1 00:00:00,962 --> 00:00:03,073 Good to see everyone here this morning. 2 00:00:05,390 --> 00:00:10,130 Take your Bibles, if you will, and open them to 1 Timothy. 3 00:00:10,170 --> 00:00:11,010 Sorry. 4 00:00:20,696 --> 00:00:27,201 First Timothy chapter six, we're nearing the end of our study of First Timothy. 5 00:00:40,546 --> 00:00:43,821 Let's begin with a word of prayer and then we'll get started. 6 00:00:46,030 --> 00:00:55,764 Our gracious Father in heaven, we bow before your throne, grateful for the day that you've granted to us, the blessings that we have and the opportunity that we have to serve you. 7 00:00:55,945 --> 00:00:59,406 Lord, we're grateful for the... 8 00:00:59,406 --> 00:01:09,266 congregation that we're surrounded by the people who encourage us, exhort us, provoke us to love and to good works on a daily basis and a weekly basis. 9 00:01:09,266 --> 00:01:12,846 Lord, we pray that you will be with each and every one of them. 10 00:01:12,846 --> 00:01:19,366 Lord, we pray that you be with the nation that we live in and the nations throughout the world. 11 00:01:19,366 --> 00:01:22,106 We pray that you will be with their leaders. 12 00:01:22,146 --> 00:01:29,860 The choices they make might be those which promote good and peace, that we might have doors of opportunity. 13 00:01:29,980 --> 00:01:33,242 to reach the lost and peace while doing so. 14 00:01:33,563 --> 00:01:45,561 Lord, we also pray that we might have boldness to speak the truth no matter what comes in this life, no matter whether it is looked upon as favorable or that which is opposed. 15 00:01:45,561 --> 00:01:51,154 We pray that we might always be bold to declare the truth in love. 16 00:01:51,375 --> 00:01:58,159 Lord, we pray that you be with those who are struggling with illness, struggling with difficulties. 17 00:01:58,159 --> 00:01:59,330 Lord, especially pray 18 00:01:59,330 --> 00:02:01,031 for those who are struggling spiritually. 19 00:02:01,031 --> 00:02:06,844 We pray that you give them strength and that they might look for that strength in your word and your will. 20 00:02:07,444 --> 00:02:12,046 They might know both how to walk and how to live on a daily basis. 21 00:02:12,207 --> 00:02:18,310 Lord, help us to always be diligent, to grow in wisdom and knowledge and in understanding. 22 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:28,796 to always remind ourselves of the settled and basic matters that we might be reminded of both how to live and how to serve you acceptably. 23 00:02:28,796 --> 00:02:32,158 All this we pray and ask in Jesus' name, amen. 24 00:02:35,534 --> 00:02:50,778 Paul writes to Timothy as he is instructing him concerning how he is to teach, what he is to teach, the things that he is to do in the church there in Ephesus as Timothy is working 25 00:02:50,778 --> 00:02:53,590 with that congregation. 26 00:02:54,091 --> 00:03:02,818 He says to him, if verse three of chapter six, if anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, 27 00:03:03,239 --> 00:03:06,351 even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. 28 00:03:06,814 --> 00:03:10,696 and to the doctrine which accords with godliness. 29 00:03:10,696 --> 00:03:27,534 He is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words from which come envy, strife, revilings, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt 30 00:03:27,534 --> 00:03:36,828 minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain from such withdraw yourself. 31 00:03:36,868 --> 00:03:58,646 Now, as he goes into this discussion concerning those who desire to be rich, he's doing so out of a primary context of those who desire to be rich who are teachers of the gospel. 32 00:03:59,136 --> 00:04:14,172 He points out to Timothy that there are those who would trade the truth for something other than the truth if it was more profitable, if they'd make more from it. 33 00:04:14,473 --> 00:04:25,778 If they would be able to have more income from teaching falsehood or from teaching error than from teaching the truth, they'd teach falsehood. 34 00:04:27,212 --> 00:04:37,908 because they consider the very act of godliness to be a monetary purpose. 