Would you rather? 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Would you rather?

1 Timothy 6:3-10

“Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:3–10, ESV)

“Teach and urge these things”

Throughout the letter Paul has instructed Timothy to carry out his calling by preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine”

From the beginning of the letter until the end Paul confronts and points out false teachers. The purpose of the letter is so that the Ephesian church would know how God wants them to live as the church, the household of God. There are some in their midst who are teaching “things” that are different.

“Doctrine” sometimes has the reputation of being just a cold set of propositions debated by scholars. On the contrary, every believer every day is full of doctrine that makes all the difference in the world. Just to say we believe in God implies a set of assumptions about what it means to believe, and about who God is and what he is like: that’s doctrine. Devotional study of the word, therefore, cannot exist without healthy doctrine. Doctrine is important because it summarizes God’s word, guarantees the health of God’s church, and bears fruit in the lives of God’s people.” crossway.org

Doctrine is a set of beliefs, and doctrine is important because it determines how you live.

“And does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,”

Those who teach a different doctrine than the one Paul teaches are teaching something different than what Jesus taught, and that results in living in a way that is different than God desires.

Paul makes it clear, anything that doesn’t fit with what Jesus says is false. Anything that doesn’t produce godliness is false.

Godliness is “a God-honoring life between the time I come to Christ and the time I go home to be with Him.”- Paul Tripp

Sound teaching, the gospel, is grounded on Jesus and leads God’s people to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. In our passage last week we saw that the motivation for what we do is the “name of God” or the glory of God. Our sermon focused on the point that because of God’s unconditional redeeming love for us, we have an unconditional motivation for how we live.

God’s love is unconditional because you don’t do anything to earn his love, and our motivation is unconditional because it doesn’t change with the circumstances.

And the reason that our behavior doesn’t change depending our circumstances is because it is determined by what we believe. Our relationship with Jesus is the foundation for everything we do. And this is why what we teach and what we believe is so important…

What you believe determines what you do.

To honor God with your life you have to know and believe who He is and what He has said. Over and over again Paul tells Timothy to teach and urge these things.

The purpose of the letter is so that the church will understand how to live for God. And to do that Paul says they must embrace their calling to protect and proclaim the gospel.

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:14–15, ESV)

In fact, the false teachers reveal their own ungodliness by teaching things that are not the gospel or sound doctrine.

Someone who is teaching unsound doctrine that doesn’t bear the fruit of godliness is not only wrong, they harm the church.

Paul describes them in the next couple of verses.

he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing

The person who teaches a different doctrine than Paul is a pridefully ignorant. They are prideful because they reject Jesus for their own thoughts and interpretations. They know nothing because they have missed the truth that is the foundation for everything.

he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words

This person has desire that damages their own heart and the church. They are drawn to speculations and have a tendency to argue rather than understand. They have desire to be right that is really more about wanting to be heard than it is to be helpful. Their goal is for people to hear them and to follow them more than it is to help people follow Jesus.

What this reveals is that they want people to follow them- their motivation is selfish and it self centered. And where sound teaching leads people to know Jesus and follow Jesus, their teaching flows from their hearts and results in what John Stott calls “a complete breakdown in human relationships.”

Which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction

Envy- they resent others gifts

Dissension- they are competitive and contentious

Slander- malicious talk, creating rivals where there should be partnerships in the gospel

Evil suspicions- trying to build leadership on their suspicions rather than the truth. this is so prevalent today. Asking questions is not how you preach or lead the church. Godliness is the product of asking questions, it’s the result of presenting the truth, doctrine, propositional truths.

“I’m just asking” is not profitable anymore than those who say “I’m just saying” Evil suspicions are born from a heart that is selfish and full of pride.

Constant friction- they are always bothered and always creating tension with others.

“Among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth”

False teachers preach and lead from a depraved position because they don’t believe the truth and therefore don’t preach the truth. They are pridefully ignorant and it doesn’t matter how much they want to lead or “help” if what they are saying and doing isn’t the gospel and doesn’t lead to godliness. Because they are deprived of the truth in their own mind and heart, their teaching results in the same.

“Imagining that godliness is a means of gain”

And here we see the heart and root of the issue. They are teaching and leading as a means of gain. And what are they hoping to gain? Well the world! Everything from popularity, to power, to financial success.

They have seen the power of the gospel, and like Simon the magician who tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, they want to use the name of Jesus for personal gain rather than for the sake of the name of Jesus and His glory.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

Godliness is “a God-honoring life between the time I come to Christ and the time I go home to be with Him.” Paul Tripp

“True contentment means embracing the Lord’s will in every aspect of His providence simply because it is His providence. It involves what we are in our very being, not just what we do and can accomplish.” - Sinclair Ferguson

“Contentment is the inward, quiet spirit that joyfully submits to God’s providence.” Erik Raymond (TGC article)

Contentment is not something that we can do, it is something that must be learned. Contentment is not something you can achieve, it is produced in us by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Anyone who has Jesus Christ has all that he needs.

