LOVE AND AVARICE
Wednesday – July 23, 2025
Video link: https://youtu.be/ctAmICtRel0
Greetings dear one as we prepare to continue our study of Divine love (agapē/agapaō), the love that can only be expressed by the Trinity and the Fathers’ children. Let me remind us of what this love is and looks like. First this love is a person, first our Heavenly Father and then us in His image and likeness. Second it sits on three sturdy legs. Divine love is obedience to the Word of God. Divine love is selfless, it is not about me, it is about you independent of your actions. And certainly not least, it is the recognition that we walk in Blood Covenant with God.
Once again let’s review the definition I believe the Lord gave me when I was first studying this idea of divine love many years ago.
“Love is a deep and constant interest in a person. It is a function of the will. It is right (righteous – Biblical) and reflects or is born of the blood covenant. This love is not dependent on the recipient in any way but is solely dependent on the giver.” Now, let’s once again review eight words translated from Greek to English as love in our King James Bible but are not the Divine love (agapē/ agapaō) we are exploring.
- “phileō” which means to be a friend, G5368,
- “thelō which can be translated love but generally means willing, G2309,
- “philadelphia” meaning brotherly kindness, G5360,
- “philargyria” means avarice or love of money, G5365,
- “philandros” is love of a spouse, G5362,
- “philoteknos” is a love of one’s children, G5388,
- “philanthropia” is kindness to mankind, G5363, and
- “philandelphos” is a fondness for the brethren, G5361
I have discussed the first three on this list and will now
move to the fourth word on our list, philargyria, Strong’s Number G5365 meaning love of money or avarice according to Strong’s Greek Lexicon. This word occurs one time in the New Testament.
1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I think most of us are quite familiar with this verse in part because it gets misquoted all too often. Look at the awful consequences of avarice in the 1st Timothy text. We must never take our focus off the Master and His commandments! Listen to Jesus’ comments on the topic.
Luke 16:13 (KJV)
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mammon carries the meaning of avarice, this is a spirit, the spirit of avarice, an evil spirit competing for our attention in place of God. Synonyms for avarice include greed, materialism, covetousness, acquisitiveness, and desire. The antonym of avarice is generosity. Let us all have a generous spirit and attitude. With this “love” the focus is on self, the accumulation of things for self and the absence of generosity. For clarity, this would not include a person with a lot of nice stuff who is also generous, especially if they are generous for the Kingdom of God. It is about focus, upon what, upon whom are we focused? We must ask ourselves what we are thinking about, who are we thinking about? Where is our heart? About what or whom are we passionate? This brings us to number five on our list, philandros, Strong’s number G5362. This word appears once in the New Testament and conveys the idea of a wife’s’ affection for her husband. This is not in place of agapē/agapaō but in addition.
Titus 2:4 (KJV)
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
The word sober in this verse is not talking about being free from alcohol or other drugs but to be of a sound mind, to have a disciplined mind. The word translated to English here as love carries the idea of a fondness, an affection for their husband. Remember that Godly love (agapē/agapaō), is resident in our spirit man. It is the exact same love that God is and does. Love in part defines God (and us). This love is not emotional however lesser loves have associated emotion. Our emotions are God given and can be most wonderful. However, as a guide for life, for decision making, emotions are terrible and can take us into the ditch at full speed.
Now, this fondness and affection the wife has for the husband is very similar to the fondness and maternal affection women are to have for their children. This is Strong’s Greek Lexicon number G5388, the word philoteknos. Remember, the primary reason to look at all of these is primarily not to address them individually but drive home the point that the English word in the Bible text may not be what we think it is at first sight.
TAKE HOME:
- “Love is a deep and constant interest in a person. It is a function of the will. It is right (righteous – Biblical) and reflects or is born of the blood covenant. This love is not dependent on the recipient in any way but is solely dependent on the giver.”
- philargyria, Strong’s Number G5365 means love of money or avarice according to Strong’s Greek Lexicon. This word occurs one time in the New Testament. 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV) For the love of money is the root of all evil: …
- Philandros, Strong’s number G5362 appears once in the New Testament and conveys the idea of a wife’s’ affection for her husband. This is not in place of agapē/agapaō but in addition. Titus 2:4 (KJV) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, …
- Philoteknos Strong’s number G5388 is a fondness and maternal affection women are to have for their children. Titus 2:4 (KJV) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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