35 00:04:38,429 --> 00:04:50,897 They consider their actions to be those which they can leverage into profit instead of being right in the eyes of God. 36 00:04:51,718 --> 00:04:52,558 So. 37 00:04:52,606 --> 00:05:06,142 As you consider this, and I will make mention just because we didn't get a notice up on the class, if anybody's looking for the new converts class this morning, it's down the 38 00:05:06,142 --> 00:05:13,656 hall by the ladies restroom, it's the next door down from the ladies restroom uh in the double room that's in there. 39 00:05:13,656 --> 00:05:17,398 So you're welcome to go to that class if you were intending to do so. 40 00:05:17,398 --> 00:05:22,480 uh You won't interrupt us at all, but that's where that's located. 41 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,902 uh that's getting started this morning. 42 00:05:25,123 --> 00:05:36,272 So in verse six, he says, now godliness with contentment is great gain. 43 00:05:36,573 --> 00:05:46,041 Paul is going to set in opposition to some people's desire to use godliness for gain. 44 00:05:46,710 --> 00:05:53,234 He's going to set in opposition to that the fact that godliness is gain. 45 00:05:54,336 --> 00:06:10,207 He's taking the very motivation and the very mindset of these individuals who he is instructing Timothy, not only do you not let them teach, you withdraw yourself from them. 46 00:06:10,308 --> 00:06:13,770 You don't associate with people of this nature. 47 00:06:14,082 --> 00:06:26,549 But he says to Timothy as he is instructing Timothy regarding this, he says the problem is not just their action, it is their motives. 48 00:06:26,949 --> 00:06:43,018 It is the fundamental thought of their heart because they see godliness not as something of value but as a tool for profit. 49 00:06:44,504 --> 00:07:04,598 Paul will tell Timothy that when you marry together godliness, godlikeness, that is being in a right relationship with God in such a way as to share His character. 50 00:07:06,456 --> 00:07:26,163 Paul says when you have the image of God in you, the character and the nature of God in you, and then you live that out and you're content with that, now you've found profit. 51 00:07:26,403 --> 00:07:29,846 Now you've found real gain. 52 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:37,153 There was a woman in the days of Jesus who was a widow. 53 00:07:38,314 --> 00:07:50,611 Jesus was standing there by the gate of the temple as individuals would come in and they'd bring their offerings in and they'd drop them into the treasury box and he was standing 54 00:07:50,611 --> 00:08:00,610 there with his disciples observing this practice and he observed and they observed individual after individual come in and 55 00:08:00,610 --> 00:08:03,332 give out of their abundance. 56 00:08:04,773 --> 00:08:11,668 They gave and they gave plentifully, but they had an abundance to give from. 57 00:08:13,472 --> 00:08:21,932 And as Jesus observed this, here comes a widow who gives to mites. 58 00:08:25,996 --> 00:08:36,668 When you think about that amount, number one, it's pretty insignificant, even in that day and time. 59 00:08:38,390 --> 00:08:50,484 but also consider something that was pointed out by Brother Scott Cain in a class I was in recently, that this very well may have been all she brought into her marriage as her 60 00:08:50,484 --> 00:08:51,474 dowry. 61 00:08:51,834 --> 00:08:57,736 There's an indication in the Greek and in the original text that could actually be what this was. 62 00:08:57,736 --> 00:09:05,798 And when a woman brought into marriage what she had in her dowry when... 63 00:09:05,848 --> 00:09:13,823 her marriage ended, she did not, in Jewish society in first century, she did not automatically receive all the things that her husband had. 64 00:09:14,544 --> 00:09:23,269 And there was a very real possibility that all she would have coming out of that marriage when her husband dies was the dowry she brought in. 65 00:09:24,491 --> 00:09:35,340 So you have Jesus pointing out, whether this was from her dowry or this was just simply all that she had, Jesus knowing her situation points out to the disciples, 66 00:09:35,340 --> 00:09:43,110 that she gave more than everyone because she gave all that she had. 67 00:09:45,624 --> 00:09:52,276 Question, how rich is a person who has nothing? 68 00:09:56,686 --> 00:09:57,567 Okay? 69 00:09:58,492 --> 00:10:04,309 The answer is you can't answer the question based upon the facts you've been given. 