Beware of the Trap

by: Steve Petroelje

Fish rarely chomp on a plain hook. People who fish know that hooks need bait. Bait, either artificial or live, comes in great variety: colors, flavors, sizes, and shapes. Depending on the species of fish, there is something specifically designed to trap them. One bite in the wrong place and they are hooked.

Money is not a hook, but it is a tempting bait. The Bible teaches that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Falling into the trap of loving money too much can lead to theft, greed, deceit, dishonesty, even murder. Jesus repeatedly warned against greed and the deceitfulness of riches. In fact, the Bible warns that the love of money can choke out seeds of God’s word and cause us to wander from the faith and pierce ourselves with much grief (Matt. 13:22, 1 Tim. 6:10).

Is money enticing you to compromise your character, your commitments, or your honesty? Beware the bait of money that appeals to foolish and harmful desires. Don’t get hooked on the world. Don’t let money become an idol. Remember, you brought nothing into this world, and you can take nothing out of it.