No C.R.E.A.M.

1 Timothy 6:3–10 ESV

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.

(ESV) —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.

summarizes a main focus in this passage.

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV

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.

summarizes a main focus in this passage.

In 1993, the hip-hop group, Wu-Tang Clan, released a song entitled, “Cream.” Cream is an acronym for

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.

C.R.E.A.M.

In 1993, the hip-hop group, Wu-Tang Clan, released a song entitled, “Cream.” Cream is an acronym for Cash Rules Everything Around Me.”

Cash Rules Everything Around Me.

The group depicts black kids moving from poverty in the ghetto to people with lavish lifestyles driving Mercedes. The word “Cream” has become a slang word for money.

The song says, “Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M., get the money; dollar, dollar bill,y’all.”

The love of money has landed a lot of people in jail. The love of money has destroyed marriages. The love of money has caused people to work all their lives to build up money that is given to the government and medical facilities.

The love of money is misplaced love. Love God, love people, don’t love money.

Matthew 6:24 ESV

24 “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 God and money.

(ESV) —24 “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 God and money.

Don’t be deceived. You cannot serve both. Many people have opted to make more money and have ended up spiritually ineffective. They would confess with their lips that they want to serve God, but in their life, they would live a CREAM, Cash rules everything around me.

There is a difference between a need for money and a love of money. The elders were to receive double honor because their dedication to the church made it difficult to work at another job. If they devoted time to the church, they could not be out fishing. They needed money for food, clothing and shelter.

In Ephesus, the love of money fueled the false teachers. The text doesn’t say how this happened. It doesn’t say if the false teachers took offerings or required people to pay to go to their seminars. What it does say is that the love of money motivated those who were leading people astray.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 ESV

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.

(ESV) —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.

How can godliness be a means of gain?

There is only one way that godliness can be a means of gain. One has to redefine godliness.

That is exactly what happened in Ephesus.

1 Timothy 6:3 ESV

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,

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,

Notice that these false teachers did not depart from Jesus, they departed from the wholesome or sound words of Jesus.

I have heard people say that what Jesus taught is not for today, that it is a different dispensation. Paul says, “Don’t listen to a teacher that does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He does not say, “Don’t listen to a teacher that does not agree with Jesus,” rather he says, “Don’t listen to a teacher that doesn’t agree with Jesus’ words.”

Jesus told the apostles,

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Those who say Jesus’ words are not for today disagree with both Jesus and with Paul.

(ESV) —20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Those who say Jesus’ words are not for today disagree with both Jesus and with Paul.

When we read the words of Jesus, we realize that some of what he taught dealt with the nation of Israel. One can see that in the text. We also can see some changes such at the indwelling of the Holy Spirit before and after the day of Pentecost. Or we might see that Jesus is addressing a specific situation that may not be repeated. The principles are good for today, but the issue of his day might not be the specific issue that we face.

To discard Jesus’ teachings and regulate them to a different dispensation or to say that what Jesus said was good then, but we are more enlightened now, is to cross a line that Paul does not want Timothy to cross.

1 Timothy 6:4 ESV

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,

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.

1 Timothy 6:4–5 ESV

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.

: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.

Among many false teachers is a real sense of arrogance. They have it together, they understand, and anyone who says anything else is stupid, ignorant, and below them.

False teachers don’t like to be challenged and often dismiss those who challenge them. Pride leads to frustration and frustration breeds a lack of understanding. Challenging false teachers often needs to be done, but one can expect real pushback.

One danger of false teachers is the way they used the Bible.

Two trends I have seen in dealing with people. First, they won’t open a Bible and discuss or defend their position from scripture. Their pride causes them to dismiss any concerns you may have as a waste of their time.

Second, if they do open the Bible, they won’t stay in one place. You try to explain one passage and they will not interact on that one passage, but jump to another. “What about this?” they will say. When you answer that, instead of listening, they will jump to a third passage and so on. Meaningful conversation does not take place.

Which leads to the third point, false teachers create controversy.

1 Timothy 6:4–5 ESV

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.

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.

False teachers crave controversy. They enjoy getting into it.

False teachers also fight over words. If you don’t define it correctly in their eyes, they will spend a lot of time trying to get you to understand what the words mean, rather than engaging in the truth that was intended to be discussed.

It’s not that people don’t understand, that all controversy is wrong, that there isn’t a place for defining words, it’s rather that when you meet an arrogant person who stirs up controversy and if focused on word meaning, you are meeting a person who is dangerous for your spiritual health.

If you engage with this person you may be one of the people described in verse 5,

1 Timothy 6:5 ESV

5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

In other words, your reaction to this, your participation in fruitless controversies and endless discussions of word meanings show you something about yourself, that you are “depraved in mind and deprived of the truth.”

Which leads to the fourth point as we come full circle.

Nothing sells books like controversy. Nothing brings a crowd together like friction. Attend town meeting. People will only go if there is a hot topic being discussed. Many do not go to share, they go for the show.

The motivation for these false teachers was gain. They wanted the people’s money. False teachers don’t love you. They love money. They are even willing to use religion as a means to getting rich.

Some teachers get rich and it may not be their goal. Several sources I have read say that Rick Warren makes about five million dollars a year.

What they often don’t say are these two facts. First, he doesn’t take a salary for running one of the largest churches in America. He lives of the sale of his books. Second, he gives away ninety percent of what he gets and lives off the ten percent. You may criticize him for living off from 500,000 dollar a year, but how many of us have given more as we have made more? If there was a love for money, he would take a salary and may be give ten percent away and live off the ninety percent. That’s what most of us would do!

1 Timothy 6:6–7 ESV

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.

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.

Black Friday is coming. Are you content with what you have? Are you using your finances to pay your bills and impact the kingdom of God for his glory? Do you have a consumer mentality or are you a giver? Do you love money or love God?

1 Timothy 6:9–10 ESV

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.

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.

What a sad commentary. People who would be effective and helpful in the church, in ministry, in serving the Lord, have drifted away and ended up hurting themselves in the process.

Is that you?

Here are some suggestions on what you can do to break the cycle if you see that you are not content and love money.

First, confess it to God.

Second, make a sacrificial gift. This might be to the church or to someone in need. I am not talking about a quarter, I am speaking about prayerfully giving an amount that you find significant. The only way we can stop being a taker is by becoming a willing giver.

Third, don’t tell anyone. There is a time to share that God has led you to do something. But if you find that a lack of contentment with what you have is a real problem, you could be in danger of falling into pride by the people that will compliment you on your generous gift.

Be aware of the dangers of false teachers. Be aware of the temptation to be rich. Be content in the Lord.

Don’t let CREAM, Cash rules everything around me. Let Jesus rule.

No C.R.E.A.M.

First, false teachers depart from the words of Jesus.

Second, false teachers thrive on pride.

False teachers imagine that godliness is a means of gain.