70 00:10:06,348 --> 00:10:13,090 because riches are not determined by monetary assets. 71 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:26,057 You could have an individual who has everything, but Jesus will say, what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and what? 72 00:10:27,239 --> 00:10:29,460 Loses his own soul. 73 00:10:30,021 --> 00:10:36,505 Or what shall a man give in exchange of his soul? 74 00:10:37,526 --> 00:10:43,692 Jesus is pointing out to those who are willing to hear and listen 75 00:10:43,692 --> 00:10:51,665 that the things which you determine in life to value, those are the things you're going to work toward. 76 00:10:51,665 --> 00:10:59,500 And as you assemble those things, as you bring together those things, ultimately the question will be, have you gained any value? 77 00:11:02,978 --> 00:11:13,686 What did Solomon describe as the problem of the individual in Ecclesiastes who strived to gather gold and silver? 78 00:11:16,397 --> 00:11:17,748 You remember what he said? 79 00:11:19,724 --> 00:11:25,558 their vanity, but he also said that they won't be satisfied with gold or silver. 80 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:31,062 Here's the individual who they strive to gather the riches. 81 00:11:31,062 --> 00:11:36,045 They gather the riches and when they've got the riches they figure out they need more. 82 00:11:38,227 --> 00:11:40,949 That this didn't satisfy them. 83 00:11:40,949 --> 00:11:42,961 That this wasn't actually enough. 84 00:11:42,961 --> 00:11:47,744 They've spent all this time trying to get this and now it's not enough. 85 00:11:49,864 --> 00:12:00,262 Notice what Paul points out is that godliness with contentment is great gain. 86 00:12:01,083 --> 00:12:11,372 Does that mean that we should reach a point where as we think about our character and our life and our relationship to God, we get to a point where we're like, all right, I'm 87 00:12:11,372 --> 00:12:14,934 content, I'll just say this level of spiritual. 88 00:12:15,716 --> 00:12:18,888 I'll just be content with this amount of godliness 89 00:12:18,888 --> 00:12:20,178 I'm good. 90 00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:23,019 Is that what he's talking about? 91 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,500 No, because that wouldn't be like God, would it? 92 00:12:27,801 --> 00:12:33,863 We certainly wouldn't evaluate ourselves and go, well, I'm perfect. 93 00:12:34,702 --> 00:12:38,058 If we decided we were that, then we'd be liars, right? 94 00:12:38,058 --> 00:12:43,816 1 John chapter 1 verse 8, any man says he has no sin, he's a liar and the truth is not in him. 95 00:12:44,706 --> 00:12:48,928 So you cannot evaluate yourself and come to conclusion you're perfect. 96 00:12:48,928 --> 00:12:59,454 Rather, you evaluate yourself and realize, need to become more and more and more like God, but in matters of this world, I'm content. 97 00:13:02,414 --> 00:13:15,537 Paul says, now godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 98 00:13:20,376 --> 00:13:22,068 Consider this idea. 99 00:13:23,788 --> 00:13:28,642 that Jesus would say in Matthew chapter 6, 100 00:13:31,382 --> 00:13:37,566 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 101 00:13:40,262 --> 00:13:52,490 What does He, as a result of that statement, exhort and admonish the people to do by way of where they place their treasure? 102 00:13:55,374 --> 00:13:59,774 All right, a little bit later he says, seek ye first the kingdom of God. 103 00:14:04,908 --> 00:14:13,726 When he questions why are they worried about what they shall eat, what they shall wear, where they shall sleep. 104 00:14:15,512 --> 00:14:20,296 He says, do you not realize that these are the things the Gentiles worry about? 105 00:14:22,572 --> 00:14:37,182 Now does that mean that Jesus is encouraging His disciples, encouraging those who will listen to Him to never plan for the future, to never set plans in motion to provide for a 106 00:14:37,182 --> 00:14:39,924 family or anything like that? 107 00:14:41,728 --> 00:14:47,963 No, he's not talking about what you do and what you work for. 108 00:14:47,963 --> 00:14:52,526 He's talking about where your thoughts are. 109 00:14:54,284 --> 00:15:02,002 He has come out of a discussion of you cannot serve two masters. 