Our Economic Downturn: A Time to Refocus, Part 2
(I Timothy 6:17-19)
1. Editorial by Rod Dreher, Dallas Morning News appeared in the KT, "People wonder how to get what they want but rarely think about what they should want."
2. How true. Did you ever consider that you shouldn’t want some of the things you do want? The problem may not be that you do not have the means, but that you shouldn’t want it in the first place.
3. Because of this assumption that if we can attain something we want, we should attain it, the consequence is over work and over doing it.
Main Idea: Our economic downturn and insecurity can force us back to the Word of God and a reassessment of our philosophy of life: What do we REALLY believe?
I. Riches, Materialism and A Career Offer Us FALSE Security (17a)
A. It creates ARROGANCE
B. It means our primary HOPE is in material things
C. It is a SHAKY foundation
D. It is simply advanced TOKENISM
II. The Alternative Operational System: GOD and OTHERS (17b-19)
It is futile to stop trying to be materialistic, or to stop trying to put our trust in things. Instead, we have to take a pro-active approach, start intensifying our relationship to God.
A. Finding SECURITY in God (17b)
B. Finding An ENJOYABLE Life (17c)
1. A GODLY life
2. A CONTENT life
I Timothy 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Many of our troubles begin when we tolerate discontent in ourselves…
This can lead to selfish choices to alleviate our disconten & often, there is no going back
To be discontent with our walk with the Lord or our character or our service is a good thing… but to be discontent with our lives invites depression and selfishness…
* During his trip to Hawaii, Bill Gates was horrified to find a fisherman lying beside his boat, smoking his pipe.
"Why aren’t you fishing? asked Bill Gates.
"Because I have caught enough fish for the day."
"Why don’t you catch some more?"
"What could I do with them?"
"Earn more money. Then you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. That would bring you more money. Soon you would have enough to buy nylon nets, so more fish, more money .Soon you would have enough to buy two boats even a fleet of boats. Then you would be rich like me."
" What would I do then?"
"Then you could sit back and enjoy life."
"What do you think I am doing now?"
[source: Sermon Central]
3. A truly RICH life
You can experience the rich life no matter how wealthy you are, and you be be materialistic no matter how poor you are.
1. John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
2. To the folks of the church at Laodicea, Jesus said, "You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." Revelation3:17-19
3. I have known people who succeeded in their careers or business, but did not realize that they had failed in life.
4. I have know people who succeeded in career and relationships, but failed in nurturing a close walk with God, and thus failed.
5. A "rich life" is a meaningful life. Do you remember my 3 elements to an enjoyable life? Meaning, happiness, and positive experiences.
6. Meaning comes from
• knowing and enjoying God -- existing to glorify Him
• being responsible to care for and raise children (or an ailing parent),
• participating and contributing toward the ministry of God’s Kingdom
• fighting for one’s country (making a difference in the lives of others)
• providing for ones family
• serving others; being part of a cause greater than yourself
• Without meaning, we have little depth.
1. Happiness represents the feeling we experience from many sources, especially friendship. Having good friends & a social life correlates with happiness (Arthur Brooks author of Gross National Happiness).
2. Charlie Chan is quoted to say, "Happiness is not a location."
3. The third element includes positive experiences: community events, the arts, sports, hobbies, or interests that offer us "lifts" in varying degrees. Like rhythm, they add pizzazz to our lives.
Even in challenging times, folks who have meaning, good friends, and pursue interests describe themselves as happy people. Even in the best of times, those who lack all or some of these elements are typically unhappy. The question remains: are happy people drawn to these elements, or do these elements create an enjoyable life? The answer is a matter of debate. For now, I wish you an enjoyable day!
C. A PEOPLE Life (18)
"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."
It takes time and energy to do good deeds and be involved with people
1. "The ethic is that we fulfil our duty to God by diligence, hard work, and restrained expenditure, with the resulting accumulation of goods acting as a reassuring sign (although not a cause, since the outcome is predestined) of eventual salvation." answers.com
• Our views do not come from Bible, but our northern & central European heritage: perfectionism, materialistic, overly-emphasizing work as a way to serve God.
• Is the so-called Protestant Work Ethic really Biblical?
• The story of Mary & Martha; Protestant work ethic produce Marthas, not Marys
2. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)
* But the Bible places a premium on a lot of things. Consider all the time "off" under the Law. Sabbaths, Sabbatical years, holidays, newlywed year, 7 feasts
Ecclesiastes 4:6 "One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind…"
* The Bible encourages us to work hard, but to do all things in moderation.
* On the other extreme, mooches!
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ’If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat."
* Balance gives us an opportunity to obey God in all things!
* Situations may drive us out of balance (a survival mode at our place of work); but let us not allow covetousness and materialism to drive us out of balance. More is not always better. But some people are so driven that if they do not constantly keep moving, they get depressed. They have not matured in all areas; work can thus become an escape.
3. And it is people -- family, friends, church, and community -- that get short changed. Because Thaddeus is working so much, his marriage and kids are neglected. He does nothing when it comes to serving at church or in the community. He just works. He may contribute money, but he is not well-rounded.
Studies and statistics show that having friends and socializing with them is one of the biggest factors in personal happiness. Caring about and helping others makes life rich in ways that materialism cannot.
D. An ETERNAL Fringe Benefit (19)
"In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."
1. Rewards in heaven
2. The deeper life now!
III. What This DOWNTURN Could Do for You
A. Teach you to walk by FAITH
B. Show you that have put your TRUST in riches
Early on, I read that quotation from the newspaper article about controlling what we want. That’s the answer.
C. Help you REFOCUS On what really matters -- and makes for happiness
Our economic downturn and insecurity can force us back to the Word of God and a reassessment of our philosophy of life: What do we REALLY believe?
