Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I have personally come to the conclusion that it is not the love of money but rather the need to survive that is really the root of all evil. I save money, like most of us try to do. I do this not to simply amass riches, but due to the survival instinct. Like in the past... prior to winter, people would stock up for the long bleak months when it is cold and there is no food readily available. I may not need the money now, but when I do, it is there.

Money is just a thing, a coin, a piece of paper. You can't eat it. But, if I'm holding onto some food and you are starving and have the will and the means to overpower me and take my food to survive and leave me for dead, then that is the greater root of evil, not something superficial like money.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I disagree. But power and control is. Survival is strong but many have more than enough but it is power and control that drives them.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

But power and control stems from the survival instinct.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

How so? If you have everything you need and want how does power and control help you survive?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Try giving up your job and living on the streets and eating at a soup kitchen every day. You probably won't do it because then you are giving up power and control of your everyday life.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

But, also, even a rich and powerful CEO is going to keep his riches "just in case they are needed" in order to make his business bigger, if the economy takes a hit, pay for legal battles, pay employees, etc.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

The Bible is very clear that the "love of money" is the "root of all evil." It's not even money that's the root of evil. It's the love of money.

Your statement about people stocking up for long bleak months makes Joseph evil for overseeing Egypt's stocking of grain during the lean years. People should be wise and plan for emergencies and lean times.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I also know for a fact that large religious organizations hold onto riches "just in case". Why are they holding on to them? In order to survive.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Very true. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be prepared in fact in the proverbs we are encouraged to do so but as the Bible says and you pointed out the love of money is the root of evil.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Do you love money?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

But let's ask this. What is money?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

The reason I asked Luke if he loved money is that I'm certain that he has money. We all do. That which you have is something that you love. If you didn't love it, you wouldn't have it.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

It is a tool to purchase things.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

What is the tool?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I don't see it this way. Being homeless is often a lifestyle choice. People who choose homelessness want power and control over their time.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

There is nothing wrong with wanting to survive or even stocking up for a rainy day that is simply being wise. To love money to the extent that you would do anything for it or to put money first in your life that according to the bible is the root of all evil.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

If you love your life you will survive. If you hate your life, you will end it. Because you love your self, you continue living and surviving. Love of self is evil. We are evil, Jesus said so. So, due to love of self, we eat, we live, we survive.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

If you love yourself so much that you refuse to hurt at all, you may end your life.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Money.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

The classic American dream.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

That makes no sense whatsoever. :toofunny Just because I have something doesn't mean I love it.


I'm a bit confused here. Are you advocating suicide? That's a serious question. Your statement here makes it appear you're advocating suicide. "Love self" = survive. "Hate your life" = ending it. "Love of self is evil," so to not be evil we kill ourselves? :hmmm

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I don't believe that the love of money is the root of "all evil". I believe that a better translation can be found in the ESV:

1 Timothy 6:9-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

The KJV translation presents the statement in a hyperbolic fashion for emphasis. The actual meaning is that the love of money is the root of "all kinds of evils". And indeed it is. However, the love of various carnal things can serve to be the root of other kinds of evils.

That's my take on it.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Seriously?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I appreciate the money that i have ( which is not much) and see it as provision from God to meet my families needs. As to the part of you post that i underlined it is not always true. I have gas in my car but i do not love gasoline but i do appreciate what it can do for me. I have bills but i do not love my bills but i appreciate what those bills repersent (except when they taxes :heeheehee ). i have a tiller but i do not love my tiller but i do love working in my garden. My point is that sometimes we have things because we need them and sometimes we have things because we love them.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Potato, Potato. IMO, whether it's "all kinds" or "all" is debatable and subjective. Regardless, the love of money is a root of evil. I do agree with the bolded last line....love of other carnal things serve to be the root of other kinds of evils.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

The bible says that we are to love God supremely but it never advocates ending our life. We do have a fallen/sinful nature and therefore we are sinful at the core (in that we have a natural propensity to sin and are born sinners) but contrary to popular thought it is not physical death that frees us from carnality rather it is the blood of Jesus.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

:thumbsup

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Somehow, I knew you were going to say that. But, it seems you don't really have a concept if what money actually is.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Yes, I am not sure Adam understands his own concept.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Adam, you make a very prescient statement in your OP that i have a reflection of, but first let me say that very few people, even right now, understand that a dollar is not a tool--like it should be--but is in fact a debt instrument, issued by usury, that makes anyone who uses or owns one implicit in the enslavement. All dollars are issued as debt, at interest.

To your statement--which i see has been somewhat misinterpreted, perhaps; we have a very clear (to me) reflection of this in Scripture, where it is said that one who 'believes until the end' is saved; meaning that all of our testimonies now mean little, if we abandon Christ's message when the going gets tough, and refuse the cross that awaits us. A telling pov, especially in these times, i think.

I have already 'imagined' a scenario wherein 'those who believe until the very end' are those who of course did not physically resist any wrongdoing--even to their women--and have been reduced to...a pretty small group.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Yes, all dollars are issued as debt, with interest.

Labor is what creates an economy though. Money is something that is issued that represents that labor.....more or less. Labor is good. It seems to me that Adam, when he says things like "quit your job.....having a job is having power and control".....that he really doesn't have his own thoughts on this very well rounded out for discussion.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

The underlined section does not make much sense please explain because it almost seems as though you are advocating allowing wrong to be done to others as we simply stand by and let it happen.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Sounds more accurate to me than the other black and white statement.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Well, i don't mean to stand by and let it happen; but neither would i (ideally) be interested in shooting anyone doing it. Of course these 'fear' scenarios exist almost completely in our minds, but the point might be what one's correct response should be. We are told that one in certain situations might be 'forgiven,' but this hardly means 'sanctioned.'

I believe that if you 'defended' her, and shot them, you might be forgiven, but you have failed the test.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Please explain:

Luke 22:36
King James Version (KJV)

36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

why would we need a sword if we were never to use it?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

funny how often that verse is coming up on my radar lately; i've heard it used as a pretty good defense of why we do not seem to have the same spiritual gifts that the Apostles' had...and i have to say that while i don't know (yet), and the meanings of 'sword' and 'purse' here might be spiritual, it obviously was not for self or group defense, as Peter and the ear' demonstrated shortly thereafter?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you do not hold to aliteral interpretation of scripture but rather more of a spiritualization of scripture.

Do you consider yourself to be a dispensationalist?

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

Yes, this is what $ is supposed to be; but is not.
WELL, POSSIBLY NOT; BUT AS SOMEONE WHO QUIT (oops) working 'jobs' in the system about 5 years ago now, i must wholeheartedly agree with him; and so i'll say that any work one can get that does not pay in dollars is surely good labor; and any job that one gets where they are paid in dollars surely exists chiefly for the profit motive needed to repay the debt, and is polluted by association with it.

An unseen, direct result of issuing dollars as debt is that people die from it.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

I left the workforce this year but I still get paid in dollars. LOL! I think your thinking is a bit off.

Issuing dollars as debt as a government is not the problem. The problem is that it is not the government that is issuing dollars as debt...it is the federal reserve and the taxpayers must pay interest on that debt ro PRIVATE BANKERS who create dollars out of thin air for their own personal profit. THAT is what the problem is. If the government cut the private bankers out of the equation and issued the dollars itself in order to expand and contract the money supply that would be a different story.

Re: Survival is really the root of all evil
 

If a man rapes a woman, is the love of money the root of that evil deed? Is it not, instead, the lust for power over the woman?