110 00:15:02,524 --> 00:15:12,204 For either you will hold to the one and despise the other, or you will love the one and hate the other, you cannot serve God and money. 111 00:15:14,114 --> 00:15:16,420 He's talking about the motivation. 112 00:15:16,420 --> 00:15:18,384 He's talking about the heart. 113 00:15:18,384 --> 00:15:23,173 He's questioning, where is your focus? 114 00:15:25,750 --> 00:15:27,310 And what do you serve? 115 00:15:28,692 --> 00:15:44,302 If you serve money, if you serve riches, if you serve wealth, if you, as Paul says in verse 9, but those who desire to be rich. 116 00:15:47,842 --> 00:16:07,768 Jesus says if you've supplanted God as your priority, godliness as your focus, seeking the kingdom as your drive, if you've supplanted those things and replaced them with this 117 00:16:07,768 --> 00:16:14,510 world's goods as your drive, your motivation, and your focus. 118 00:16:17,698 --> 00:16:21,290 then Jesus said, you've become like the Gentiles. 119 00:16:23,136 --> 00:16:25,916 and you will hate God. 120 00:16:27,724 --> 00:16:30,816 you will abhor God. 121 00:16:31,398 --> 00:16:40,506 Someone says, well, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I know many rich people who every day is focused on riches and they're very religious. 122 00:16:43,298 --> 00:16:51,082 Question, are they godly or are they religious? 123 00:16:52,642 --> 00:17:03,158 because the people who Paul was talking about here in verses three through five were religious. 124 00:17:04,994 --> 00:17:07,135 But they wouldn't listen to wholesome words. 125 00:17:08,716 --> 00:17:12,834 They wouldn't continue in the things that were righteous. 126 00:17:13,677 --> 00:17:18,045 They would promote those things which were for their own benefit. 127 00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:31,139 Paul is pointing out that having the necessities of life, we should be content. 128 00:17:31,139 --> 00:17:32,230 Verse 8. 129 00:17:36,574 --> 00:17:43,820 What, we've kind of batted this around for a little while, but what does the word content mean? 130 00:17:49,538 --> 00:17:50,820 Satisfied? 131 00:17:50,822 --> 00:17:51,763 What else? 132 00:17:53,069 --> 00:17:55,444 Happy with what you have. 133 00:17:57,560 --> 00:17:59,617 Turn over to Philippians chapter four. 134 00:18:12,568 --> 00:18:24,548 Philippians chapter four verse eight we read, finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever 135 00:18:24,548 --> 00:18:33,876 things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. 136 00:18:34,056 --> 00:18:41,038 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God of peace will be with you. 137 00:18:41,038 --> 00:18:51,978 Paul has just described, characterized, and turned into an active process that you can do what it means to be godly. 138 00:18:51,978 --> 00:18:54,818 What it means to have godliness. 139 00:18:55,098 --> 00:19:01,578 To think on these things and do these things. 140 00:19:04,460 --> 00:19:15,576 But then he says, verse 10, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again, though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 141 00:19:15,576 --> 00:19:24,361 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. 142 00:19:25,281 --> 00:19:34,036 Paul is going to describe the livelihood, the life of a content person. 143 00:19:34,476 --> 00:19:50,435 He says, in regards to the gift and the support, the monetary gift that they sent to him, he says, I do not speak in regard to need, for I've learned in whatever state I am to be 144 00:19:50,435 --> 00:19:51,555 content. 145 00:19:51,716 --> 00:19:54,237 I know how to be abased. 146 00:19:54,297 --> 00:19:56,318 What does it mean to be abased? 147 00:19:59,736 --> 00:20:00,546 Huh? 148 00:20:01,407 --> 00:20:02,967 To be brought low. 149 00:20:03,548 --> 00:20:08,890 All right, to bring something down to its base. 150 00:20:08,890 --> 00:20:10,881 We call it a basement, right? 151 00:20:10,881 --> 00:20:16,153 It's the area below the floor of the house. 