Matthew 13:44

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Matthew 19:16-30

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[b] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold[c] and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Therefore, the cravings and desires for the world reveal an unqualifying condition of the heart.

Jesus doesn’t say that a person cannot be rich, he simply points out that if you cannot be poor in the world with Him than you are not with Him. If you cannot live for the reward that is waiting at His return, then you are not living for Him today.

The next sentence in the passage demonstrates that Paul’s teaching is accordance with what Jesus taught, especially as it relates to the passages on the kingdom and wealth in Matthew 13 and 19.

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

A quarreler would say “it depends on what you mean by rich!” But one who is listening to learn of Jesus and live for Jesus would hear clearly that Paul is addressing motives, just as Jesus did with the rich young man in Matthew 19.

Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

You can have money if you serve God, but you are not guaranteed wealth if you serve God. You can serve the pursuit of riches in the world, but you are not guaranteed the kingdom of God.

False teachers like to say that if you follow Jesus you will be financially blessed. The problem with this teaching is that it literally goes against what Jesus actually said and what his disciples actually experienced.

Many people in the church, especially the SBC would condemn the prosperity gospel when it is taught, but they actually live by it in their hearts and their personal lives. What I mean by that is that we may not preach that if I follow God he will bless with me more stuff.. but in our hearts there are many who are living that way and even struggling with God because they have done things for him and he hasn’t returned the favor.

Or some make deals with God… and then struggle when God doesn’t keep the deal. The problem is that God doesn’t make deals and those moments are one sided. The gospel is clear, and the gospel is the “deal”that God has made. You give him your life and He gives you eternal life and the reward of heaven…

The pursuit of money is simply the pursuit of self and that is sinful. It leads to all kinds of run and destruction because it’s a sinful craving that destroys more than your public life or bank account. it leaves you always wanting more.

Salvation comes with contentment, and that is a gain that money and the world can never give you.

think about how many of the wealthiest people you know who are still needing more. A nicer… home, car, vacation, etc.

Our passage ends with one of the most misquoted and misused verses in the NT.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Because of time I don’t want to harp on the many ways this verse has been used, but suffice it to say that money is not the root of evil, it is love of it, or the desire for it that results in so many kinds of evil.

At the end of the day the love of money is simply one of the ways that people reveal their love of the world.

I believe that there are many who hear the gospel and quickly say yes to following Jesus. Much like the rich young man in Matthew 19. However, much like the young man, they want to follow Jesus and have all of the rewards and blessings of eternal life and to belong to the kingdom, until they realize they have to leave the world behind.

Earlier I read Matthew 13:44 about the kingdom of heaven being like a treasure in a field. In that same passage Jesus also told a parable about the gospel.

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears,[a] let him hear.”… 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.[b] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The seed is the gospel, and it bears fruit in one of the four soils. The rich young man is perfect example of a soil where the gospel shows a quick sign, but ultimately the man’s desire for his riches reveals that there was no depth or sincerity of faith. Instead, his faith and pursuit of godliness were actually about gain.

If the young man who had all the riches, but could also say that he had godliness- remember he said he had kept the law. If he could say he was godly, but couldn’t forfeit his riches to have salvation then his godliness is connected to the gain.

Matthew 16:24-26 says, “24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[g] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?“

Those who pursue the world and it’s riches will pierce themselves rather than trust in the nailed pierced hands of Jesus.

False teachers have platforms because of those who listen to them.

Unhealthy cravings for controversy and for quarrels is not just for those who are teaching, this is also something that members can do to divide or harm the church.

There are some who do harm in the church, but don’t connect themselves to the harm because they are not the “leader.” But, because they have the sam

e cravings as the leader Paul is talking about they do the same kind of harm to people and their relationships, but just in a smaller circle.

Faithful teachers are not enough, the church also needs faithful members.

The church is more than its leaders. The church itself must follow the teachings, not just make sure that the ones teaching are doing a good job. Each of us is a soil where the gospel lands.

Faithfulness is a product of contentment

Godliness with contentment is great gain. You cannot be faithful to God if you are content in Christ. the false teachers are unfaithful and they are leading others to be unfaithful. Their cravings are the source of their wandering and sinful lives.

Contentment is countercultural.

you are not going to be like the rest of the world around you if you pursue contentment rather than the gain of the world. Having enough is something the world doesn’t understand.

But, as the words to the 1922 song “I’d rather have Jesus” say,

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold

I'd rather be His than have riches untold

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain

And be held in sin's dread sway

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause

I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame

Yes, I'd rather be true to His holy name

Than to be the king of a vast domain

And be held in sin's dread sway

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today

And, on Fathers Day, my word to our father is this:

The best thing a father can do for his children is to be faithful to Jesus.

So, to all of us…

“Would you rather have Jesus, or what the world affords today?