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Welcome Everyone:
Begin with Prayer:
Read the Text:
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you.
In verses 17-19 here Paul now comes back to the issue of materialism. This is exactly what we have already looked at back in verses 5-10 of this chapter. Why does Paul address this topic of materialism and then jump into the importance of fighting the fight of faith and then return to materialism??? Well Paul wants us to see that contentment comes with godliness and it is something we all must fight for, and one of the ways we fight for contentment is what Paul now explains to us here in verses 17-19. As we mentioned last time when we have God we come to realize that we have everything we need in this life. We come to understand what Godly contentment is all about. However, the question remains what should we do with the stuff we already have??? Paul is actually addressing those who are rich and have things as we begin verse 17. Many of us today are rich in comparison to the rest of the world, so Paul urges them and he urges us to give so that we may have eternal riches someday.
You may be here tonight wondering, well how exactly can I do this? How do I live for eternal gain???
First of all, we must run from being self-confident. Paul tells us in the beginning of verse 17 that those who are rich in this current age should not be haughty or arrogant. We should not set our hope on the uncertainty of wealth. But, why is this so? Well it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that often times possessions produce pride. In my own life i can look at the things that the Lord has given me and when I think about giving it away I can tend to want to hold onto it. I have to ask the Lord to forgive me of pride, insecurity and even being selfish.
This leads to another area. Paul says that we should run away from being self-centered. Having wealth not only leads to arrogance, but it can also cause us to hope in ourselves. I think it can be easy to say look at what I have done or accomplished which will lead to look at what I have gotten for myself. Without God no of us would have anything! Don’t be fooled, run from selfishness men.
The third area is a positive thing. I want to encourage you to focus on God, not in the riches of this world. Men put your hope in God, put your trust in the Maker of this World. Why? Because God richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Of course things or possessions in and of themselves are not bad because they were created for us to enjoy. However, in return we can use these things for good. We should use God’s gifts for good purposes. But how? Look at verse 18.
So in Response to all that God has done for us verse 18 now leads us to understand that we are to give good things for others.
-We can be generous with our finances or gifts.
-We can share things with others.
-We are investing good things not only in our lives but others because we have eternity in view.
-We are giving towards others, not hoarding things up for ourselves, but making sacrifices so that we can make a difference for the age to come.
In verse 19 Paul now challenges the rich to think about the end result of properly handling the treasure that ultimately God has given. When we share our earthly treasures with others what we are doing is storing up treasures in heaven. Paul says it this way, “storing up treasure that is a good foundation for the future.”
-The word “storing up” here means to amass a treasure.
-The word “foundation” refers to a fund.
In others words those who are rich in God and content with all that God has given them are not so much concerned on getting a return on their investment in this life. They are giving things away so that they will someday receive eternal dividends. That is what Paul has in mind here when he talks about the future.
Men and women who invest and give take hold of that which is truly life. This is eternal life. When we as Christians invest our resources in the lives of others, we are making an eternity’s difference.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you.
Men these 2 verses help us to see how important it is to handle the truth of God’s Word. Unfortunately today there are many churches that have twisted the truth of God’s Word to make it fit what they want it to say.
-Secular psychology.
-Pragmatism.
-Or just trying to be culturally relevant.
John MacArthur says quote, “The most important yardstick by which a church can be measured is not how large it is, how good its fellowship is, or how interesting the pastor is. It is not how good the music is, how well the grounds are kept up, or how respected it is in the community. The most important measure of any church is how it handles the Word of God. Wether or not they teach and live out divine truth is the key issue, because the church’s responsibility before God is to guard and proclaim the truths of Scripture.” End quote.
We see over and over again in Scripture warnings of twisting the truth of God’s Word.
2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
God’s Word is sufficient for us today. We don’t need to add anything to it or take anything away from it.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Like many people today, believers who lived in first century Ephesus also faced the temptation to compromise on the truth of God’s Word. Ephesus was this crazy pagan city that had many beliefs and worshiped many false gods. Paul was well aware of the pressure and temptation to abandon the truth. So, this is why he is so fired up and ends the first letter to Timothy is this manner. Paul wants us to see that we have to fight to be faithful for the gospel. Here is how Paul lays it out for Timothy throughout this letter.
-Stop others from teaching a different doctrine. (1:3)
-We must hold onto the faith and good conscience. (1:19)
-We must appoint godly elders and deacons who can teach rightly the Word of God. (3:2)
-Devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhort, and teach. (4:13)
-To keep watch on himself and his teaching. (4:16)
-Fight the good fight and keep the commandment without fault or failure. (6:12 and 14)
Beginning in verse 20 here we see that Paul pleads with Timothy and is somewhat emotional as he appeals to Timothy to honor God by Guarding what he has been entrusted with. The word Guard here means keeping valuables in a safe place. And the word Entrusted means deposit. Timothy was to guard the truth.
3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Men, everyone of us who are believers, especially those who are in ministry are to guard the truth. But what exactly does this look like? What dangers are we to avoid?
The first thing that Paul shares here is the irreverent babble. Everything that is worldly is the opposite of truth and is unholy and profane. So, the irreverent babble or chatter here just means vain arguments that can lead to ungodly things and even fighting.
Another area that Paul mentions here is Contradictions. Timothy was to avoid silly arguments of men and women who wanted to attack Scripture. This type of talk and contradiction can spread like cancer if not checked.
The last thing that Paul brings to our attention here is that something we must be aware of is that some have professed these things and swerved from the faith. This means that there are men and women who have abandoned the truth. False teachers can lead people astray and this is a very dangerous thing. In 2 Peter we sadly see the reality of this.
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
So, how do we protect ourselves against this? How can the treasure of truth be guarded? This is the practical side of things men.
First of all we must believe in God’s Word. Do you believe all of God’s Word? John 5:24
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
2. We must also love God’s Word. We should study it and memorize it. Do you love God’s Word? Do you spend time reading it everyday?
97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
3. This leads to obeying God’s Word. Are you following God by obeying His Word?
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
4. We should also be led to proclaim God’s Word.
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Questions:
Close in Prayer: