The Root Of All Fun?

Yesterday ESPN.com carried a feature story entitled, “The Root of All Fun.”  The story was about money and baseball.  The story line was an appeal to stop talking about the economy and how it has impacted sports.  Rather, we should be enjoying the “fun” that our money can buy us.

Of course, the title is a play on the words of Paul when he said, “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).  Is “money” really the root of all fun as the article suggests?  Well, money can’t buy you a clear conscience.  Money can’t buy you the unconditional love of your spouse.  Monday can’t buy the respect of your children.  Money can’t buy you character.  And money can’t buy your salvation.  Think of the depth of joy and happiness that come from these few items, yet money cannot buy any of them.

In fact, even the things that money can buy are not truly satisfying.  They are temporary at best, and never quite enough. Money leaves us unsatisfied and always wanting more.  Solomon said, “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.  This is also vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

The root of all evil, or the root of all fun?  Look around from an eternal perspective, and you be the judge.