The Root of All Evil

In today’s society, the god of mammon is competing with God Almighty for the hearts and service of millions worldwide. Given that one cannot serve both God and money, the love of money has not only turned many away from serving the living God, but also has become a root of all kinds of evil.

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for he will either hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (lit. riches).”

This depraved condition is not only rampant in the world, but also has become increasingly prevalent among Christians as well. This is in part due to a warped version of the prosperity gospel that has infiltrated the Body; another gospel that equates riches with righteousness, affluence with influence, and seduces believers into succumbing to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

I John 2:16 “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the father, but is of the world.”

The Love of Money

In the name of “establishing His covenant”, some prosperity preachers are proclaiming a God, who grants believers “the power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). While the “sowing and reaping” kingdom principle is universal, the heart motivation of many is not to establish His covenant, but one’s own kingdom (Luke 6:38, James 4:3). Therefore, when ambitious, covetous preachers proclaim a perverted “wealth” gospel, not only are their hearers’ minds affected, but also their hearts are infected with a spiritual virus of greed that eventually develops into a spiritual disease called “the love of money”. Indeed, the seed of greed sown in the soil of a lustful heart produces a love for money that yields a harvest of variegated evil and multiplied sorrow.

I Timothy 6:9,10 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Jesus warned that the deceitfulness of riches chokes the word, causing it to become unfruitful (Mark 4:19). Riches are deceitful in that they promise success and happiness, but cannot deliver. Therefore, when one trusts in and pursues uncertain riches, failure and sorrow are inevitable (Proverbs 11:28).

When church leaders are infected with the love of money, whether they realize it or not, they have ceased serving God and are serving mammon (money). The god of mammon begins to rule these infected leaders, who neglect to shepherd their flock, and fall prey to two common false doctrines that New Testament churches were warned about by John in the Book of Revelation, namely the doctrine of Balaam (dishonest gain) and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (being lords).

I Peter 5:2,3 “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

The Doctrine of Balaam

During the time of Moses, Balaam, a prophet of the Lord, was summoned by the Moabite king Balak to curse the Israelites before they entered Canaan. The Lord commanded Balaam not to go with the princes of Moab to curse Israel, for He had blessed them (Numbers 22:12). Nevertheless, after constant badgering by the princes, Balaam eventually succumbed to their diviner’s bribe and agreed to go with them to meet Balak. Along the way, the Lord furiously opposed Balaam for perverting the way of the Lord.

Numbers 22:32 “And the Angel of the Lord said to him . . . I have come out to stand against you (lit. as an adversary), because your way is perverse before Me.”

In exchange for the “diviner’s fee” he had received, Balaam counseled Balak on how to draw Israel into a sin that would bring the wrath of God down upon them, in effect cursing them.

Numbers 31:16 “Look, these (Midianite) women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

Apparently Balaam informed Balak that Israel could be defeated if they were seduced to worship Baal. By committing harlotry with Moabite women and eating food sacrificed to Baal, the wrath of God would and did come upon Israel. Indeed, twenty-four thousand Israelites died in a plague as a result of their harlotries (Number 25:1-9).

Revelation 2:14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.”

Today, the love of money has caused some pastors and prophets to eliminate repentance from their messages, that they might secure the favor and finances of those who hear them. They have accepted the “diviner’s bribe” by offering messages that don’t confront sin. If these sins were repented of, it would end the plague of complacency, idolatry and harlotry that has infected the Body of Christ at large.

II Peter 2:15 “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.”

Jude 11 “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”

Phinehas stopped the plague by zealously executing the Lord’s judgment on an Israelite man and Moabite woman, by driving a javelin through them during an adulterous act (Numbers 25:6-13). Who among us today has the spiritual strength, courage and zeal to forfeit the wages of unrighteous greed to preach a confrontational message of repentance to the church? Let it begin with you and me.

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

The second false doctrine that leaders who succumb to the love of money are subject to is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans, mentioned twice in John’s discourse to the seven churches in Revelation, is as prevalent in our churches today as it was then.

