May 24, 2023 | Be On Mission
Beware the Money Trap
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6(NIV)
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 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.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 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.
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Devotional
Paul concluded his first letter to Timothy with instructions for slaves, widespread in their culture. He also touched on themes addressed earlier in the letter, such as rebuking falsehood and pursuing godliness. And he spent quite a bit of this final chapter dealing with money.
The last part of verse five blends in with verse six. Paul said there were people in ministry “who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Contentment. Now there’s a word we don’t use much these days.
The next two verses go on to say, “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.” In Philippians 4:12, Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” What does it mean to be content? Are you content?
1 Timothy 6:10 is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. People often misquote it saying, “Money is the root of all kinds of evil,” when it actually says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” What is the difference between money and the love of money? How do you use money without loving it? Paul continued the thought by saying, “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” How does the love of money bring grief?
Beginning in verse seventeen, Paul instructed Timothy, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
How was this a vital message for the Ephesian Christians living in such a self-centered, sex-saturated, money-driven city? How is it vital for us today? What steps can you take to put your hope in God instead of wealth?
Poem
Within The Ranks
A private, scut work must perform
A sergeant, troops preparing
A captain, sounds the “charge the hill”
A gen’ral, shoulders failure
A president, decisions hard
A king, the nation holding
And God Supremely on the throne
The one to all beholding
