What piles of wealth

Hath he accumulated,

To his own portion!

And what expense by the hour

Seems to flow from him!

— Shakespeare, Henry VIII, 111, 2

SOME people just seem to have money pouring into their hands even as they have huge expenses flowing out. They breathe it, they talk it, they exude it, they earn it, they spend it, they lose it. The only constant is that they love it.

Money is the root of all evil. Wrong. That statement is perhaps one of the biggest misquotes of all time. The true quote is, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil: which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” — 1 Timothy, 6-10.

But even so, there are countless instances where the Bible speaks of money and actually encourages people to earn it. Jesus Himself mentions money on numerous occasions and told stories, including that famous parable about attaining wealth that I’ll get into later.

So money in itself is not evil, for it’s a necessary tool for our survival. It’s the love of money, the fiscal, fiduciary, foolish romance with the coin, notes, and gold that often brings out the worst in people, as we’ll find out right after these responses to ‘A man for 2014’.

Hi Tony,

Those ladies might not read your column anymore, but they sure look out for it. LOL. Sometimes I cuss you too, but I still read it. Now, for 2014, I really need a man. I say this every year and still end the year single. He does not necessarily need to have a lot of money, just enough to support himself, because I have enough for myself.

So, for 2014, I plan to be more visible without appearing to be desperate. Seriously hope my plan works, because I am an independent, educated and successful lady. Keep up the good work in 2014.

Marcia

Hey Tony,

So many women are looking for a man for 2014 and beyond. As a man, I cannot relate to that sentiment, but it seems that there is a shortage of good men or an overabundance of women ‘right for the plucking’. I will keep this in mind if ever I become available, but I doubt that will happen as I have a ‘keeper’ for over 40 years now…..till death do us part. I wish you all the best for 2014.

Raymond

Ah Teerob,

Regarding those women who stopped reading your column and berated you about it. Your veiled reference to them in Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 1, was very clever. The three witches having their meeting. For your sake, I really hope those ladies didn’t see that one.

Maurice

There’s something about money that fascinates people, whether they have a lot of it or not. Those who haven’t got any wish that they had, and those who have some, wish that they had more. And guess what, the persons who have a lot, still strive to get more. Money in a person’s hands brings them great joy, happiness, exultation…..if even for a while. And the person who has none will swear that if only they had some money, then all their troubles would be

washed away.

Just talk to many Jamaicans and they’ll say, “When I win the lotto all my troubles will disappear.” Some troubles may go away, but new ones will materialise, as statistics have shown that instant wealth does not bring sustained happiness.

Just recently I was speaking to a friend of mine who told me that if he got $10 million right now he would stop working. Now, we can all see the folly of that idea, yet to him it makes perfect sense. That money would fritter away in no time.

As for the gambler, he spends and loses far more than he wins, yet he will not stop trying to grasp that elusive dream, even as he drags down his household with him. Nothing is wrong with a little wager, but the evil creeps in when the gambler starts to funnel money from other sources to feed his habit. He’ll beg, borrow

and steal.

Yet, nothing is wrong with earning a lot of money and amassing wealth. The Bible even encourages it, and also admonishes the person who does not use his money

wisely to earn more. Jesus mentioned money many times as He trod those ancient

paths in His sandalled feet, spreading His word. But perhaps His most famous story about money was the parable of the talents. A talent, by the way, was the equivalent of about 20 years’ pay for the average worker in those days.

In a nutshell, the story, taken from Mathew 25: 14-30, tells of a merchant who upon leaving on a long journey gave three of his servants talents to take care of in his absence. One he gave five talents, the second two, while he gave the third only one. The first guy wisely invested his five and got a nice return, as did the second man. But the third guy who got only one talent was so peeved that he buried it in the ground.

When the master returned, he was pleased with the first two guys, for they were ambitious and financially savvy, and he praised them saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.” But that last servant was in for a cussing after he told his master, “I buried the one talent you gave me for safe keeping until you returned.” “You wicked and slothful servant, couldn’t you have even put it in the bank to earn interest!?” cursed the master, as he berated him even further, calling him a worthless, no good man lacking in ambition, and banished him from his land.

See, investment was encouraged, and by none other than Jesus Himself, even as He cursed worthlessness. In fact, still in the Bible, King Solomon was reputed to be the wealthiest man who ever lived, even by today’s standards, and would be worth trillions of dollars in today’s money. He was considered to be the wisest man, respected and revered. Clearly it’s not money that’s the problem, but the love of it.

The love of money changes everything and changes people; the ones who have it and those around them. Let’s examine those get-rich-quick Ponzi schemes that crop up every few years. People want to get something for nothing, and what they do to get this often makes them do stupid if not evil things.

They’ll sell their cars, houses, land, everything they own, just to get a quick, inordinate return on their ‘investment.’ They’ll also beg, borrow and steal in their pursuit, blinded by the thought of a huge windfall.

As for the organisers of these schemes, from the original Ponzi himself, to the copycats, who’s love for money lead others to ruin, they certainly fit the bill of roots of evil. And yet, there are people who still see no wrong in it. So look for re-emergence of these schemes in the future, albeit by different names.

Women (pretty like money) who seek out men only because of the man’s money certainly fall in the category of the root of evil. And many a man has been taken down the garden path, duped, by such women. This has been going on from the dawn of mankind, and will continue until man ceases to exist. The love of money being greater than the love for the man, and that’s fertile ground for the roots of evil to flourish.

Men will plot schemes to get rich, from bank heists,

to art robberies, to embezzlement, to holding up people at gunpoint. All for the love of money. There is need and there is greed, and greed is basically one word that sums up the love of money.

Children will wish that their parents die early, just to get their hands on their money, and there are many tales of families being destroyed after someone passes away, because they all wanted a share of the spoils. “People can fight over dead leff money eh!” The love of money leads to jealousy and badmind.

Money is a tool, use it; money is essential for our existence, utilise it; money brings shelter, food, clothing, work it. And yes, money can get you the best health care, even through expensive insurance, but rich people

die too.

Just look around and you’ll see that the persons who worship money, who obsess over it and love it hardly have any or are miserable with what they have. Use it, but don’t love it, for that’s the root of all kinds of evil.

More time.

seido1@hotmail.com

Footnote: Carmen Clarke always sends me these daily quotes, and this one was a gem: “Every year it’s the same story, more goals, goals and more goals. And while it’s great to make goals, it’s even better to actually follow through and find the power and motivation inside yourself to actually make it happen. You will get discouraged along the way. If you don’t experience discouragement, even just a little, during the course of achieving your goal, it may not be the right goal for you. Many times, setting and working towards a goal is more about the journey than it is about the end result. Always be pursuing a goal as you will continually learn about yourself and your abilities when you’re pushing the limits and testing the boundaries of success you thought kept you captive.”

— Unknown