Do We Let the Love of Money Skew Our Christian Moral Values?

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. but thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:10-12

This is an especially important passage, especially around tax time. Do we get caught up in trying to keep up with the Jones's that we let our Christian ethics and moral values slip? Does it become easy for us to skew some of the information on our taxes, so it works to our advantage? Everyone else does it, right, but is it? Do we let these worldly things drain us a cent at a time? Sometimes it seems that all those we encounter are better off, have a better job, faster car, fancier clothes, bigger house, etc. Is the desire to attain all of these things helping or hurting your faith? Additionally, if we are trying to attain these things, what are we telling our younger generation? Are they to feel inadequate if they don't have all the same status things in their life? Again, this is something to be prayerful about...not just for you, but for me, too!