As an adage says, “money is the root of evil; it can push a person to heaven, yet it is also capable of leading him or her to hell.” Having a great amount of money is not inherently a problem; what matters is the process by which a person obtains it. Money earned through intense suffering is usually spent prudently, whereas money obtained by theft is often spent lavishly. The ungoverned love of wealth has long been the rationale that drives many into heinous activities. People who “cut their coats according to their clothes” are content with what little they have, but they are few compared to those ready to do anything for money.
The level of defiance and deviation from the good norms and values of different communities is often an implication of parental negligence. Instead of focusing on training their offspring, some parents concentrate solely on acquiring wealth. They spend the whole day in markets or workplaces while their children are left at home with nannies or housemaids. Overzealous individuals or groups in society prefer to become wealthy through shortcuts, participating in diverse atrocities to gain riches and fame. This has pushed numerous people into unwholesome activities, and the number of those who engage in money rituals has recently increased, evident in the rising rate of human bodies with severed parts in some regions.
In their quest for riches, some people become actively involved in cultism, sacrificing loved ones—fathers, mothers, cousins, or relatives—without regard for the consequences. The majority end up in lifelong distress. Others willingly become hard‑drug couriers or engage in human trafficking in a bid to get rich quick, despite the huge risks of life sentences or death by hanging in some countries. Misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds earmarked for projects are also driven by an excessive love for wealth, leading to loss of dignity and perpetual shame for perpetrators and their families. Every action carries a penalty; it is vital for people to resist peer pressure and be wary of harmful family influences. Often, eyes are glued to what they see, and individuals must exercise caution. Wrong advice can cause people to “bite their fingers,” and unemployment and idleness are linked to the excessive love of wealth. An idle mind, as they say, is the devil’s workshop; negative thoughts can wander dangerously, and bad leaders and politicians exploit unemployed youths, recruiting them for thuggery and violence while their families remain safe abroad.
The major causative agent of an excessive love for wealth is greed and selfishness. Most who fall into the traps of avarice do so because they cannot control their egos, later regretting the abominable actions that bring them trouble. Disturbingly, the soaring levels of poverty and economic hardship in a country also push shallow‑minded citizens to embrace both legitimate and illicit ventures to amass wealth by any means. This situation is worsened by authorities’ failure to discharge their duties effectively, to train people in useful skills, and to provide the necessary tools for thriving.
To end the dastardly behavior driven by an excess love for wealth, parents should teach children contentment from the outset and enroll them in skill‑building programs so they become useful members of society without waiting for government jobs after tertiary education. Governments, ministries, and agencies need to eradicate poverty through empowerment, lower economic hardship by stabilising commodity prices, and reorient the public on the ills of uncontrolled love for wealth. Finally, parents, community leaders, and stakeholders must act as watchdogs over youths, ensuring that those they interact with are of good character. The government must also ensure that politicians who sponsor thugs are duly punished, regardless of their positions in society. Mukhtar can be reached via.
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