Entrepreneurial Farmer

Is Money Root Of All Evil?

by Ambrosio R. Villorente

“The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things.” This is supported by many people who said, “Money is the root of all evils.”

According to the bible, “The love of money”, not money itself causes “injurious things.” Rich King Solomon identified three kinds of injurious things that often happen to people who love money.

First, he worries. The people with too much money had difficulty in sleeping. They could hardly sleep thinking of their money and how they can multiply it million times more. They also worry for it might get lost.

Second, he is dissatisfied. “A lover of silver will never be satisfied with silver, nor a lover of wealth with income.

Third, he is often tempted to break the law. See what is happening to Napoles. She keeps a huge amount of money, but she is in jail. Is she happy? No!

A man hastening to become wealthy will not remain innocent.

On the other hand, many people believe, money is a protection. Money makes one secure and happy. Money helps people take care of one’s family. Money answers every need as money can buy the things man needs.

Okey, agreed. But money must only be acquired through legal, and honest means. It must be well earned and spent according to the family needs such as for food, water, shelter, clothes, health, education, and recreation. Money must never be used for deceptive power of richness.

It is wise to use money responsibly and honestly. A man must avoid the burden of living of life beyond his means. 

Nobody condemns debt, however, a borrower becomes the slave of the lender. A debtor is a man who spends more money than the amount he earns. Impulse buying will surely lead one to poverty.

A government employee related to me, “My salary is P23,500 monthly, but my take home pay is only P3,000 plus. To make both ends meet, I renew my loans. I’ve never been free from loaning.”

I advised him to minimize incurring loans. Gradually pay your outstanding loan balance and likewise gradually refrain from buying things on installment basis. Buying things like car, television set on installment mode of payment will more than double the price after full payment of it.

Many people says, “it is better to give than to receive.” Can you give what you do not have? Naturally, a person who can give is one who has worked, earned, and saved. Savings are surplus which could be shared with others.

But are we, Aklanons capable to work honestly, earn, and save? Of course yes, except those people with disability. 

Aklan is endowed by God with all the resources to be developed. We have fertile lands both lowland and highland. Aklan has wide sea area where fishes are abundant. Those resources are for the industrious people to develop and profit from it.

There are industrious, honest, and thrifty people who earn more, save more and give more. There are people who love to receive.

Where do you belong? To the receiver? To the giver? A giver is highly respected that is why many requests him to give. A receiver is looked down, that is why he is given.

Public Library

Do you have public library in your town? In Numancia, Aklan there is but I can not remember anyone reading books inside. There municipal library in Kalibo, Aklan. However, it is located in isolated area. It is not attractive to visit and read there for prospective readers.

But for many, public library is an indispensable institution that serves many functions in a community. It is an adjunct to the public schools, a place where pupils can do their homework. It serves as a care center where small children gather for story hour. It is a safe haven where senior citizens may pass the time in company with others, where the unemployed can look for works. It is a place where the lonely can be less lonely, the bored less bored, the dejected less dejected and the ignorant can be enlightened.

Library can provide space for teenagers and prevent them from going somewhere and possibly get into serious troubles.

The time spent in the library is time not spent in front of a television. This in itself makes the public library the most valuable institution a society could possibly imagine.

Library is both aspirational  and inspirational. I encourage all LGU Aklan to establish public library and develop the habit of reading. /MP