["BrooksB"]

Money is like anything else-- it's worth only what you'd give up to get it for yourself, or what someone else would give up to get it from you. It has no intrinsic value except in some other form the physical properties of the actual piece of paper could take on. Or perhaps if you could find a clever way to use the piece of paper so effectively it might actually be worth more than your perception of "$1". For example, if you could use it to trick someone into giving you more money, or if you could somehow use it as part of a mechanism that kills an animal and therefore you eat steak for a weak, or if you buy a winning lottery ticket.

It's all in how you use it, paired with the third person perspective of its value (as reflected in exchange rates). Two people, in the same town, with the same needs, with the same amount of money, won't necessarily get the same value out of it. One of the two might be very frugal and she might get more value from her money, and thus be more satisfied. The other might squander his money (the same amount) on things that do not satisfy or that do not protect his existence.

But yes, I have thought of this plenty of times. There are plenty of explanations, too. You can either hamper yourself down with the perspective that money is "evil" and you cannot do good with it, or you can empower yourself by trying to understand how to create value from seemingly worthless pieces of paper. Many people use money in positive ways to enrich their own lives as well as others. Without money, your church would not function and would rely only on volunteered man hours, which would be few because people would spend most of their time bartering or killing something to drag it home for dinner so they could survive.

Basically, there's no need to shun the function of money.

[bobthecockroach]

If I want steak, you want apples, I have apples, and you have steak, we can trade. Unfortunetly, this happens quite rarely, hence money. I give you apples for money, and then I use the money to get steak from whoever has it. That is the purpose of money.

[xtremes00]

Why do we still have to go to that medium of exchange? It adds hassle to our life. If there was no medium of exchange, life would be pretty much simpler and easier.

[bobthecockroach]

Originally Posted by xtremes00

Why do we still have to go to that medium of exchange? It adds hassle to our life. If there was no medium of exchange, life would be pretty much simpler and easier.

No, it would not be easier.

You couldn't "buy" (trade for) anything unless the person you were trading with wanted something you had. If all you have is apples, you can only "buy" things from people who want apples.

Without money, it would be almost impossible to ever get anything. That is why money was invented.

[xtremes00]

*sigh*Everyone fights for his own needs......The world is really in a mess isn't it?

[bobthecockroach]

What alternative are you suggesting?

By all means, I think Communism (in which everything is shared) would be much better, but you live a lot closer to China than I do, and should know a lot better than I do that Communism doesn't really work like that.

[tlj009]

So you believe that working for money is evil? I hope that you don't want to eat regularly nor sleep indoors.

I never said that working for money was evil. I said that the Love of Money was the root of all evil as in 1Timothy 6:10.

[10] 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.

It is not wrong to work for money. It is wrong to sin to get money and believe me you can get more money through sinning than not. That is the problem with today's society. People covet money entirely too much.

I think you present a problem faced only by people with a self-contrary position: that they have an absolute morality that they are then willing to compromise under certain circumstances.

I do believe in absolute morality. You either sin or you don't. I may be weak at times but that doesn't make it right. I pray that I will never give in to the temptation of sin, but if I do does that make it right? No. Will I compromise my beliefs in the future? I don't know. I hope not. But sin will never be right.

I have no such problems. Everything has a value to me. There are things that are more valueable to me than my own life, and there is no amount of money that would get me to do those; but most everytthing else has a price that could be met monitarily.

I don't know what you consider more valuable than your own life, so I won't address that. As for me, I don't think that my life would be as powerful a temptation to sin as seeing my family and friends hurting. If my family is starving, it is possible that I would steal to feed them. That does not make it right. It will still be a sin.

Money is an abstract representation of goods and services. $1.50 = box of cereal = $1.50.

To say you don't need money the way you are is to say you don't need the things that money represents. Food, shelter, medecine. Obviously, this is a false claim (unless you would like to starve to death now).

To say that money is not necessary is accurate. I agree that money is an “abstract representation of goods and services.” My problem is with what we perceive as a need.

1Timothy 6
[5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
[6] But godliness with contentment is great gain.
[7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
[8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
[9] 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.
[10] 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.
[11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Food, water, and raiment can be had without money. God will supply his people with their needs. It is required that people work to get things in life, but compromising their beliefs is not necessary. Not compromising may get you killed in certain circumstances, but it is still sin.

I see no problem with working for money and trying to improve your situation. I do see a problem when you put getting things and money over doing the will of God. What is more important to you, God or money? I agree with others that money is neutral. The love of money, coveting money, greed, etc. is a sin.

[JerryLove]

I said that the Love of Money was the root of all evil as in 1Timothy 6:10.

Since Biblically, Evil predates money, this statement is obviously not literally true.

I'm sure we can start with our "seven deadly sins" and work from there to find roots of evil.

It is not wrong to work for money. It is wrong to sin to get money and believe me you can get more money through sinning than not. That is the problem with today's society. People covet money entirely too much.

You've already stated that it's wrong to sin under any circumstances... "for money" is therefore supurfulous

Food, water, and raiment can be had without money. God will supply his people with their needs.

Emperically unsound. God's people have, from time to time, died of starvation or thirst.

What is more important to you, God or money? I agree with others that money is neutral. The love of money, coveting money, greed, etc. is a sin.

"Greed is bad" is the part we agree on.

[tlj009]

Since Biblically, Evil predates money, this statement is obviously not literally true.

I'm sure we can start with our "seven deadly sins" and work from there to find roots of evil.

The LOVE OF MONEY is basically covetousness. Covetousness has been around since the first sin. The seven deadly sins center around covetousness.

Emperically unsound. God's people have, from time to time, died of starvation or thirst.

Christians die just like everyone else. I apologize if I came across as nothing bad will happen to you because you are a Christian, the opposite is true. We must work for everything we get including food and water. What I am saying is that working is not enough for a Christian. God gives the increase. We must rely on God to supply our needs and he does.

"Greed is bad" is the part we agree on.

I am glad we agree on that. That is basically what my whole argument has been about. Money is fine unless you sin to get it. Why would you sin to get it? Out of greed. Greed is defined as.

"An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth"

What a person "needs" or "deserves" is where I suppose we would probably disagree, or maybe what "excessive desire" is.