The Love of Money: A Dangerous Deception
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Our American culture is absolutely enthralled with money. Sometimes it seems like the American church has succumbed to the “American Dream” and tried to explain how this is the very essence of the Gospel.
Paul never pulled any punches when it came to his interactions with churches and how they were to view false teachers. When he wrote to the church in Galatia, he had very strong words for them (words that would seem “too harsh” for the day in which we live).
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Paul describes for us what a true false teacher thinks and does. False teachers not only teach false doctrine, they often do so because of their love for this world’s material goods.
TEXT:
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1. False Teachers Defined (v. 3)
1. False Teachers Defined (v. 3)
A False teacher is characterized by
Unorthodox Teaching — “teaches otherwise” This is very Pauline (Rom. 16:17; Gal. 1:6–7)
Contradictory Teaching — “does not agree with sound words, those of the Lord Jesus” The words of Jesus Christ refers not simply to the words recorded in the Gospels but to the message that He taught (i.e. the gospel). (see Tit. 1:9) see also 1 Tim. 1:10
Unholy Teaching — “the doctrine conforming to godliness” The trust of Scripture will have a life changing effect on people who embrace them. (see Tit. 1:1; 2:11–14;
There are many prosperity teachers today in the USA. Many of these teachers include:
Prosperity Preachers :
T.D. Jakes
Joel Oelsteen
Robert Tilton
Kenneth Copeland
Rod Parsley
Todd White
Morris Cerullo
Jimmy Swaggert
Benny Hinn
One Bethel pastor, Seth Dahl, a youth leader, claims Jesus asked him for forgiveness. He had been wronged by someone who had deeply hurt him. That night, he had a vision during which Jesus comes to him and embraces him. In tears Jesus tells him “Please forgive me! When someone who is a part of the Body of Christ hurts someone else, it is as if I hurt you. So please forgive me.” This youth pastor then said “I wept and I wept and I wept as I forgave Jesus of something that He didn’t do.”
2. False Teachers Described (v. 4–5)
2. False Teachers Described (v. 4–5)
False teachers are described with incredible accuracy. Paul lays out the common characteristics of false teachers:
False teachers are proud — “conceited”
False teachers lack spiritual knowledge — “knowing nothing” (see 1 Tim. 1:7; 3:6)
False teachers love controversy — “obsessed with disputes and arguments over words” this is described like it is a sickness with them. Look at much of the culture today—looking for disputes that are pointless.
False teachers produce ungodly results — “from which come envy, strife, reviling [abusive language], evil suspicions, useless wranglings [constant friction]”
False teachers are unbelievers — “men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth” (see Rom. 1:18ff).
False teachers have covetous motives — “who suppose that godliness is [a means of] gain [money]”
ILLUSTRATION:
18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
Paul’s exhortation to us is obvious: “from such withdraw yourself!”
3. Godliness Defined (v. 6–8)
3. Godliness Defined (v. 6–8)
Enjoying the riches with which God has blessed you has in itself not a bad thing. Abraham was rich, Joseph was rich, Job was rich, David was rich, Solomon was rich, etc. Riches are actually a blessing from God when used in the way He intended. Money can be used for good and evil purposes.
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Money can be good. But what is most important in life? Godliness.
Godliness is the greatest means of spiritual gain because we have so much in Christ!
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
“pierced through with many sorrows”
1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 5 Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.” 8 It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” 11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ 12 “Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean. 15 When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Naaman said, “If not, please let your servant at least be given two mules’ load of earth; for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering nor will he sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. 18 “In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him some distance. 20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.’ ” 23 Naaman said, “Be pleased to take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him. 24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 But he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”