152 00:20:16,393 --> 00:20:28,972 He says, I know how to be abased and I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry. 153 00:20:28,972 --> 00:20:32,720 both to abound and to suffer need. 154 00:20:35,797 --> 00:20:37,580 Is Paul saying 155 00:20:39,404 --> 00:20:54,752 that contentment is always seeing everything you have and don't have and considering yourself as abounding in it and seeing everything you have and don't have and needing it. 156 00:20:58,326 --> 00:20:59,906 Notice what he said again. 157 00:21:00,448 --> 00:21:17,216 I know how to be abased and I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 158 00:21:20,876 --> 00:21:23,305 what Paul's pointing out. 159 00:21:25,054 --> 00:21:30,617 is that when there was a need, and you're going to see it, he's going to say this in just a minute. 160 00:21:31,438 --> 00:21:37,132 When there was a need, it was what needed to be done for someone else. 161 00:21:38,942 --> 00:21:45,205 If there was abundance, it was what could be used to the benefit of someone else. 162 00:21:46,606 --> 00:21:49,547 Always to the glory of God. 163 00:21:50,588 --> 00:21:56,571 So when he had abundance, he needed to find those who he could help with it. 164 00:21:57,472 --> 00:22:04,796 When he had abundance, he looked for abundance to help those who needed it. 165 00:22:05,516 --> 00:22:08,177 When he had nothing, he needed 166 00:22:09,462 --> 00:22:13,385 out of a need to help those who needed it. 167 00:22:14,366 --> 00:22:19,871 And to abound more and more in the work. 168 00:22:20,872 --> 00:22:22,393 Watch what he says. 169 00:22:22,914 --> 00:22:27,337 He says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 170 00:22:27,398 --> 00:22:31,421 Nevertheless, you have done well that you have shared in my distress. 171 00:22:31,421 --> 00:22:36,786 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed for Macedonia, 172 00:22:36,786 --> 00:22:41,310 no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving, but you only. 173 00:22:41,310 --> 00:22:59,704 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities, not that I seek the gift." Paul was not in need in the focus of he wanted them to send him money. 174 00:23:00,686 --> 00:23:06,540 He says, rather, he says, not that I seek the gift. 175 00:23:06,540 --> 00:23:11,621 but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account." 176 00:23:13,332 --> 00:23:16,604 Indeed, I have all and abound. 177 00:23:17,145 --> 00:23:18,485 I am full. 178 00:23:18,846 --> 00:23:33,395 Having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." Now, why is it that Paul could say, if I had 179 00:23:33,395 --> 00:23:38,258 abundance, I had a complete need, 180 00:23:38,542 --> 00:23:47,442 and a complete abundance at the same time, and if I had nothing, I had a complete need and a complete abundance at the same time, and I was content. 181 00:23:47,442 --> 00:23:51,762 Didn't matter which state I was in." Notice what he says. 182 00:23:52,122 --> 00:24:02,402 He says, verse 19, and my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 183 00:24:08,526 --> 00:24:12,351 Paul sitting in a Roman prison. 184 00:24:14,702 --> 00:24:15,924 had needs. 185 00:24:17,290 --> 00:24:20,600 He had things that needed to be taken care of. 186 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,996 He had things that needed to be done. 187 00:24:25,474 --> 00:24:30,057 But he knew that God was able to provide for those needs. 188 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:35,563 And some days he'd do that through a church in Philippi. 189 00:24:36,364 --> 00:24:39,186 And some days he'd do it through the Roman government. 190 00:24:39,928 --> 00:24:42,750 You know, Paul needed to go to Rome. 191 00:24:44,322 --> 00:24:45,511 How did he get there? 192 00:24:48,096 --> 00:24:56,020 as a prisoner after spending nearly three years in prison in Caesarea. 193 00:24:58,358 --> 00:25:00,086 and yet he made it to Rome. 194 00:25:00,414 --> 00:25:02,121 Didn't cost the church a dime. 195 00:25:03,806 --> 00:25:06,957 even got shipwrecked along the way and converted people. 196 00:25:10,318 --> 00:25:12,300 Did Paul figure that out? 197 00:25:13,383 --> 00:25:20,214 Did Paul put one and one together and come to two and realize if I could just get arrested I could get to Rome? 198 00:25:26,478 --> 00:25:37,426 Paul realized that all along the way, his focus had been to seek first the Kingdom. 