TRUE RICHES Vs. UNCERTAIN RICHES
TEXT: 1 Timothy 6:6-19 W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: America has a standard for comparing the relative value of those things that are in the material realm. We use what we refer to as the Gold Standard.
For ages people of all lands and cultural groups have defined value according to the standard of gold.
The Lord has a different standard for considering value. In this study, I wish to consider with you what I believe should be the spiritual standard that appraises true worth or value. Verse number 6 gives us the standard that I am referring to, “godliness with contentment”. We will closely examine in our Text what this truly means. We must understand and know what God considers to be of true worth and value. In making this study, I will be contrasting true riches vs. uncertain riches.
I will look first at, I. The PROBLEM of Uncertain Riches; II. The PROTECTION Against Uncertain Riches; III. The PROSPERITY From Certain Riches.
I. THE PROBLEM OF UNCERTAIN RICHES. (Vv. 6-10)
One would think that money would be the problem solver rather than the problem maker. Sadly, money is not the panacea to ones problems. There needs to be much teaching regarding this statement when considering that so much of what we do and experience is related to money and to our spending habits. It has been said that you can tell much about a person by the way that he spends his money. When a person puts his confidence in that which he has, including money, he is doomed to failure. The expression has been given, “He is so poor, because he only has money”. In these verses, we will notice some of the problems pertaining to uncertain riches.
A. Uncertain Riches Can Be A Distraction. (Vv. 6-9a)
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare” (V. 9a)
1. Can get you “out of focus”.
The love of money that results when one puts his trust in uncertain riches can certainly cause one to get out of focus. This happens when one commits that sin that “doth so easily beset us”. This sin is the sin of taking ones eyes off of Jesus (Hebrews 12). Anything that causes us to take our eyes off of Jesus will get us out of focus spiritually. The love of money can certainly do this. I personally have witnessed people who began to make money and more money and then turned that money into a god of its own. They trusted their money and their job for their provisions. They were out of focus spiritually and no longer knew where they were going.
2. Can get you “out of faith”
Men ought to walk by faith rather than by sight. The trusting in uncertain riches lays a snare that will trap you suddenly and get you out of faith. It will hinder your faith walk and it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11). The love of money traps many a good person. It happens so suddenly. People began trusting in their uncertain riches rather than their God.
B. Uncertain Riches Can Bring On Defilement.
The phrase “many foolish and hurtful lusts” means exactly what it says. There will be many lusts that will consume the person who follows after riches. Satan has many appetizing packages in which to put his devices. Lusts of many different kinds have brought down many strong men and women. Satan has had much time in which to plan his traps and snares. When riches consume a person, he is also defiled.
C. Uncertain Riches Can Bring About Destruction.
The phrase, “which drown men in destruction” shows just how devastating the pursuit of uncertain riches can be. The drown word indicates this. To me, one of the most horrible and helpless ways that a person can die is by drowning. I have often thought about the drowning person; it generally happens so suddenly and unexpected. That is what is being expressed here in our Text. People have the potential of drowning in there own riches.
The Scriptures tell us also, that such have “erred from the faith”. This means by them trusting in uncertain riches that they in error have departed from the faith of the Scriptures. Money has a way of causing displaced trust. Instead of trusting God for the needed provisions, these who trust in uncertain riches trust in their riches only. God certainly is not pleased when this happens.
In addition to those who erred from the faith, they have also “pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. People have killed over money, stolen, lied, cheated and on and on the list goes. These are some of the ways that sorrows come upon people when they put their trust in uncertain riches.
III. THE PROTECTION AGAINST UNCERTAIN RICHES (Vv. 11-17)
Even as the Word of God has warnings to protect us, it also has instructions to help us. God’s instructions are never difficult to understand. The instructions that He gives us here are very simply put so that one need not question what he should do to guard against the dangers of uncertain riches.
A. Flee These Things (V. 11a)
The man of God should have discernment enough to recognize the luring effects of uncertain riches and just as he would flee from the very appearance of evil, he should likewise flee from the enticements of uncertain riches. There is a real danger in becoming comfortable with the things that can trap and destroy you especially if it is money. For this reason, we are told that “that the love of money is the root of all evil”. From God’s Word this is very wisely said. Though it is true, so many go into a state of denial just as one would when he goes after strange flesh or after a strange woman thinking that nothing will become of it.
1. Flee the things that will trap you.
2. Flee the things that will tempt you.
B. Follow After These Things (11b.).
Our Text gives us six very important things to follow after that will help keep us from being destroyed by uncertain riches. Notice very carefully the value of these things as given in this list. You will find that each word explains itself. Following the right things as given in this list will protect you from following after the wrong things.
1. Follow after righteousness
2. Follow after godliness
3. Follow after faith
4. Follow after love
5. Follow after patience
6. Follow after meekness
C. Fight The Good Fight Of Faith. (Vv. 12-17)
The greatest fight that you will ever be connected with will be the good fight of faith. It certainly is a battle when avoiding the things that are associated with uncertain riches. You will have to earnestly contend for the faith as Jude so clearly put it. The lustful passions that we have can be overwhelming if we fail to appropriate the strength and the grace that God has for us. If one would take the six things that are mentioned here and follow after them, he will not have an opportunity to fall into a money trap of Satan called uncertain riches. This is what the good fight of faith is all about and the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself is our example.
1. Fight to witness the Christ. (12-16)
2. Fight to win the crown. (V. 17).
III. THE PROSPERITY FROM CERTAIN RICHES. (Vv. 18, 19)
Certain riches are the kind that only the Lord is capable of providing. I, and all of you who are in the family of faith should desire to experience the wonderful benefits of grace that the Lord has for us. True wealth will be the treasures that are laid up in heaven. These treasures can neither be stolen nor corrupted. They have an eternal value about them. As we entertain our earthly pilgrimage down here, we should be mindful that our activities and attitudes down here would affect what goes up there…
A. By Having the Correct Attitude Regarding Riches.
By now we should absolutely know what the correct attitude is towards riches. It is having a godly contentment with what God has blessed us with. It is true that we each have different measures of His blessings, but none is inferior to the other. If we indeed have the correct attitude about what constitutes true value and true worth, then we will endeavor to have correct actions.
B. By Having The Correct Activity.
Below as indicated in our Text are five actions that should mark us in regards to our stewardship and to the use of the money that the Lord has entrusted us with.
1. “do good”
2. “be rich in good works”
3. “ready to distribute” (don’t give to the church… give through the church)
4. “willing to communicate”
5. “Laying up in store”
This study should cause us to have a clearer understanding of what God and the Scriptures has to say about true riches vs. uncertain riches. May we practically apply these truths as we exercise practical Christianity.