There are two Greek root words that comprise the word “Nicolaitan”. The first word is nikao which means “to conquer or overcome”, from which the shoe brand Nike is derived. The second word is laos, which means “people”, from which the word laity is derived. If the meaning of these two words is combined, Nicolaitan means “to conquer or prevail over the people”. Unfortunately the early church succumbed to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, instituting a papal hierarchy of priests and clergy that lorded over the flock, instead of shepherding and serving them.

Revelation 2:15 “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”

This prevailing false doctrine of the Nicolaitans is responsible not only for the Bible becoming a forbidden book during the Dark Ages, but also for the practice of issuing “indulgences”, which supposedly assured the forgiveness of sins through monetary contributions to the Church. Protestant church reformer Martin Luther’s thesis, entitled “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences”, condemned the Catholic Church’s Nicolaitan practice of issuing indulgences, emphasizing that the church’s overwhelming, dictatorial control over the laity was to satisfy their insatiable love for money.

45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.

66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.

67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.

82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."

86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"

89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"

The improper exaltation of clergy over laity is a great evil in the sight of the Lord, one in which clergy, motivated by a lust for money and power, intimidates, manipulates and dominates laity.

The Deeds of the Nicolaitans

It is worth noting that the deeds and doctrine of the Nicolaitans, are the only thing that the Lord says “I hate” in the entire New Testament.

Revelation 2:6 “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

Interestingly enough, the Nicolaitan spirit is identifiable and characterized by the six things “the Lord hates” in the Old Testament.

Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”

A “proud look” or “haughty eyes” reflect a Nicolaitan attitude of supremacy, where self-exalted leaders issue an unwritten warrant of lordship, domination and control over their members and advocates. Nicolaitans surround themselves with “Yes” men, who are honored for their submission, but in truth are not serving the Lord but another master. Those who do not submit to their tyrannical reign are labeled rebels. When confronted about sin, or challenged about an issue or doctrinal viewpoint, they may become enraged, and most likely will neither receive correction nor repent. To ensure their member’s attention and devotion, Nicolaitans lead by intimidation instead of inspiration. This type of leader is rarely found equipping the saints, planting churches, or empowering and endorsing other ministries within their church. Churches and ministries that are a “one-man show” may be under the influence of the Nicolaitan doctrine.

Luke 22:25 “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.”

Nicolaitans serve themselves instead of protecting, honoring and serving the sheep that the Lord has entrusted to them. Instead of laying their life down for their sheep, they may “shed the innocent blood” of their flock to protect themselves. When threatened, Nicolaitans may even “devise a wicked plan”, “speak lies” or bring “a false witness” forward against their sheep to defend their own position (Proverbs 6:17-19).

Ezekiel 34:2, 4, 10 “Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel . . . with force and cruelty you have ruled the flock . . . I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

Nicolaitans “sow discord among brethren” by disregarding and dishonoring their sheep, resulting in division and dysfunction in the body, which is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 6:19).

I Corinthians 12:24, 25 “But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism (lit. division) in the body.”

Serving the Dream of God or the God of Dreams

In conclusion, when ministers cease to serve the God of dreams and begin to serve the dream of God (their personal ministry agendas), two things happen. First, believing the lie that money will secure the fulfillment of their ministry dream, they unwittingly begin to worship mammon instead of worshipping God through service to the people of God. When faced with a financial deficit, they surrender to greed and the doctrine of Balaam, which drives them to forfeit godly morals, means, and messages in favor of obtaining money.

Secondly, in an attempt to facilitate the fulfillment of their dream, these leaders resort to intimidation and manipulation tactics to extort the loyalty and finances of sheep. Simply put, they cease loving people and using money, and resort to using people and loving money in an attempt to build their empires. They mistakenly equate affluence with influence, and unless they repent will lose their heavenly reward.

Revelation 2:16 “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”

The apostle Paul lamented a New Testament church that was comprised of a multitude of teachers, but very few true fathers. Much of the church is suffering from the same dilemma today, and unless we make a course correction, will forfeit the purposes of God for our generation.

I Corinthians 4:15 “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”

Lord, forgive us for loving money more than You, for preaching riches instead of repentance, and for lording over the flock of God instead of serving them as You commanded. Lord, uproot the love of money from our hearts, that we might be purged of all evil, and be transformed into the true shepherds and apostolic fathers that you have ordained us to be, in Jesus name, Amen (I Peter 5:2,3).