Faith in Need
/“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,…”
— 1 Timothy 6:10
“So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings to God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.’”
— Luke 21:3-4
If you have not read “The Danger of Invisibility” as a precursor to the next 5 devotions, you can read it here. Or the first of the five here: 1) Faith in Obedience
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” This is one of the most misused and weaponized verses in the Bible. It is used to attack the rich and prosperous. It is used to justify and vilify individuals as being greedy. It used to shame those who have in the eyes of those who have not.
Yet, there is nothing wrong with money. It is simply a tool that can be used for good or ill. The verse does not condemn using money as a tool or having money (even a lot of it). The problem comes when the tool stops being a tool and becomes the object of our love. It is misplaced love that is the issue, not the balance of your bank account.
We often think of the wealthy when we read this verse, but love of money can be a trap anyone from any financial demographic might find themselves caught in. In fact, it has been my experience (especially since I have yet to experience being a millionaire), the less money I have, the more I tend to obsess about it.
Spending much of my life around people in third-world countries, I can say money has much more significance in day-to-day life there than here. I would argue those in NEED are much more likely to trip over this root of evil and misplace their love. I know I have tripped over that root at times when in need.
That is why one of the people I want to meet in eternity is the “poor widow”. She is not named in the Bible, but she is seen by God for her faith in need.
In Luke, 21:1-4 the Bible reads, “And he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all, for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.’”
Wow! I can still have hundreds of dollars in my checking account and be anxious and lose sleep over the bills I know are coming due. What faith to be broke, and give your last penny to the Lord with a joyful heart knowing He will sustain you. Yes, I understand and accept the theology, but to actually throw the last coins in the pot? I want to know faith like that.
Philippians 4:19 tells us clearly, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” I get it, but my wander lust towards money expects that need to be met before the bank account hits zero. Yet, this woman didn’t have a need until she threw in the two mites. She zeroed out her account. She had faith in God. And He saw her and memorialized her in His word. That’s a lesson from which I can learn so much.
If I’m honest, I flirt with the love of money. I see it as security; instead of finding my security in Christ. I see it as status; instead of finding my status in my Lord. I see it as power; denying the power of God. Yet, it is only a tool. And a tool is most valuable in the Master’s hand. Indeed, I have much to learn from the “poor widow” rich in faith!
Know you are seen. Know you are loved. Know God provides. Know it will be done.
© 2026 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.
