Hebrews 13:1-10 - Living in Community (Part 1)

Most of the words in most languages in the world are short, maybe one or two syllables in length. In fact, sixteen of the nineteen words in that sentence had only one syllable, and so in English we have short words like: House. Base. Bee. Ship. Sin.

But, in English, like in most other languages, we can add other words or letters to these basic words, which then make the word longer and can either slightly or greatly change its meaning, after all, there is an enormous difference between “butter” and “butterfly.” Therefore, we can have household. Baseball. Beeline. Shipwreck. Sinful, and we can put different words onto the same word and come up with things like: Housekeeper. Housemate. Houseboat. Housewife.

Each of these additional words, although they build on the basic word "house", give us a very different word, with a very different meaning, but still connected in some way to that basic meaning of “house”.

And what we do in English now, they also did in Greek two thousand years ago, and so we find in our reading from Hebrews 13 that we have three particular Greek words that are made up of two different words, which then gives it a special meaning, yet still connect to the base word.

Each of these three words are compounds of the Greek verb φιλέω, which means "to love", and when combined with another Greek word it takes on the meaning of "to be a lover of . . . something".

The first two of these compound words speak about things that we are to "love", while the third speaks of something that we are not to love, and these three words are:

Firstly, φιλαδελφία, to be a lover of the brothers.

Now depending on the translation that you are using this will be translated in various ways. The King James and the English Standard translate this as “brotherly love”, although the NIV and the New Revised Standard translate this as “devoted to one another in love, “love one another”, “love as brothers and sisters”, or even “mutual affection”. This has to do with their theory of translation and the use of “inclusive language” so that people don’t get the impression that the message of the Bible is only for men and not for women as well. But the idea of the word in context is loving our fellow believers in Christ.

The second word is, φιλοξενία, to be a lover of strangers.
And the third word is, ἀφιλάργυρος, to not be a lover of money.

But notice that each of these three words are built upon that basic Greek word, filew, "to love".

φιλαδελφία,[1] φιλοξενία,[2] ἀφιλάργυρος[3].

The first of these is a combination of the Greek words φιλέω and ἀδελφός, which together makes up the Greek word "Philadelphia",[4] and means the "love of brothers", which, of course, is where both the ancient city of Philadelphia, mentioned in the Revelation, as well as Philadelphia in America gets its name, and Philadelphia in America is often called "the city of brotherly love". This word is used six times in the New Testament, and each time with that idea of "brotherly love", or "loving the brothers and sisters in Christ".

Romans 12:10a:

Love one another with mutual love [that is,

brotherly love].

Or 1 Thessalonians 4:9:

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

By the way, have you ever heard someone talk about the different words for love found in the Greek New Testament?

It has often been said that there is a difference in meaning between one Greek word that is often translated as "love", φιλέω, and another Greek word translated as "love" – ἀγάπη,[5] and, it is often said that the word agape has the idea of a "divine, self-sacrificing love", while the word phileo means more along the lines of "friendship". Much is made of this in John 20 where Jesus uses one word, "agape" when he says, "Peter, do you love me", while Peter uses the other word "phileo", when he says, "yes, Lord, I love you".

But this distinction, although quite possible in Classical Greek, doesn’t really exist by New Testament times. By New Testament times these two words are almost synonymous. That is, they mean nearly the same thing, and we see this particularly in John's Gospel.

In John 5:20 we read that the Father has phileo for the son, while in John 3:35 the Father has agape for the son.

In John 11:3 Jesus has phileo for Lazarus, but just two verses later in John 11:5, Jesus has agape for Lazarus.

In John 16:27, the Father has phileo for the disciples, while John 3:16, and many other places, talk about how God has love, agape, for the world.

John 20:2 talks about the "disciple Jesus loved" using phileo, while John 13:23 talks about the "disciple Jesus loved" using agape.

And so we can see that in John's Gospel, these two words are virtually synonymous. They mean the same thing and are used interchangeably.

Then, in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, we read that Amnon, the son of David, had so much "love", agape, for his half-sister, that he sexually assaulted her, showing quite clearly that his love for her was neither divine nor self-sacrificing.

In the Song of Solomon, the word "agape" is often used and clearly means romantic love, and sometimes, sex.

And so the distinction that is often made between these two words for love: phileo and agape, doesn't necessarily exist in the Koine Greek, the common Greek, which the New Testament was written in.

We see this also in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 where Paul says:

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

And when Paul uses both words, “philadelphia” and “agape,” he means the same thing.

This also occurs in 1 Peter 1:22:

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.

Again, using philadelphia and agape as synonyms, words that mean the same thing.[6] Peter also uses "Philadelphia" in 1 Peter 3:8:

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Finally, there is our reading in Hebrews 13:1:

Let mutual love continue.

