Want to know the true character of someone? Find out how that person handles money. Scripture is replete with examples (good and bad) and exhortations that illustrate the connection between one’s money handling and one’s true character. Paul confirms this connection with the observation that a wrong attitude toward money (a love for it) becomes a root, producing “all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, ESV). In part one of this study, we will consider some examples of evil character as revealed by how such people think about and deal with money matters.

Elisha’s servant Gehazi heard Naaman’s offer of lavish reward to Elisha for his ministry of healing. In contrast to Elisha, who refused the offer lest he take away from Naaman’s giving God all the glory, Gehazi showed his covetous character as he saw an opening for personal enrichment. This one incident in Gehazi’s life pulls back the curtain to reveal serious flaws in his character (see 2 Kings 5:20-27). The “root” of covetousness produced these poisonous shoots:

• Pragmatism: Gehazi thinks that getting money from Naaman is justified because Naaman is a heathen.
• Misuse of God’s name: Gehazi claims to act in God’s name—“as the LORD lives”—when he runs after Naaman to “get something from him” (5:20).
• Indifference to harming another’s character: Naaman would assume Gehazi’s quick change of mind reflected Elisha’s desires, and this sudden change would suggest a fickleness in Elisha.
• Lying: He told two lies. He falsely claimed Elisha had changed his mind about a gift for the healing, and he told Elisha he “had not gone anywhere” (5:22, 25).
• Deception: Evidently Gehazi had been able to hide his true character from Elisha. However, his attitude toward money eventually revealed itself.
• Judgment on self and family: The leprosy of Naaman was not only on Gehazi but also infected his descendants forever (5:27). Note: Most people do not think about this, but one’s covetous handling of money can negatively affect not only self but one’s posterity for generations.

What an illustration! In this one scenario of loving money, Gehazi demonstrates numerous “kinds of evil.” His handling of money reveals his evil character, and yet he was Elisha’s chosen servant—perhaps the most privileged servant in the kingdom. Beware! Flawed character eventually reveals itself, and the consequences can be devastating.  

Another instructive example is the infamous Judas. The Lord Himself assigned to Judas the ministry of overseeing the money for the apostolic band, but in his case the root of money-love sprouted evil of the worst varieties (see John 12:4-6).

• Deceit: Incredibly, Judas was able to snitch at will from the common purse. No one suspected him. In order to carry out this deception he would have had to fake his entire ministry!
• Heartlessness: He claimed a heart for the poor, but the reality was the opposite.
• Betrayal: Such an act against the spotless Lamb of God is the universal height of wickedness. His motive? A love of money—30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15)!
• Self-murder

God’s Word traces Judas’ rotten character almost entirely back to his money-handling. That one area revealed more than enough to show him to be a man with an incorrigibly wicked heart.

Many other texts could be cited, but Paul’s scathing rebuke of those with wrong desires concerning money gives further proof of the thesis: one’s handling of money reveals one’s character. In fact, wrong attitudes and practices regarding money not only disclose an evil character but they further poison it over time.

“Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:9-10, ESV).

The result of wrong attitudes and practices regarding money is a “plunge” into “ruin and destruction.” Paul may be speaking of “eternal destruction” here (see 2 Thessalonians 1:9), thus deepening the seriousness of this kind of heart attitude. How does one end up in such a dire condition? The downfall begins with wrong “desires,” cravings which lead into temptation and eventually into an inescapable “snare.” These people demonstrate a character that has become blind to danger and prone to “wander from the faith.” Improper handling of money has the power to corrupt one’s “faith” and “pierce” with many “pangs/griefs.” In short, one whose character is governed by an internal craving for money will manifest that character in due time and it will likely degenerate further. In Luke 16:11, God calls money “unrighteous mammon,” for it so often brings out the worst in a person.

Here is a summary of what we have learned about the character issues revealed when a person loves money.

• The love of money is the root of many kinds of evil, possibly of more kinds than any other sin!
• That bad root produces rotten fruit throughout one’s character:
  • It can ruin and destroy character at its very core. It can affect one’s character as a rotten core destroys an apple.
  • It can cause the person to “wander from the faith,” suggesting that some even become apostate. 
  • Money lovers do not help but rather harm themselves, for they experience many griefs and pains.
  • The harm can be any or all of these:
    • a snare
    • lusts which are “senseless” (foolish, not showing appropriate moral judgment) and which cause damage to the life and character
    • drowning in ruin and destruction
    • going astray from the faith
    • piercing with many pains/sorrows

All these disastrous results in one’s character stem from the wrong thinking about and the wrong use of money. Especially sobering is the possibility that one’s handling of money indicates the person is lost, without faith and headed for destruction.

How do these truths apply to missionaries? In His parable of the unjust steward, Jesus posits the simple answer: no one is ready to handle spiritual truth who is unable to manage money honorably.  

“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,

 who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:11)