So you want to be rich, huh?
1 Timothy 6:
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
What do you really think about these guys, Paul?
Think about this list. Conceited, ignoramus, morbid interest in controversy, disputes about words, envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, constant friction, depraved minds, deprived of truth… He piles up adjectives that describe these false teachers. And this is not just a name calling session. Each one of these characteristics listed is a real result of advocating a different doctrine and not agreeing with the sound words of Jesus that conform to godliness. Notice the word godliness. It occurs 4 times in verses 3- 11.
This word is found 15 times in the New Testament, 8 of them are in 1 Tim. Godliness is essential to doing the work Timothy is called to do in Ephesus. The false teachers of Ephesus have reduced godliness to a means of making money. Did you know that the work of preaching can be reduced to a profession? Talented speaking ability combined with religion can make a guy wealthy these days. That’s not a new thing it has always been a problem! It was in the Bible times and it’s a problem today. And people are often turned off from God and the faith of Jesus Christ because of it too! I remember in Honduras talking with a man who owned a resort in Roatan, one of the islands off the coast of Honduras where the TORCH team goes for the last leg of the trip. We were driving by a place where there was a new church sign and I asked him about his faith and what he thought about the Lord and church. He told me he was Catholic but not practicing. Then he said, “The Lord is fine, but everyone with a suit and a gold watch comes here to start a new church. They do it to fleece the people of this island of the little they have.” I wanted to say, “So what do you really think about these preachers?” There are plenty of scriptures that Paul wrote to say that he was not that kind of preacher and no true Christian is either. 2 Cor 2:17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. 4: 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Proclaiming the word of God is an honor and privilege that brings out the very best in some people and the very worst in others. I know that I have several eternal friends in Christ who came to know the Lord and who grew to know the Lord better through the preaching of the word that God allowed me to do. I’ve also had some amazing reactions of resistance to me because of the message of God’s word that I have preached. Paul told Timothy, in 2 Tim. 4:1-5 (read)
I just finished two courses that required a lot of reading and writing. For a few days there I was up late trying to get all the reading, research and reviews done, written and turned in on time. During that time I wasn’t sleeping well and had a few weird dreams. Any one here ever have a weird dream? Jenny woke me up because I was talking in my sleep during one particularly hard one. I remember it very clearly, because I woke up. I was in front of a gate wearing a kind of hooded robe. In front of me behind this barred wall and gateway were demons mocking my faith in the Lord and threatening me. I stood there and repeated over and over: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He died for sin and rose again. He is Lord. They looked vicious and terrifying. Then the Lord put on my heart his will for me to go through that gate into the darkness where all the demons were. He informed me that I was to keep confessing my faith and that he would be with me. He also told me that they would kill me, but that if I would be faithful and not deny Him, but continue to confess the faith, my death would not be for nothing. There were people in there that he wanted to save, and they would witness my commitment to Jesus and would believe because I was willing to die for him. But, I had a choice. I could refuse God’s commission and have a life of comfort, but be lost, or I could obey and be saved. In my dream I chose to obey. They were just killing me when Jenny woke me up. But you know something? As miserable as that dream felt, I was so glad that I had made that choice.
What do you and I really need while we make this journey toward glory in heaven? What are the physical matters that we are promised by the Lord?
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.
7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Does this sound familiar? Remember the sermon on the mount? Matt 6:19-33, Jesus teaches us about how to value things in this world. He tells us to store up treasure in heaven, because where our treasure is there our hearts will be. He tells us not to worry about food or clothing, but to seek first the kingdom of God and he will supply our needs. This world is passing away. All you see is disappearing and what you can’t see will one day be what remains eternal. We who know Jesus walk by faith and not by sight. We fix our eyes on the unseen glory of eternal life and put our hopes on things above. What God gives us here is to be used for his glory! Money, sex and power are all tempting allurements that put a price on our soul. What does love for money do?
I heard about a man who asked a woman if she would sleep with him for a million dollars. She looked at him and said, “Are you serious?” He said, “Absolutely.” And she looked around and said, “Sure.” So he asked, “Would you sleep with me for five dollars?” And she stared at him and shouted, “What do you think I am!” He answered, “I know what you are, I just want to know what your price is.”
Satan comes to the Christian, and offers what looks like a huge price for you to compromise your faith. Is there a price in your heart for your faith?
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.
Now the scripture turns our attention away from compromise to conviction and commitment.
11 But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords;
16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
Man of God! What a name! We are called to be the people who belong to God! Holy, Royal, Chosen, Owned by God! It would be a great exercise to just go through the New Testament and list the names God calls us as his people and talk about what each one says to describe what God thinks about us!
Listen to these words: pursue, fight the good fight, take hold of eternal life, I charge you, keep the commandment!
What is Paul doing with these words? He’s calling Timothy to conviction and commitment to the commandment and the cause of Christ! There are things to run away from and things to run after. Don’t you love the list of things to run after? Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness, eternal life. These are a world apart from that he just called those who advocate a different doctrine and do not agree with the words of Jesus.
Is this a tough calling? I mean really, is God asking too much for us to turn loose of the world and hang on to something we can’t even see? What do you think? Whenever Satan puts that thought in your mind, here’s what to do. Think about Jesus and what he did for you. What did he do? What was Jesus’ testimony before Pilate? Look at John 18:33-37. Jesus declared that he is King and that all who are on the side of truth listen to him. Jesus said this knowing he would be crucified with this accusation nailed above him: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Jesus was killed as our king too. Someone said, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!” You and I may experience some Friday’s too. If we follow Jesus, we are promised that in this world we will have tribulation, but Jesus said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33.
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--
21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.
Life indeed… that’s the goal we need to place in our hearts and hold on to with faithfulness. Jesus is our life. May we hear and heed the words here: guard what has been entrusted to you! That means avoiding some things and striving for others. May God grant us wisdom and the Holy Spirit as we walk the way of Christ and shine with his heavenly presence.