And what "philadelphia", the love of brothers, applies to is not so much how we treat our biological brothers or sisters (although it should), but the Bible uses it to show us how we are to treat our spiritual brothers and sisters. How we are to treat our fellow believers in our lord and saviour Jesus Christ. The Bible says that we are to love them as "family".

In the New Testament, God is called our "father" dozens of times, while in the New Testament, fellow believers are called "brothers" around two hundred times, although when it uses the term "brothers", the New Testament normally applies this to both male and female believers. All are equally "brothers and sisters" through our faith in Jesus.

Peter and Paul both call us the "household of God.[7] Paul calls us the "family of faith",[8] and he also says that God is the "father" of this entire "family".[9]

So, with all of these terms: Father, brothers, family, and household, the New Testament makes it abundantly clear what our relationship with one another really is. We are not a group of strangers thrown together by chance or circumstance. You might get that at a football game. In fact, at a football game you might end up sitting with people who are cheering for the other side. But here in the church, through our common faith in Jesus Christ, we are all "family", and being "family", being "brothers and sisters", the writer of Hebrews says that we are to "love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ".

What was Jesus' great command in John 13:34-35?

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Paul, Peter, and John repeat this command, and this command is repeated here in Hebrews 13:1 when he tells us to "love one another as brothers".

How do we treat each other? Do we merely "tolerate" one another? Do we merely "put up with" one another? Do we cringe at the sight of one another? Or do we, as Jesus, the apostles, and the author of Hebrews commands, do we "love one another as brothers"? Therefore, the first compound word that he gives which speaks of how we live in community with others is "philadelphia", love as brothers.

The second compound word is found in Hebrews 13:2 which says:

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

And the phrase "hospitality to strangers" is the single Greek word, φιλοξενία. We have all heard of the word "xenophobia", that is, the "fear of strangers", or the fear of "foreigners". But here we are told to have "filoxenia", and although elsewhere in the Bible this and related words are almost always translated as "hospitality", it literally means that we are to have "the love of strangers".

What the writer of Hebrews is saying is that, although he wants us to "love our brothers and sisters in Christ", to love those whom we do know, he also encourages us to "love the stranger", to love those we do not know.

This word occurs only one other time in the entire Bible. In Romans 12:13 we read:

Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Notice that Paul has the same emphasis as we find in Hebrews 13. On the one hand we are encouraged to "share with God's people". To share with our fellow believers in Jesus Christ, that is, to "love the brothers". But we are also encouraged to "extend hospitality", that is to "love the stranger".

For most of us, it is easy to show love to those we do know. They are our friends. Our family. Our workmates. Our neighbours. It is easy to show them kindness, help, and assistance in times of need. But what the Bible says we are to do is to go beyond that. To go beyond loving those we do know, and to also love those we do not know.

This is exactly what we see in Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10. In Luke 10 a man is beaten up, robbed, and left for dead, and although a priest and a Levite came by, they do nothing. It was instead a Samaritan who "loved the stranger". Who practiced "philoxenia". He protected him. Nurtured him. Fed him and paid for his care.

This, says Jesus, is what it means to "love our neighbour". To not be so concerned about our own welfare that we turn a blind eye to the needs of others, but instead we reach out in compassion, kindness, and love to those we have never met, reaching out in compassion to those we might never see again.

What is it that Jesus told us in Luke 6:32-36?

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Or, as Hebrews 13 talks about, be merciful by loving the stranger.

The writer of Hebrews then says that some who "showed hospitality to strangers", that is, some who "loved the stranger", also "entertained angels"? Who was this?

We read in Genesis 18:1-5 about the time when God and two angels appeared to Abraham.

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground.

He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.”

What we see here is that Abraham welcomed the stranger, looked after the stranger, fed the stranger, and when he did, although he did not yet realise it, he entertained God and his messengers.

Again, when the angels, that is, the messengers of God, came to the city of Sodom, Lot finds them and says to them in Genesis 19:2-3:

“Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you can rise early and go on your way.”

They said, “No; we will spend the night in the square.”

But he urged them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

What we see here is that Lot welcomed the stranger, looked after the stranger, and fed the stranger, and when he did, although he did not realise it at the time, he entertained God's messengers.

John says to his friend Gaius in 3 John 1:5-6a:

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church.

These travelling evangelists were "strangers", and yet he showed "love" to them by welcoming them, helping them, supporting them, and supplying what was needed for their journey.

In Matthew 25:35, what did Jesus said we would be judged upon? On the day of judgement the sheep and the goats are divided and Jesus, the Judge, says to them:

for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

We are told here in Hebrews 13:2 to practice "love of the stranger", or to practice hospitality.

