The Danger of Loving Money
The Pastoral Epistles • Sermon • Submitted
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But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Introduction:
Introduction:
It is a very old phrase and one that you all as believers are very familiar with and that is that your wealth determines your level of blessing.
That the more that you possess in this life, the more that that is a sign of the blessing of God.
So; therefore, the opposite would also be just as true; in their minds.
If you lack the materialistic pleasures of this world; cash, cars, houses, then it because you have done something that has caused God to withhold blessings from you.
This is the attitude that has overrun and permeated what is known as the evangelical church.
John MacArthur said this:
Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus The False Gospel of Self-Esteem
Some within the framework of evangelicalism will tell you Jesus just wants you well, and if you’re not well, it’s because you haven’t turned in your spiritual lottery ticket. If you’re not rich, it’s because you haven’t claimed it. Jesus wants you free from debt, and if you send the televangelists enough money, that act of faith will free you from the demon of debt. Your salvation through Christ is a guarantee of health, wealth, prosperity, and happiness.
Such a notion would horrifically treat Jesus Christ as a spiritual genie; you rub the lamp and you get your three wishes.
And along with the notion that prosperity is a sign of the blessing of God, it is also a sign of spirituality.
The prosperous show to the world their godliness because “look how much God has blessed them.”
That is really the opposite point that Paul is trying to make to Timothy at the end of verse 5.
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
The idea is that was even alive in the time of the Apostle Paul is that gain is godliness.
So many look to Jesus Christ for what they can get out him.
They became much like the would be followers of Christ in John 6.
In the opening verses of Chapter 6, Jesus is about to do his miracle of feeding the multitudes.
And they were so excited about what Jesus did that when He and His disciples landed on the other side of Galilee and the crowd found Him because it was breakfast time.
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
You see, this permeating attitude was also in the days of Jesus Christ, “what can Jesus do for me?”
Jesus said that you were not seeking me because of the miracles; meaning that you could care less what I did for other people, you were only concerned of what you could get out of me.
Admittedly, in a time when enough to eat was difficult, a promise of a free meal was an instant ticket to ease.
And such is the attitude that a sneaked into evangelicalism; it idea that money, not holiness, is the means of contentment.
And such is the attitude that Paul was was referring in verse 5.
These people in John 6 and in the Church at Ephesus were real candidates for the prosperity gospel.
“Make me wealthy, make me prosperous, make me successful, fulfill all my desires, and do it now…I demand it!”
But notice what Jesus said:
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
You are looking for the wrong stuff.
You are looking for breakfast, but I am talking about eternal life.
And then you have certain high-profile media ministries, preaching a prosperity gospel, and that gives multitudes the disastrous impression that this is what Christianity is all about.
The Glory of Heaven: The Truth About Heaven, Angels, and Eternal Life Earthbound Affections
They promise people that Jesus wants them healthy, wealthy, and successful. Such teaching is extremely popular because it caters to the spirit of the age—and the desire to have everything in this life, right now.
Paul’s attitude was completely contrary the prevailing notion of the day.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The phrase “take pleasure” is “εὐδοκέω” and means “to delight in or to be content.”
Paul says that he finds delight and contentment in all the things that the prosperity guys would shun and say was not a sign of the blessings of God.
The Greek word in this verse is the Greek root word “δοκεω” which means to think or suppose.
So the “war” between what is the proper evidence of godliness is really the battle that is won or lost in the mind.
Because, again, Paul says in verse 5:
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
The word “suppose” is “νομίζω” and it means “to think.”
So no matter how they live in accordance with the reality of the beginning of verse 5; men of a depraved mind and void of truth, but they think that their money is an evidence of godliness.
No much different today, is it?
But this kind of religion is born from the notion of self-centeredness.
The pathology of false teachers is clearly laid out:
They deny the truth, their teaching does not produce godly living.
They are arrogant and ignorant of spiritual truth.
They spend their time in foolish speculations that lead only to chaos and division.
Having forsaken the truth, they face eternal destruction.
And finally, they serve money.
The Church must take great care not allow them to spread their deadly disease.
As we come to the next section of Paul’s teaching to Timothy he begins by spring-boarding off of what he said in verse 5 by making a contrast.