199 00:25:39,382 --> 00:25:53,617 when Paul was journeying back to Jerusalem at the end of that third missionary journey, every single city he stopped in, every group of Christians he met with, someone came up to 200 00:25:53,617 --> 00:26:04,840 him with the gift of prophecy and told him by the word of the Holy Spirit that he was going to be chained and imprisoned if he continued to Jerusalem. 201 00:26:07,714 --> 00:26:09,245 So why did he continue? 202 00:26:13,122 --> 00:26:20,225 He continued because he had an obligation he had set himself to do. 203 00:26:21,266 --> 00:26:30,590 He had obligated himself to bring funds that he had raised from the churches in the Gentile region to Jerusalem. 204 00:26:32,364 --> 00:26:40,424 and he refused to back down from the obligation to serve the Church in Jerusalem. 205 00:26:42,822 --> 00:26:49,640 even if it meant he was going to be in prison, in bonds, in chains, or killed. 206 00:26:53,455 --> 00:26:58,859 Paul knew how to abound. 207 00:26:58,899 --> 00:27:07,886 Paul knew how to be abased, and he knew it had nothing to do with his physical possessions. 208 00:27:10,188 --> 00:27:14,836 because he knew God had the ability to handle that. 209 00:27:21,134 --> 00:27:24,094 Turn back if you will, 1 Timothy chapter 6. 210 00:27:30,446 --> 00:27:42,240 Paul says, verse 9, But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 211 00:27:44,852 --> 00:27:59,847 Listening recently to an individual who was a financial advisor and he was talking about one of the struggles that he continues to have with people as they grow their wealth. 212 00:28:00,868 --> 00:28:06,622 And one of the pitfalls that they often, he often finds people in when they're 213 00:28:06,622 --> 00:28:08,144 income has gone up. 214 00:28:08,144 --> 00:28:15,012 They've gotten a better job or they've gotten a raise and they've continued to make more money, make more money, make more money. 215 00:28:15,012 --> 00:28:27,136 He said the biggest issue you have is they start living and increasing their lifestyle in accordance with their increased money, 216 00:28:28,854 --> 00:28:32,436 so that they're not actually any better off. 217 00:28:33,417 --> 00:28:41,111 And then when something happens and they lose that job and they can't get another one of the same stature, of the same income, guess what? 218 00:28:41,111 --> 00:28:42,742 Now they can't pay their bills. 219 00:28:43,023 --> 00:28:45,584 Now they're losing money instead of making money. 220 00:28:45,824 --> 00:28:46,425 Why? 221 00:28:46,425 --> 00:28:51,988 Because their lifestyle increased with their income. 222 00:28:53,369 --> 00:28:55,148 And he points out. 223 00:28:55,148 --> 00:29:02,369 that if someone does that on a continual basis, they're always as poor as they've always been. 224 00:29:03,832 --> 00:29:07,798 Except they're more at risk than they've ever been. 225 00:29:09,580 --> 00:29:22,346 because the moment they lose that one thing that made all of that lifestyle possible, all of those things instead of being beneficial become a drag on everything else they can do. 226 00:29:26,894 --> 00:29:38,088 Paul points out that when you desire to be rich, you start putting your focus on things and your attention on things that don't matter. 227 00:29:40,268 --> 00:29:46,974 You ever know someone who grew up poor and now they won't wear anything but a certain level of clothing? 228 00:29:50,218 --> 00:29:57,964 If they were desperate, might go find that level of clothing at a thrift store and not tell anybody they bought it there, but they're not buying and wearing anything less. 229 00:30:00,886 --> 00:30:02,147 What's happened? 230 00:30:03,348 --> 00:30:11,414 They took their focus and their affections off of the things of God and they've put them on things of the world. 231 00:30:17,002 --> 00:30:26,236 As you consider what Paul is saying, Paul says in verse 10, for the love of money. 232 00:30:26,236 --> 00:30:33,236 Now notice he's all, the entire time he's been talking about the mindset and the affection. 233 00:30:34,828 --> 00:30:45,664 the disposition of heart, not the bank account number, not the amount that's in any account, not the possessions that you have, not the assets that you have, none of those 234 00:30:45,664 --> 00:30:46,584 things. 235 00:30:46,625 --> 00:30:48,845 He's talking about the heart. 