Money is the currency of Christian Hedonism.

In Bible, it is clear of 2 consequences that the money can bring you to:
1. To destroy you.
“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.” 1 Timothy 6:9

2. To secure eternal life.
“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may make hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

The root of all evil is not the money but us, who settle for the love of money instead of the love of God. We should live for greater gain than the slick money lovers do.
“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,” 1 Timothy 6:7

What kind of mentality shall we have towards money, our currency as Christian?
However, it is different to work hard for earning more money for God to meet our needs and other’s needs, but it is wrong to desire for more to have material luxuries.

My definition of needs is things that are necessary. If you need a car, a normal Toyota may do. But some people buy a Porsche with number plate like 8888, which cost a large sum of money with personal purpose. This is an extreme example, but we know clearly what our motives are when we purchase food, shoes, bags…etc.

“If we have food and clothing, with these we will e content.” 1 Timothy 6:8
When we have God near us and for us, we don’t need extra money or things to give us peace and security.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

According to the website of Mission Frontiers:
(www.missionfrontiers.org/newslinks/statewe.htm)
1. The total global church member annual income is US$12.3 trillion.
2. Of this, $213 billion (1.73%) is given to Christian causes.
3. Of this, $11.4 billion (5.4% of 1.73%) goes to Foreign Missions.
4. Of this, 87% goes for work among those already Christian; 12% goes for work among already evangelized non-Christians, and 1%, $114 million, goes to the unreached.

Yet, according to the “Annual Statistical Table on Global Mission 2002”, there are still 1,645,685,000 people are not evangelized, which is 26.5% of world population.
How much do we really invest in the heavenly treasure that will not rust and no thief to steal? Where does our money go?

Our calling: A Wartime Lifestyle
Our life should be simple necessities of life. The criterion for essential should not be primitive “simplicity,” but wartime effectiveness.
There is a war going on! We don’t have the right to live a life as a child of King since King Himself is stripped for battle. It is more helpful to think of a wartime lifestyle than a merely simple lifestyle.

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Ephesians 4:28

There are 3 levels of how to live with things:
1. Steal to get
2. Work to get
3. Work to get in order to give

Why does God bless us with abundance? So we can have enough to live on, and then use the rest for all manner of good works that alleviate spiritual and physical misery. Enough for us; abundance for others.

Living on the brink of eternity
Our final summary emphasis should be this: In 1 Timothy 6, Paul’s purpose is to help us lay hold of eternal life and not lose it. Paul never dabbles in unessentials. He lives on the brink of eternity. That’s why he sees things so clearly. He stands there like God’s gatekeeper and treats us like reasonable Christian Hedonists: You want life that is life indeed, don’t you (v.19)? You don’t want ruin, destruction, and pangs of heart, do you (vv. 9-10)? You want all the gain that godliness can bring, don’t you (v.6)? Then use the currency of Christian Hedonism wisely: Do not desire to be rich, be content with the wartime necessities of life, set your hope fully on God, guard yourself from pride, and let your joy in God overflow in a wealth of liberality to a lost and needy world.