THE BOOK OF 1 TIMOTHY

The Danger of the Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:3-10 SCC 1/20/13

FALSE TEACHERS CORRUPT THE TRUTH GIVEN TO US BY CHRIST 1-5

6:3:

If Condition (assuming the reality of the condition)

Anyone teaches differently (completely differently doctrine, a false or heretical doctrine)

Kai

Does not agree with sound words (the ones the apostles passed on to us--what words are these)

Of those of our lord Jesus Christ (I John 1:1-4—we heard, we saw, we beheld, we proclaim)

Kai

With teaching according to godliness (piety)

Three overlapping symptoms:

1. Those who teach completely different doctrine

2. Those who do not agree to the sound instruction of Christ

3. Those who do not consent to godly teaching

NB: There is only unity based on agreement about what is true not consensus about what might be true.

6:4:

These teachers are not just mistaken but were culpable:

1. He is conceited (puffed up; arrogance and hubris)

2. He understands nothing (understanding is basic to knowledge—knowledge that does not produce understanding is basis of ignorance—not what you know how you know what you know)

BUT (Strong Contrast/Adversative)

3. Has sick interest (morbid craving or diseased with) about questionings (speculation; disease of intellectual curiosity over trifles)

Kai

4. Disputes about words (a theorist; wastes time in academic disputes not accounting of things as they actually are—bunch of hot air)

From which comes:

Envy (discontent and resentful)

Strife (bitter disagreement over fundamental issues)

Blasphemies (the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk)

Suspicions (conjecture or cautious distrust)

Evil (profoundly immoral and malevolent)

NB: Notice the strong emphasis Paul places on truth vs. false teaching!

6:5:

Perpetual wrangling (mutual rubbing irritation alongside, protracted quarreling)

Of men with motives:

1. With corrupted minds (perfect tense shows completed state)

Kai

2. Deprived of the truth

3. Who suppose godliness means of gain (greed is core motivation; or taught that profession of Christianity involved improvement in social position and worldly prospects)

PT: This introduces what Paul wants to say about money.

THAT CORRUPTION MOTIVATED BY GREED LEADS PEOPLE ASTRAY 6-10

6:6:

But Change of direction (shift of thinking)

Godliness is a great gain (there is gain but there is also great gain)

With contentment. (That is, not dependent upon material circumstances; being indifferent to whatever lot one finds him/herself financially; does not hold or control you)

PT: Paul himself learned this Phil 4:11-12!!!

NB: Gain that is actually great gain is an attitude of considering my current financial situation with contentment. As long as it is really sufficient, i.e. I am not borrowing or begging from others from my existence.

Lessons:

1. False teachers are one of the biggest problems in the Church.

2. False teachers will be present in every age of Church history.

3. False teachers will increase as we near the end of the Church age.

4. False teachers will function form within the household of God.

5. False teachers will always take people back in a direction of worldliness like sensual pleasures (eastern mysticism), materialism (prosperity gospel), socialism (social activism), progressivism (emergent)

6. False teachers will virtually ignore mature believers as legalists, out of touch, archaic and instead focus on and communicate to new generation believers.

6:7:

Yap (Reason)

The reason godliness with contentment is a great gain is because

We brought nothing into the world

Oti (Outcome)

The outcome of bringing nothing into the world is

That we cannot take anything out of it either (the complete transitory, temporary nature of material gain)

Nothing the world can give is any addition to the person himself.

NB: Wealth is to be used but not valued. You leave it all here and lay it up there. But not take with you.

6:8:

But Change of direction—the adverse is:

Having foods (nourishment)

Kai

Clothings (coverings) (here are the basic material needs we have)

We should be satisfied (content) with these things. Here is the perspective we are to live by.

PT: While alive we do have real needs though our wants should be few. How many billions of human beings have lived with the satisfaction of their basic needs being met. This is as God intends.

6:9: (Here is the opposite of contentment)

But Change of direction

1. Resolving to be rich (making it a purpose) Notice he does not say those who are rich. This warning applies to all grades of wealth, by the way. You are always wealthier than someone else. That is, we all come under the ambition to have more money than that which satisfies our accustomed needs.

The grasping after riches leads to:

Fall into temptation (this is normally what happens—common sense)

Kai

A snare (catching you unawares; snatching you unexpectaedly)

Kai

Many foolish (irrational; cannot be logically defended)

Kai

Harmful lusts (they come with price tags; always a cost)

Which plunge (drag to the bottom, submerge, to drown)

man into ruin (unable to pick up the pieces living with the consequences)

Kai

Destruction (both words suggest irretrievable loss)

PT: Each ‘And’ builds on the next adding to the overall dilemma

6:10:

Yap (Reason)

The reason resolving to be rich tempts us to ruin is because the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils (notice the plural)

2. The love of money (both are the two sides of the same coin—both are attempts for security and control and nix need for dependence)

of which

To illustrate his point:

Some people longing for it (probably these known by Timothy fallen into the trap mentioned)

(1) Wandered away (lead astray) from the faith (fallen into heretical teaching by concern for wealth greed)

Kai

(2) Pierced themselves all around with many pains (they suffered for it because of riches inability to deliver true happiness)

CONCLUSION:

NB: Although it is not a sin to be wealthy and although God may increase your wealth (wealth belongs to God Psa 24:1; 1 Cor 10:26), we should work hard at our job, to increase our skill and value to that job, and that includes making money. But never set a goal of making more money, that is of increasing your wealth. When we do we tend to feel okay about things like small lies, cheating our boss or customers, using people to make money, being insensitive to people, forgetting about the priorities of the Kingdom of God and thus wandering from the faith.

1. Diligently study to understand the Bible and put it to proper use in your life. There is no other possible way to understand God’s view of himself and the world.

2. You worship God with your money as you do with your time, your possessions, your schedule, or your work. You do not live for it, pursue it, or desire more. You manage it so there are eternal value added to it.