August 7, 2022
Morning Service

Paul’s letter to Timothy, and us, challenged us last week as we were instructed to work hard in all that we do as if we are doing it for the Lord.  A Jesus follower takes on a whole new perspective with even the little and ordinary tasks that we do as we are instructed in “whatever you do, do it heartily to the Lord and not to men.”  Every day is a gift from God and we need to transform our lives which are filled with sometime mundane chores into acts of worship to our Savior.  We have each been uniquely positioned in the place we are at for a purpose; it is our mission field.  Strive to be salt and light to those around you pointing them to Jesus with your actions, attitude and words.  Grow where you are planted.  We are using this study of Timothy to help us grow together as a church, a family of believers, who are seeking to and become all that the Lord designed us to be.  Paul begins today exhorting us to continue to teach the Truth; adding nor subtracting anything.  We will begin at verse one of chapter six as his thought ties in with what we saw last week.

1Ti 6:1-5 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own master’s worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.  (2)  And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.  (3)  If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, (4) he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, (5) useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

            Paul instructs us as His church to stay on task and preach the Word as it has been divinely given to us; “teach and exhort these things.”  This is what our Fellowship has been committed to from day one.  Teach the Word calling Bible things by Bible names allowing the Spirit within each of us to mold us into the servants of God we desire to be.  We do this three times a week and those who hunger for the Word are drawn to us, and those who are not move on.  We choose a book of the Bible and we study it from the first verse until the last completely covering all that is taught within it.  Our mission statement would be: “Preach the Word introducing people to a relationship with Jesus to allow the Holy Spirit to change their life.”  Paul warns of those who “teaches otherwise” and use their pulpit to stir up controversy, disputes, strife and arguments.  Their goal is not to spread the gospel message, but to use “godliness as a means of gain.”  He instructs us to withdraw yourself from such a ministry.

 

1Ti 6:6-8 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

            Again this perspective resurfaces; knowing God is the only thing that truly matters in this life.  We came into this world with nothing and we can’t take anything with us, so along the journey we must learn to be satisfied with knowing Jesus and what He provides us with.  Be content having clothes to wear, food to eat, and a place to stay.  Are you there yet?  Is truly Jesus all that matters to you?  Could you be content with only Him?  Paul here is violating the “social distancing” rules as he gets very up close and personal as he asks us what do we really need to be content or complete?  Paul continues his explanation.

 

1Ti 6:9-10 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  (10)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

            JC Rylie Quote:

            This is often misquoted as saying, “money” is the root of all evil but it is truly “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”  Our society foolishly promotes that it takes money to be happy, successful, content and complete.  The truth is money (wealth and the lifestyle that goes with it) can create a love, or more correctly a lust, for it that becomes more than just a way of just supporting yourself and your family.  It becomes a god to many who allow greed to cause them to “drown in destruction and perdition, piercing themselves through with many sorrows.” Jesus clearly told us that this will not work.

 

Mat 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

            We are called to follow Jesus and be content with whatever God gives us.  It is not wrong to have a high paying job that makes lots of money.  Money is not evil, but it depends on how we value it, how we view it.  In our society it is very easy to get caught up in this desire for wealth and the lifestyle that accompanies it.  Paul is challenging us to take a close look into our spiritual mirror and make sure we have the correct perspective; have our priorities set properly.   Money can be used selfishly to fulfill our desires or it can be a tool in our hand to minister to others.  Let’s skip down to verse 17.

 

1Ti 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  (18)  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, (19) storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

            We are called to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with.  We need to be able to live a lifestyle that reflects our income providing for the needs of our family.  Part of that stewardship is not viewing money as a way of pleasing ourselves, “but doing good, being rich is good works, ready to give, and willing to share.”  Paul told the Corinthian church that “God loves a cheerful giver!”  Money and wealth are not evil, how we value them (love) is the focus here.  Paul here in this chapter has given us guard rails to keep us from entering into the path of the love of money and greed.  Realize that money does not last into eternity; we brought nothing into this world and will take nothing with us.  Secondly, he commands us to be content with what we have.  Don’t spend your time longing for more; be thankful and content with what you have (godliness with contentment is great gain).  Love people more than money and use your money to fulfill God’s work.  Be willing to cheerfully share what you have with those in need.  Jesus made this promise to us in the Luke’s writings:

 

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

            Many use this principle to hope to build even further wealth in their giving.  Jesus is showing us here that the true path to contentment is not selfishness, but generosity.  True contentment comes from Him and doing His will in our lives.  If you seek satisfaction from attaining wealth, you will be greatly disappointed.  What are you seeking to make your life feel complete?  Is it in attaining the next level of wealth and prosperity or is it in knowing Jesus better and serving Him well?  I will close with these words spoken to us by Jesus and another quote from Paul.

 

Mat 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  (21)  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

            That is what all this boils down to.  Who owns your heart?  What are you seeking to make you content or complete?

 

Col 2:10 You are complete in Him (Jesus), who is the head of all principality and power.

 

Heavenly Father open our hearts so that we may see clearly where we stand in our view of this world’s wealth.  Give us the wisdom and courage to make the changes needed to be sure that we are seeking You first and foremost in our lives.