Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Forty-Two
Is Money Our Master or Our Servant
As recorded in 1 Timothy 6, Paul counseled Timothy about riches (Paul’s teachings are bold and italicized) – Nothing of a material nature is brought in or taken out of this world – “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (Vs 7). When a rich man dies, some may ask, “how much did he leave?” The answer, “Everything.”
Everyone needs the necessities of life – “And having food and raiment let us be there with content” (Vs 8). Latter day prophets have taught that people need the necessities of life. This is an important purpose of the Church Welfare Program. They have also taught: “By divine design, fathers are…responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families” (The Family – A Proclamation to the World).
Money is the master of the natural man – “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (Vs 9). The Book of Mormon teaches that they who love riches “the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 3:18)
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (Vs 10). The love of money is often at the root of Paul’s description of natural man of the latter days: “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boaster, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false slanderers, without self-control, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
Money is the servant of the man of God – “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (Vs 11). Money is an amplifier of person’s fundamental character. If the desire of our heart is to deal justly and love mercy, then money amplifies our ability to do so. If our heart is full of materialism and selfishness then money amplifies these characteristics.
The Lord’s law of riches – The prophet Jacob, in the Book of Mormon, taught the Lord’s law of riches: “Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good – to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted” (Jacob 2:17-19).
Riches often exacerbates inequality and education usually promotes equality – The Book of Mormon describes Nephite society just prior to its destruction. This is a warning to the people of the last days: “And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches” (3 Nephi 6:12).
A knowledge and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the best way to insure that money will be our servant and not our master – Brigham Young said that “there are a great many branches of education: some go to college to learn languages, some to study law, some to study medicine, and some to study astronomy, and various other branches of science….But our favorite study is that branch which particularly belongs to the Elders of Israel – namely, theology. Every Elder should become a profound theologian – should understand this branch better than all the world” (Journal of Discourses 6:317). Of all possible courses of study the most important is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should all become gospel scholars.
If we understand and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ we will loosen our grip on the things of this world and tighten it on the things of eternity, and we will have a great desire that money be our servant and not our master.