The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-03-17
THE LOVE OF MONEY.
An Affection Which Is Certainly Not Dy-
ing Out-The Evil Consequences of an In
ordinate Desire for Wealth.

ing Out-The EVIL Consequences Of an In
ordinate Desire for Wealth.
1t is evident still that ''the love of
money is the root of all kinds of evil"
Nevertheless, the affection for It'll man
Mest in many Christians, as well as in
worldly people. Somany find SO much
truth in the proverb: money answer
eth all things" that they have great
affection for it and give themselves UNI
ceasingly to its pursuit. Certainly the
love of money is not dying out. The
handspring of affection for it may not
be the same in all who are possessed by
it, but for some cause it reigns in very
many hearts.
Few Christians care for money,
simply to hoard it, miser-fashion.
Some undoubtedly seek it's possession
from the dread of poverty and are con-
stantly striving to have such an amount
of treasure that they may feel secure
from any possibility of need. Some
have kind of posthumus ambition of
dying rich and being talked of because
of the wealth they have left behind
them; but the great mass of money
lovers are anxious for money that they
may indulge their appetites or vanity.
In fact, the desire to outshine others,
p awaken their envy and secure their
homage is the main thought which they
have in acquisition.
Whatever helps to foster this love of
money, there is nothing which is more
hindering to the development of the
noblest characteristics, more treacher-
Gus to the souls best interests. 1t is
hardly possible for such an affection
to become regnant without making its
subject call0us to the great law of
love to ones neighbor, and ready, if
not to act dishonesty, at least to grind
the face of the poor and seek to make
bargains to the disadvantage of others.
The ethics of such man come to be
that every one must look out for him
self, and, in his business transactions,
he follows the course of the buyer,
who saith: ut is naught, it is naught,
but when he is gone he bOasteth him
self" Such man looks on his fell
low-men as simply subjects by which
his greed may be fed. His question to
himself is: "What can make out of
them?" II they are competitors in
trade how can their business be cir
cumscribed and drawn from them.
If they are employees, how many hours
of work it is possible to get from them
and for how small compensation.
Further, very often this love of money
shows itself in a needless servitude
and oppression of q mans own house.
hold.
The consequences of this unholy love
are certainly manifest in the man him
self. His conscience becomes per.
verted. Right and VIZ ng are con.
stantly less distinct lines in his mind.
He becomes impervious to the claims
of human brotherhood, deaf ~ the
cry of distress, and holsters himself up
with any pretext which will help him
to resist calls for helping the church
of God and extending the Gospel in the
world. And all this time, setting his
affection on things of the earth, he be.
comes more unwilling to leave this
world and less assured Of his interest in
the Heavenly inheritance.
Let the reader, if he is prospecting In
the world, consider how much impor
lance he attaches to the command
which forbids him to covet his neigh
boris possessions. Let him ask him
self if he is rendering to his employee,
THAT which is just and equal" il he i.
looking on the things Of others with
. right spirit, and obeying the pre-
cept: "Bear ye one another's burdens. '
Let him consider whether he is giving
of his wealth to serve the cause O.
Christ at all after the pattern of Him
who "though He was rich for ou
sake became poor" That apostle WHIT
prayed that Gaius might prosper. &C
cording as his soul prospered hat
learned the true gauge of safety. Thu
man who makes worldly acquisition
his great end in life is ever in peril
Happy is that man who has learned Il
fuse this world as not abusing it,
Baptist Weekly.