Of course, Paul takes this entire idea even further in Ephesians 2:12:

remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Notice what he says. He said that before we came to know Jesus Christ as saviour, we were "strangers" to all of the promises of God. We were without hope and without God. But he goes on to say in Ephesians 2:19, that as a result of all that Jesus has done for us on the cross, as a result of his grace, his sacrifice, and his love:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.

Because of all that God has done for us in Christ, we are no longer "strangers", we are no longer "foreigners", but we are now fellow citizens with God's people, and we are now members of God's "family". Because of what Jesus has done for us, we are now brothers and sisters, and all of this is through God's "love of the stranger". His love of us, and here in Hebrews 13:2 we are encouraged to copy the example of Christ, and "love the stranger".

So far in verses one and two we have seen that we are to love our brothers and sisters in the faith, and we have seen that we are to love the stranger, but in Hebrews 13:5 he goes on to tell us one more thing, but this time it is one thing that we are not to love. He says in Hebrews 13:5:

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Here he says that we are be, ἀφιλάργυρος, that is, we are not to be a lover of money. Now, this can become an issue for those aspiring to positions of church leadership, and so Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:3 that church elders should:

not [be] a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.

And although we are warned in 2 Timothy 3:2 that in the last days:

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.

We are also told in 1 Timothy 6:10 that:

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Because of the dangers that the love of money brings to the church, the dangers that the love of money brings to our own lives and relationships, our writer warns us in Hebrews 13:5 to:

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Notice that the reason that we don't have to be grasping and greedy, the reason why we don't have to "love money".

The reason we can learn to be content in any and every situation is because God is with us. He will never leave us, he will never forsake us, and here the writer of Hebrews is quoting the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 31:6:

Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.

Again Deuteronomy 31:8:

It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

As Isaiah 41:10 says:

Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Jesus promised us in Matthew 28:20b:

I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Because of the ongoing presence of God we never need to be greedy or grasping. We don't need to be "lovers of money". Instead, we need to continue in faith. Faith in God who loves us. Faith in God who is with us. Faith in God who supplies all our needs, as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:[10]

No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’

For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Isn't it far better to be a lover of God, and a person who walks in faith, as Matthew 6:33 says:

But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

And so here, in the first half of Hebrews 13, as our writer seeks to show us what it means to live in community with one another, he focusses on three "loves".

He tells us of the need to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

He tells us of the need to love the stranger.

And he also warns us about the dangers of loving money, of loving anything in fact, more than God.

Love is such a great part of our lives. But what are we going to love? Who are we going to love?

Our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The stranger.
And, more than anything else, God our Father, who is with us always.

[1] Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:7

[2] Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2

[3] 1 Timothy 3:3; Hebrews 13:5

[4] filadelfia

[5] Or the related verb ἀγαπάω.

[6] However, notice that 2 Peter 1:7 uses these words to signify different meanings: "to godliness add brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."

[7] 1 Peter 4:17: τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ θεοῦ; Ephesians 2:19 οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ

[8] Galatians 6:10: οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως.

[9] Ephesians 3:15

[10] Matthew 6:24-32

Hebrews 13:1-10 - Living in Community (Part 1)

Most of the words in most languages in the world are short, maybe one or two syllables in length. In fact, sixteen of the nineteen words in that sentence had only one syllable, and so in English we have short words like: House. Base. Bee. Ship. Sin.

Each of these additional words, although they build on the basic word "house", give us a very different word, with a very different meaning, but still connected in some way to that basic meaning of “house”.

And what we do in English now, they also did in Greek two thousand years ago, and so we find in our reading from Hebrews 13 that we have three particular Greek words that are made up of two different words, which then gives it a special meaning, yet still connect to the base word.

Each of these three words are compounds of the Greek verb φιλέω, which means "to love", and when combined with another Greek word it takes on the meaning of "to be a lover of . . . something".

The first two of these compound words speak about things that we are to "love", while the third speaks of something that we are not to love, and these three words are:

Firstly, φιλαδελφία, to be a lover of the brothers.

The second word is, φιλοξενία, to be a lover of strangers.

And the third word is, ἀφιλάργυρος, to not be a lover of money.

But notice that each of these three words are built upon that basic Greek word, filew, "to love".

φιλαδελφία,[1] φιλοξενία,[2] ἀφιλάργυρος[3].

Romans 12:10a:

Love one another with mutual love [that is,

brotherly love].

Or 1 Thessalonians 4:9:

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

By the way, have you ever heard someone talk about the different words for love found in the Greek New Testament?

