Greed: The Root of Social and Spiritual Decay
In the New Testament, love of money is regarded as one of the gravest sins, because it not only destroys personal spirituality but also becomes the source of many societal woes. The Apostle Paul describes love of money as the “root of all evil” – a sin that spawns a whole series of negative consequences, such as perjury, theft, stinginess, envy, murder, hostility, and even idolatry.This understanding of love of money is linked to the notion that, in the context of the moral values of the time, material possessions were seen not as an end in themselves but as a means to express love for one’s neighbor and fidelity to God. As noted in one source, love of money “turns the mind away from God’s love,” replacing higher spiritual values with an attachment to golden and human idols (source: link txt). This meant that by succumbing to an insatiable desire to accumulate wealth, a person lost the ability for true faith and social solidarity, which were critically important for maintaining a moral and united community.Another source emphasizes that love of money stands in complete opposition to the virtue of non-possessiveness, a quality held in high regard in the Orthodox worldview of that era. In 1 Timothy 6:10, the Apostle Paul states that “love of money is the root of all evils,” as it leads to a multitude of misfortunes—from perjury to enmity and turmoil within society (source: link txt). Thus, love of money not only corrodes a person’s internal state but also adversely affects social order, fostering division and violence.From this, it can be concluded that the moral values of that time, which prioritized spiritual perfection, love for one’s neighbor, and community unity, viewed the pursuit of material wealth—especially when it turned into love of money—as not merely a personal vice but also a threat to public order and the spiritual well-being of society.Supporting citation(s):"Therefore, the holy Apostle Paul said that love of money is not only the root… of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10), but also idolatry (Col. 3:5). The lover of money, by turning his mind away from God's love, loves golden, human, idols. In this great sin, this malady is entrusted. Being clouded by thoughts, the monk no longer obeys his superiors, but is indignant, confused, complaining about everything, disputing, and loses all reverence. This makes him like an unbridled horse." (source: link txt)"And just as non-possessiveness is considered a great and wonderful virtue, on the contrary, love of money is a great evil and sin, the root of all evils, as mentioned by the Apostle Paul (see: 1 Tim. 6:10). For love of money spawns perjury, theft, robbery, stinginess, envy, murder, fratricide, wars, idolatry, and everything that flows from that: hypocrisy, laziness, and mockery." (source: link txt)