil was present long before the invention of money when people used batter as a form of exchange. There were those men who always wanted more than they could have and so they would steal, cheat and kill to achieve that goal. The invention of money just created a more sophisticated method for men to satisfy their greed. Money created a more subtle way to commit crimes.

Men have come to love money so much that the abundance or lack of it can turn men into devils. But we must remember that is not the money that is causing the evil. Money in itself is lifeless. It is that unnatural devotion to money that drives men to evil. The love of money gives rise to behaviors, attitudes, and actions that cause men to be really injurious to other men.

The highest of men will destroy themselves because of the love of money. Senior executives get involved in embezzlement, misappropriation of funds and money laundering because they cause their greed for money to get out of control. The evil that comes out of these affects more than these people. There is usually a domino effect when this happens. So the evil that was started there spreads and affects a wide cross section of the society.

Money is something inanimate. It has no heart, no feelings or attitudes that can harm anyone. Money only does what man uses it for. The gang member who pays someone to kill a man is the evil one, not the money. The drug dealer who amasses much wealth while destroying so many lives is the evil one, not the money. The man who is bent on evil will use any means to get it done, and in most cases money provides that means.

What evil does money have in the hand of the single mother who is struggling to make ends meet? What about the college student who works hard to pay off school debt? Money is necessary in those cases and it is used to do what is wholesome.

Consequently, money cannot be considered the root of all evil. Evil does not originate with money. It originates in the heart of man. And it is the heart of man that devises wicked things to do with money.

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