Where Is Your Heart?
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· 3 viewsFebruary 13, 2022 Morning Worship
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome back.
This morning we are going to be looking at a passage from 1 Timothy 6 on the subject of Where Is Your Heart?
And I will be the first to admit while preparing this message, I have been a little bit distracted and found my heart elsewhere at times.
But for some reason, which I don’t fully understand, the Lord drew me to this passage to present to you today.
But in this passage we have the young pastor Timothy, who has been charged with ministering to this new and upcoming church.
And this letter is the first part of Paul’s instructions to Timothy designed to aid him in leading this church.
And what is going on is Timothy is dealing with a lot of different issues within the church at this time.
And one of the main issues that Timothy had to deal with was idolatry of the people and the creeping in of worldliness into the young church.
The Gnostics had gained a foothold in the community and the church and were teaching "other ways" to heaven, besides faith in Jesus Christ.
They were teaching things like "logic", "reason", and "science" as the pathway to heaven, leaving the Gospel out.
Also they were embracing the common theme of modern Western Civilization of "me, me, me", "greed," and "selfishness."
And this was destroying the church from the inside out and Paul writes here to Timothy to address some of these issues.
And I believe it is important for us as well to here Paul’s words so we can see how this also relates to the world we currently live in.
And not only so we can relate to it, but also so we can intervene and change directions before it is too late.
So, with that said, again we are going to be in 1 Timothy 6, starting in verse 6, Paul writes this . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
We Can’t Take It With Us
We Can’t Take It With Us
So, right off here we see Paul getting to the root of a big part of the overall problem with people and their attitudes toward God.
Again, he writes . . .
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.
This is a profound word for the world today.
The world today is so focused on financial gain, power, and money that all Godliness and decency has been abandoned.
And Paul is saying here that instead of seeking wealth, power, riches, fame, we should be seeking Godliness.
We are to act in a Godly (Christian) manner and combine that with trust in God to do what is right in all circumstances.
With an understanding that nothing we have attained or acquired in this world is leaving with us.
It is all temporary and so long as our basic needs are met, we are blessed and we are to be content with that blessing.
In 2 Corinthians Paul also writes . . .
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
God will provide so that we can do the things that God has called us to do.
And over in Philippians, he writes . . .
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
We need to hold on to that.
We need to hold on to the fact that God will give us the strength to endure.
That God will be there with us and for us.
And, when we can do that, we have made great strides in our Spiritual walk with God.
And the world itself has no power over us.
But the rest of the world does not like that train of thought.
The world does not want to put its faith in God, because we do not want to give up CONTROL of our lives to God.
And it is because we as humans are too PRIDEFUL to do that.
We would rather "do it on our own," and "do it our way."
Just take tithing as an example.
In our mind, it doesn't make sense to give God 10% of everything, when we are so stretched as it is.
It is because we do not have the faith.
It is because our faith is in the wisdom of men and not in the Power of God.
And I refuse to live that way.
I put my faith in Christ and Christ alone and I would encourage you to do the same thing.
Because we need to realize that God is in control of ALL THINGS and when we put our faith in God's promises to provide, not only will our needs be met, but God will pour out a blessing!
Some examples from our Scriptures . . .
You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
And . . .
for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
And . . .
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
And finally . . .
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
But the world doesn’t want to hear those scriptures.
The world doesn’t want to submit to God.
And instead of using what God has allowed us to have for good, we want to lay up a big bank accounts, hoard it all for ourselves, while people out here are starving to death.
And this can be physically or Spiritually starving.
Hoard up the gift God has given you and not use it to share the gospel, to fulfill the mission, is just letting people starve to death.
Thinking that if we hoard it up we can take it to heaven with us.
Well, this is what Paul says about that . . .
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
And of course there is Job . . .
and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
And then in Ecclesiastes . . .
Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
And finally, what Jesus had to say about the matter . . .
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
And the whole point of all of this Scripture is this, we can't take it with us and what good is it going to do to take what God has given you and bury it in the sand?
USE IT FOR GOD, whatever it is!
And be content with what you have . . .
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Don’t kill yourself trying to hoard up more and more and more.
If it is pulling you away from God, abandon it and get back to God.
Trust in God, with everything.
In Matthew Jesus also said . . .
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
So, if that is the solution and what we need to do, then what’s the problem?
Its a Heart Condition
Its a Heart Condition
Well, Paul addresses that in the next part of our passage.
Starting in verse 9, he writes . . .
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
So, in essence Paul is saying that people who are chasing after riches, replace seeking after God with seeking other things.
They convince themselves that those things are more important.
And they do whatever they have to do to make more money.
They quit tithing to God or giving extra.
They quit coming to church like they used to because they are working (voluntary) OT. (Sunday night, Wed. night).
Or they have quit because Sunday is the only day they have to "rest" AFTER ALL SUNDAY IS A DAY OF REST.
Or they won't come because Sunday is "our only family day."
Well, then bring the family to church!
They become disengaged in the church and church activities.
THEY ISOLATE THEMSELVES, and they become weak and defenseless.
And eventually they buckle under the attack of Satan.
Back to Ecclesiastes . . .
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
It is sort of like the Casting Crowns song.
They don’t start out weak but, It’s a Slow Fade . . .
I’m not going the sing it, but the lyrics go . . .
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Slowly they begin to compromise who they are and what they stand for.
And eventually find themselves in this shape.
ALONE, BROKEN, AWAY FROM GOD, AND LOST.
All because . . .
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
And, why is the "love of money the root of all kinds of evil"?
Because it is the key factor to covetousness.
You are loving money, loving the world, loving material goods, INSTEAD of loving God.
You choose flesh over God.
It is a slippery slope to destruction.
Your goal in life has become getting rich, and not getting to heaven.
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
And the question is, as we close, Where is your heart?
Let’s pray . . .