But this distinction, although quite possible in Classical Greek, doesn’t really exist by New Testament times. By New Testament times these two words are almost synonymous. That is, they mean nearly the same thing, and we see this particularly in John's Gospel.

In John 5:20 we read that the Father has phileo for the son, while in John 3:35 the Father has agape for the son.

In John 11:3 Jesus has phileo for Lazarus, but just two verses later in John 11:5, Jesus has agape for Lazarus.

In John 16:27, the Father has phileo for the disciples, while John 3:16, and many other places, talk about how God has love, agape, for the world.

John 20:2 talks about the "disciple Jesus loved" using phileo, while John 13:23 talks about the "disciple Jesus loved" using agape.

And so we can see that in John's Gospel, these two words are virtually synonymous. They mean the same thing and are used interchangeably.

Then, in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, we read that Amnon, the son of David, had so much "love", agape, for his half-sister, that he sexually assaulted her, showing quite clearly that his love for her was neither divine nor self-sacrificing.

In the Song of Solomon, the word "agape" is often used and clearly means romantic love, and sometimes, sex.

And so the distinction that is often made between these two words for love: phileo and agape, doesn't necessarily exist in the Koine Greek, the common Greek, which the New Testament was written in.

We see this also in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 where Paul says:

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

And when Paul uses both words, “philadelphia” and “agape,” he means the same thing.

This also occurs in 1 Peter 1:22:

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.

Again, using philadelphia and agape as synonyms, words that mean the same thing.[6] Peter also uses "Philadelphia" in 1 Peter 3:8:

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Finally, there is our reading in Hebrews 13:1:

Let mutual love continue.

Peter and Paul both call us the "household of God.[7] Paul calls us the "family of faith",[8] and he also says that God is the "father" of this entire "family".[9]

What was Jesus' great command in John 13:34-35?

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Paul, Peter, and John repeat this command, and this command is repeated here in Hebrews 13:1 when he tells us to "love one another as brothers".

The second compound word is found in Hebrews 13:2 which says:

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

What the writer of Hebrews is saying is that, although he wants us to "love our brothers and sisters in Christ", to love those whom we do know, he also encourages us to "love the stranger", to love those we do not know.

This word occurs only one other time in the entire Bible. In Romans 12:13 we read:

Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Notice that Paul has the same emphasis as we find in Hebrews 13. On the one hand we are encouraged to "share with God's people". To share with our fellow believers in Jesus Christ, that is, to "love the brothers". But we are also encouraged to "extend hospitality", that is to "love the stranger".

What is it that Jesus told us in Luke 6:32-36?

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Or, as Hebrews 13 talks about, be merciful by loving the stranger.

The writer of Hebrews then says that some who "showed hospitality to strangers", that is, some who "loved the stranger", also "entertained angels"? Who was this?

We read in Genesis 18:1-5 about the time when God and two angels appeared to Abraham.

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground.

He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.”

What we see here is that Abraham welcomed the stranger, looked after the stranger, fed the stranger, and when he did, although he did not yet realise it, he entertained God and his messengers.

Again, when the angels, that is, the messengers of God, came to the city of Sodom, Lot finds them and says to them in Genesis 19:2-3:

“Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you can rise early and go on your way.”

They said, “No; we will spend the night in the square.”

But he urged them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

What we see here is that Lot welcomed the stranger, looked after the stranger, and fed the stranger, and when he did, although he did not realise it at the time, he entertained God's messengers.

John says to his friend Gaius in 3 John 1:5-6a:

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church.

These travelling evangelists were "strangers", and yet he showed "love" to them by welcoming them, helping them, supporting them, and supplying what was needed for their journey.

In Matthew 25:35, what did Jesus said we would be judged upon? On the day of judgement the sheep and the goats are divided and Jesus, the Judge, says to them:

for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

We are told here in Hebrews 13:2 to practice "love of the stranger", or to practice hospitality.

Of course, Paul takes this entire idea even further in Ephesians 2:12:

remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.

So far in verses one and two we have seen that we are to love our brothers and sisters in the faith, and we have seen that we are to love the stranger, but in Hebrews 13:5 he goes on to tell us one more thing, but this time it is one thing that we are not to love. He says in Hebrews 13:5:

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Here he says that we are be, ἀφιλάργυρος, that is, we are not to be a lover of money. Now, this can become an issue for those aspiring to positions of church leadership, and so Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:3 that church elders should:

not [be] a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.

And although we are warned in 2 Timothy 3:2 that in the last days:

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.

We are also told in 1 Timothy 6:10 that:

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Because of the dangers that the love of money brings to the church, the dangers that the love of money brings to our own lives and relationships, our writer warns us in Hebrews 13:5 to: