1 Timothy 6 - WWW: Not Just a Computer Thing

“I don’t need religion because I’m not expecting to die in the near future.”

This is based upon the misconception that the fall of man only relates to after death experiences. But Scripture is clear that the “death experience” started the day they ate. Sin not only separated man from God, but it also brought struggle to work, pain to child rearing, and strife to relationships—all things we deal with on THIS side of death.

Many of us plan for the afterlife like we plan for retirement. Financial Advisors tell clients that it is important to make contributions to the plan early and often, but then it is wise to pay little attention to the daily value of your account. The market will surge and shrink, but if the long game is in mind, you’ll be all right.

If that same strategy is carried into one’s faith life we rationalize that occasional visits to a church service, once in a while time in God’s Word, and prayer at meals and during crisis are sufficient deposits we need so that a payout is available upon death.

But inattention to matters of faith leads to shipwrecked faith (1:19) and wandering away (6:10). Paul urges Timothy to keep matters of truth and faith at the forefront of current living.

TRANSITION: This life of faith can be found in 3 Ws: each will be found in the major points of this message.

Christ’s Disciples Work Well (1 Tim 6:1-2)

Labor/Management Relations (Philemon)

1. The Household (family of God) and Community overlap meaning honesty and respect are doubly important.

Philemon teaches that family status impacts work interactions and relationships between individuals impact others

2. Bosses respect workers (don’t muzzle the ox; worker is worthy of wages)

3. Workers provide honest work for honest wages

The Protestant Work Ethic

1. It is absolutely true that the Bible was not written by Modern man in 21st Century North America. For those of us who have only lived under Capitalism it may be difficult to imagine what it might look like to live for Christ in Communist China, Marxist Russia, or Socialistic Scandinavia.

When I was on a Missions Trip to Austria in 2012, we met with the unbelieving Mayor of the village we were visiting. Try as hard as he could, he could not figure out why Americans were opposed to Obamacare. National healthcare was the only access to medicine he had ever known. He took us on a tour of the large manufacturing plant and told us that the plant was taxed at 30% of gross production, then workers were taxed at nearly 50% of their wages. Crops were distributed through the Cooperative so that hard work, creativity and capitalism were not high values at all. The liberty that we celebrated just over a week ago is not even a blip on the screen in many parts of the world. Rented apartments, Union labor, Public transportation, State owned utilities and retail, as well as Government-run healthcare are the only possibility..

2. In the feudal systems of Europe, when people began reading the Bible, they discovered afresh that families owned their own property and managed their own herds and crops. Independent small businessmen and women bartered their own goods with one another. This rediscovery prompted what is called the Protestant Work Ethic. If the Church or King doesn’t own everything, then my work and stewardship has purpose.

3. I’m not saying that ALL have equal access to capital in the New Testament economy, but I also do NOT see the government owning and controlling everything. The very fact that there were some “masters” and other “bondservants” implies private ownership and SOME level of capitalism.

4. Until the rediscovery of the Scriptures associated with Bible reading of the Reformation, Palaces and Cathedrals controlled, taxed and distributed all the wealth. The pages of Scripture (these verses included) say much about fair wages and hard work by the individual.

TRANSITION: Not only do Christians disciples work well, as unto the Lord, but also…

Christ’s Disciples share Sound Words (1 Tim 6:3-5; 11-16; 20-21)

Controversy leads to depravity and deprivation

When absolute truth (v.3) submits to opinions as being equally valid, conflict and controversy are inevitable (vv.4-5).

By the way, do you grasp the difference between depraved and deprived?

1. Depraved = to become morally corrupt, deprave, ruin[i]

When preachers and Bible scholars talk about depravity, we mean “apart from grace we are hopeless to be made right”.

2. Deprived = to prevent someone from having the benefit of something, (e.g. to withhold) deprive[ii]

This is like a lifeguard holding a flotation ring while watching a child flail in the water

A Righteous Pursuit (v.11)

1. Fight the good fight (v.12a) – current priorities

2. Take hold of your calling (v.12b) – remember your foundation

3. Keep free from reproach (v.14) – personal piety

TRANSITION: Some of us have much. Some of us have little. But when we find joy in our work and remained focused on sound words, we find a godliness that surpasses the pleasures of wealth.

Christ’s Disciples seek Contentment with Wealth (1 Tim 6:6-10; 17-19)

Godliness is better than Gain (Phil 3:8)

Philippians 3:8 ESV:2016

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

It All Goes Back in the box (vv.7-8)

Several years ago I led a study Group through the book “When the Game is Over It All Goes Back in the Box”

Watch this brief summary of the principle that inspired the book by a Presbyterian pastor from Northern California. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzMirZUa_Es)

Realizing earthly wealth has an expiration date prompts us to be content with things as we seek godliness.

Temptation and anxiety (vv.9-10)

If we don’t find contentment, we will be vexed by worry.

Bless others (vv.17-19)

· When we realize it is God who provides of all wealth, it enables us to be rich in good works and generous to share.

Conclusion:

Since we are depraved and deprived due to our sin (the Corruption that we studied in VBS this week), we all need a solution. For millennia humans have sought remedy for the emptiness of this life in power, money and experiences.

The only real fix for our corrupt, broken, sin-filled world is the solution offered by God in sending His only Son to live perfectly, die sacrificially, and rise victoriously for us. The Gospel fixes the final destination for all who place their trust in what Jesus did on that cross.

This death and victory ALSO has direct impact on THIS side of death. The Hope and Security we have in Jesus frees us to FORM our values around work, sound words, and contentment with wealth.

Response Song (VBS Video)...................... “You Make a Way”

Benediction: 1 Timothy 6:15–16 (ESV) — which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

[i] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 239. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [ii] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 121. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.