Cash is impartial — neither inherently good nor unhealthy. It serves as a medium of trade for items and companies, facilitating the distribution of sources. Whereas cash helps livelihoods, the love of cash is a psychological attachment that fosters an insatiable greed for wealth — one which extends past life’s requirements, similar to “placing meals on the desk” or securing monetary stability.
Scriptures have lengthy warned towards this obsession. The Bible states, “For the love of cash is a root of every kind of evil. and it pierced them with many griefs” (Timothy 6:10), whereas the Qur’an warns, “Whoever is grasping for unjust acquire troubles his family, however he who hates bribes will reside” (15:27). These divine admonitions stay related, because the love of cash continues to gas unethical behaviour and societal corruption.
Our relationship with cash begins in childhood, as we see its significance in how securely it’s stored and the way it permits us to accumulate items and toys. We additionally start evaluating ourselves with others, fueling a want to match or surpass their possessions. This early attachment to cash is formed by our mother and father’ strategy to spending, their potential to satisfy our wants and desires, and their honesty in monetary issues.
Past requirements, parental cash administration profoundly influences a toddler’s growing attitudes towards wealth. Whether or not mother and father prioritise luxuries, holidays, charity, or generosity towards household and associates, these behaviours silently form a toddler’s ethical compass and monetary mindset. In accordance with social studying idea (Furnham, 1996), youngsters internalise these observations, which mildew their lifelong relationship with cash — whether or not they be taught to earn and use it responsibly or develop an unhealthy craving, in search of it in any respect prices.
Research point out that youngsters raised in environments the place wealth is ethically earned and spent responsibly are likely to develop robust ethical foundations, a stable work ethic, empathy, and significant relationships — a identical behaviour anticipated in maturity. Conversely, these raised in households the place wealth is acquired via unethical means and spent with out hesitation usually wrestle with entitlement, ethical ambiguity, and a choice for simple cash. Many develop transactional relationships, heightened nervousness and guilt with a propensity to perpetuate cycles of corruption.
As we transition into maturity, monetary ambitions intensify attributable to organic, psychological and societal calls for. People are naturally pushed to hunt rewards that triggers dopamine launch — a neurotransmitter related to pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. The dopamine rush reinforces repeated actions that convey pleasure, similar to household gatherings, outings, sports activities, journey, or indulging in meals and luxurious purchases.
Nonetheless, simply as with energy and sensual pleasures, extreme money-gain can induce excessive dopamine surges, resulting in addiction-like behaviour. Over time, the mind turns into desensitised, requiring better money-gain to maintain the identical degree of satisfaction. Left unchecked, the love of cash can morph into fixated greed, compelling people to chase wealth no matter its moral implications.
Analysis has established a direct correlation between an obsessive love of cash and unethical behaviour. It additionally steered that males are inclined to have interaction in unethical behaviour greater than girls. A number of key components drive this affiliation: Motivation – a organic part that justifies any means vital to accumulate wealth. Success – a cognitive part that equates monetary accumulation with private achievement. Significance – a cognitive part that prioritises cash as the last word measure of worth. Richness – a psycho-emotional part that hyperlinks wealth to happiness, well being, and ego satisfaction.
Apparently, individuals’s relationship with cash usually evolves over time. Some expertise a decline of their obsession, as a result of marginal utility of wealth, and as they progress via Maslow’s hierarchy of wants, many shift their focus towards self-actualisation, in search of function past monetary positive aspects. Nonetheless, these fighting financial hardship usually stay fixated on wealth, solely treatment to their issues (Lim et al., 1997).
The love of cash is a shifting goal, adjustments at completely different phases of life. For some, it begins as a useful necessity however ultimately turns into an summary, insatiable pursuit. Historic thinker Epicurus (341 BC) noticed that wealth is hole – no amount of cash is ever sufficient to remove the perpetual want for extra. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle the place people chase rising quantities of wealth, solely to search out their satisfaction hole widening.
Among the many character traits related to the love of cash, Machiavellianism is essentially the most poisonous. Research describe it as a mindset devoid of empathy, morality, or ideological dedication. Such people are susceptible to deceit, manipulation, and fraud, deciding on private acquire over all else.
In Pakistan, the unchecked love of cash has fueled rampant corruption, costing the nation 2-5% of its GDP yearly, in comparison with lower than 0.5% in almost corruption-free nations like Switzerland. In 2024, this translated to staggering losses of Rs5.244 trillion ($18.73 billion).
Excessive-profile politicians, state workplace holders, establishments, and influential people have been implicated in mega monetary scandals. The ill-gotten wealth is estimated at Rs3.337 trillion ($11.918 billion) throughout 15 instances. Whereas some instances have been closed or withdrawn, and others could also be politically motivated, the indisputable fact is that corruption has deeply permeated the material of the nation.
The corruption thrives attributable to politicians legislating their very own safety, a weak judiciary, selective justice, flawed investigations, and poor prosecution. That is strengthened by a tradition that prioritises wealth, no matter its origin, over Islam’s mandate incomes via sincere means.
The absence of penalties normalises corruption, making a system the place the highly effective or money-rich really feel untouchable. If left unchecked, this technique could ultimately collapse underneath its personal wickedness, forcing a painful and dear correction. Nonetheless, with political will, transparency, and across-the-board accountability – strengthened by a devoted cabinet-level oversight and the institution of a ministerial place — Pakistan can dismantle this harmful cycle.
It’s essential to recognise that cash, in itself, shouldn’t be the issue; it’s how people and societies select to accumulate and utilise it. A shift in mindset, strengthened by moral governance and private accountability, can curb the extreme love of cash and mitigate its harmful penalties that are important for simply and equitable society the place monetary success aligns with ethical integrity.