And then warns Timothy about the dangers of loving money, because this is an indication that this man is a false teacher.
We want to notice four areas as Paul warns Timothy about the Danger of Loving Money.
I. A Contrast Explained (vs. 6)
I. A Contrast Explained (vs. 6)
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Now, the conjunction “but” is a contrast word.
Verse 5, false teachers believe that no matter how void they are of truth and how perverse they are, that gain is a sign of godliness.
Then Paul says, “but...”
He uses that conjunction and then makes and explains the contrast.
It is not gain that is godliness, it is that godliness is gain....
A truly godly person is not interested in becoming rich.
The idea of this person is that they possess inner resources which furnish them riches far beyond that what the world could ever offer.
And so, with respect to this genuine godly life Paul continues and says that great gain is the practice of godliness with contentment.
The word “contentment” is the word “αὐτάρκεια” and it means “to be sufficient, to have enough.”
One writer defines it as “soul- sufficiency.”
The truly pious individual has peace with God, spiritual joy, assurance of salvation.
Therefore, he has no need to store up earthly goods in order to satisfy their soul.
Jesus Christ made this indictment.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
He has gained soul-sufficiency, sufficiency from the depths of his being, but notice how, because he focus is on godliness.
You see that is the vast difference between a false teacher and a real teacher is their focus on what is true gain.
Paul said is earlier in this book.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
The Psalmist stated:
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
The word order in the original text kind of makes this verse “pop,” if you will, it is slightly different than your English translation.
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
That is the original word order.
Paul says that it is not gain that is the indicator or godliness, as the false teachers would have you believe.
But it is that godliness is a means of great gain when it is accompanied by soul-sufficiency.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
The “gain” that needs to be the focus of our lives is spiritual it is never financial.
God may bless you with finances, but keep in mind that the Word of God NEVER equates financial security with godliness.
Nor does it bring contentment.
Paul clearly separates financial gain from contentment.
Contentment is inextricably linked with godliness.
John Calvin said:
Those men, therefore, are guilty of sacrilege, who, being bent on acquiring money, make godliness contribute to their gain.1 But for our part, godliness is a very great gain to us, because, by means of it, we obtain the benefit, not only of being heirs of the world, but likewise of enjoying Christ and all his riches.
He goes on to say:
Thus true happiness consists in piety; and this sufficiency may be regarded as an increase of gain.
The English Puritan Pastor, Thomas Manton said:
Godliness is great gain with contentment,’ in opposition to worldly gain. Men may gain much, but they are not satisfied; but godliness is such a gain as bringeth contentment and quiet along with it; for I suppose that place of the apostle is parallel to that of Solomon: Prov. 10:22, ‘The blessing of God maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.’
Manton goes on to say:
The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, Volume 7 Sermon LXXX
Slender provision with a contented heart is much better than a great deal more wealth. Godliness can supply the room of wealth, but wealth cannot supply the room of godliness. If the want of wealth helps us to an increase of grace and communion with God, it helpeth us to that which is of higher and greater value than the enjoyment of wealth could afford.
In other words, if by my material want I am more godly, then that is of far greater value than anything that the worlds goods could afford to pay me.
Let me add the words of John Piper:
The Dangerous Duty of Delight: The Glorified God and the Satisfied Soul Chapter 8: What Does It Mean for Money?
In other words, watch out for slick deceivers who have discovered that they can cash in on an upsurge of godliness. p 67 According to verse 5, these folks treat godliness as a means of gain. They are so addicted to money that truth has a very small place in their affections. They don’t “rejoice in the truth.” They rejoice in tax evasion. They are willing to use any new, popular interest to make a few bucks. If the bottom line is big and black, misleading advertising strategies don’t matter. If godliness is in, then sell godliness.
Listen, Divine contentment, in the words of Joel Beeke:
Developing a Healthy Prayer Life: 31 Meditations on Communing with God Chapter 28: Pray for Contentment
takes our eyes off of worldly things, lifting them to the source of true happiness and fulfillment.
Paul makes a great contrast here between what is true godliness and the false godliness.
While the false teacher thinks that gain is godliness, the opposite is very much true.
Godliness with great gain when it is accompanied by the attitude of total sufficiency.
That is A Contrast Examined.