Comments on: Money Isn’t the Root of All Evil

By: Marcia Stehouwer

Marcia Stehouwer — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:37:36 +0000

Having lived most of my adult life below the poverty line, it took me a long time to get this. It also goes to show how firmly an error can be entrenched in our mind-set, even with people who don’t read the Bible. Frankly, I’m glad God has gifted me with the money I have – I just haven’t always been as responsible as I should have been. Thanks for posting this!

By: Skirnir Hamilton

Skirnir Hamilton — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:10:32 +0000

My response on what the goal of teaching others about finance or even frugality is to help others live according to their beliefs. If your starbucks cup of coffee is a quality of life thing for you, go for it. But if it isn’t, don’t buy it out of habit. Buy it because you value it. Spend your money on what you value, not on habit. Think before you spend money. To me, that is the main thing I get from this blog and the main thing I try and share with others in my life.

By: kristine

kristine — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:52:04 +0000

Is this a repeat post? I could swear I read this already. Maybe a de ja vu, or maybe it was a comments discussion once upon a time.

By: littlepitcher

littlepitcher — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:30:44 +0000

Ask how supporting your family and being self-sufficient is the root of all evil. Then further inquire why your out-of-touch buddy hasn’t addressed someone like Goldman Sachs instead of trolling you.

Someone really, really needs some mental exercise.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:00:41 +0000

…wondering how “the friend” was able to e-mail you considering internet access costs money?

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:03:27 +0000

Steve (#29) makes a good point. Spending money on things that some may call frivolous supports honest jobs for many. This reminds me of the recent call by our President to increase taxes on the purchase of luxury items, like jet airplanes. Should the government discourage the rich from spending their money?

By: getagrip

getagrip — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:44:31 +0000

That quote and sentiment are usually quickly followed by the collection plate.

By: Brian Carr

Brian Carr — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:47:41 +0000

In using the famous words of Gordon Gekko: “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:50:24 +0000

“…it takes a somewhat … bad person to refuse to help anyone in need when they have the resources to do it easily without harming themselves in any real way.” Sometimes yes, but many times this is “enabling”. Better to teach the person to make the most of their own resources. “Give a man a fish and he eats today, teach him to fish and he can feed himself forever.” If he’s near a clean stream, pond or ocean, of course!

By: Raya

Raya — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:47:28 +0000

#22 Elyn – that’s exactly the truth. People who underestimate money or even hate money are the ones who are really bad with it. This is their excuse.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:35:04 +0000

And spending money frivolously is, again, maybe bad for your family, but on a societal level it’s far less clear. When you spend money you give it to someone; then they do something with it, which could involve giving to charity or whatever. Unless you are hiring assassins or buying conflict diamonds it’s not a bad thing (even if some might consider it foolish.)

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 21:32:33 +0000

Burning money may be “evil”, in the sense you use it, in the context of providing for your family. However on a societal level you are merely removing money from circulation, making all the other existing money a little more valuable. It’s as if you donated it proportionally to everyone else who has money (denominated in that currency.)

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:59:26 +0000

*should note that I’m referring to the phrase being in error

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:57:58 +0000

@Jackie (#19): As far as I know the phrase is based on the Bible verse although it is erroneous. It’s not just a common turn of phrase – it’s a common misconception of what that particular Bible verse says. Not that Trent needs to be justified in quoting the Bible, but this “correctly” quoted misquote is a very flawed view of money whether you’re a Christian or not.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:35:01 +0000

Actually, most translations says, “the love of money is a root …”, the difference being between “the root” and “a root”. In other words, the love of money isn’t the ONLY root. Pride, hatred, gluttony, lust, and so on… these aren’t always tied to money.

But I agree, it’s what you do with money, the value and priority you place on it that can lead to all kinds of evil.

By: Telephus44

Telephus44 — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:28:19 +0000

I often find “poor” people use this as the reason why they are better than “rich” people. I think it’s used as an excuse for reverse snobbery.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:10:28 +0000

So this “friend” does not believe in the accumulation of wealth, the virtue of saving, allocating financial resources effectively, being prepared for financial hardships, being prepared for one’s long term future, doing good with one’s money, or teaching the above practices to one’s child(ren)?

In that case, he or she is welcome to send me their life’s savings. I’ll be glad to take that concentrated evil off their hands.

By: elyn

elyn — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:31:23 +0000

I’ve met people who feel that money is evil or bad or that it is materialistic to be interested in or good with money. I’ve noticed that many of these same people tend to also feel pretty helpless around money in general. Better to call it evil than face their own feeling of overwhelm or fear about it.

By: kc

kc — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:17:46 +0000

Evita, the “friend” had never visited the site “before.”

By: Evita

Evita — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:07:10 +0000

Trent, it is too good of you to even respond to this so-called “friend” is judging and condemning your site without ever having visited. And judging & condemning YOU for it ! unbelievable !