236 00:30:49,766 --> 00:31:03,790 He says, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and have 237 00:31:03,790 --> 00:31:07,468 pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 238 00:31:10,528 --> 00:31:11,335 It's... 239 00:31:13,098 --> 00:31:22,670 sad to watch the struggle of a person who because of their mental anguish 240 00:31:24,694 --> 00:31:27,082 starts doing harm to their own body. 241 00:31:28,780 --> 00:31:32,203 They start doing things that hurt themselves. 242 00:31:33,900 --> 00:31:44,102 There's been a trend for 20 years among young people who have a lot of problems with anxiety, cutting themselves. 243 00:31:46,478 --> 00:31:53,342 causing scars and issues with their own body because of their mental anxiety. 244 00:31:56,962 --> 00:31:59,084 but it's not a young people problem. 245 00:32:00,287 --> 00:32:05,534 says it's a focus on wrong issues problem. 246 00:32:07,394 --> 00:32:16,419 because Paul says the person who loves money is going to be shooting themselves, piercing themselves. 247 00:32:16,419 --> 00:32:30,426 The visual here in the original language is as if someone was drawing back a bow and letting it go and piercing a target, and the target is themselves. 248 00:32:36,034 --> 00:32:52,426 He says, when some have strayed from the faith to follow after the love of money, he says, they start shooting themselves over and over and over and over again and piercing 249 00:32:52,426 --> 00:32:56,729 themselves through with many sorrows. 250 00:33:06,412 --> 00:33:08,747 A rich man once came to Jesus. 251 00:33:11,894 --> 00:33:18,398 and he came asking the right question, what must I do to have eternal life? 252 00:33:21,538 --> 00:33:24,818 and Jesus tells him to obey the commandments in the law. 253 00:33:27,584 --> 00:33:31,166 and Jesus enumerates many of the commandments that are in the law. 254 00:33:32,696 --> 00:33:34,890 And says, I've kept these for my youth up. 255 00:33:35,995 --> 00:33:39,294 What lack I yet? 256 00:33:41,152 --> 00:33:47,574 Jesus tells that rich young ruler go sell all that you have give to the poor come and follow me 257 00:33:51,692 --> 00:33:56,926 What was the circumstance and the demeanor of the person to whom Jesus told that? 258 00:33:59,842 --> 00:34:08,534 He went away sorrowful for he had great possessions. 259 00:34:11,916 --> 00:34:19,292 You don't have to have great possessions to have misplaced your heart on your possessions. 260 00:34:21,558 --> 00:34:32,806 you can have almost nothing and hold on to that last dollar with everything you have so nobody can pry it out of your hands. 261 00:34:35,682 --> 00:34:36,893 and it won't matter. 262 00:34:39,246 --> 00:34:41,546 because one of these days, you're going to die. 263 00:34:42,141 --> 00:34:43,775 And then, whose will it be? 264 00:34:48,707 --> 00:34:49,511 Yes. 265 00:34:55,042 --> 00:34:59,012 And they evaluate people by what do you have. 266 00:34:59,012 --> 00:35:02,341 And it becomes a do you have this? 267 00:35:02,341 --> 00:35:04,716 Then if you don't, you're not my friend. 268 00:35:04,716 --> 00:35:08,808 And it becomes hard because we want to be accepted where we are. 269 00:35:08,808 --> 00:35:11,429 And in the world, that's not how it is. 270 00:35:11,429 --> 00:35:15,331 I also think it's hard because it requires a lot of trust. 271 00:35:15,471 --> 00:35:17,072 And trust sometimes is not easy. 272 00:35:17,072 --> 00:35:21,414 And trusting God in the most dire of circumstances is not easy. 273 00:35:21,414 --> 00:35:28,177 But I think it's interesting because Paul draws the comparison only because he had already been in those situations. 274 00:35:28,177 --> 00:35:33,459 Which means if we're going to learn contentment, we will find ourselves in both situations at some point. 275 00:35:33,459 --> 00:35:34,740 We will find ourselves in need. 276 00:35:34,740 --> 00:35:36,360 and we will find ourselves in want. 277 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,551 And we have to be prepared for when that comes. 278 00:35:38,551 --> 00:35:45,323 And to not just expect that we will always have plenty because you can't learn contentment if you're never in that situation. 279 00:35:45,323 --> 00:35:46,343 Absolutely. 280 00:35:46,343 --> 00:35:59,966 You know, one of the things that you see people, an interesting comparison or evaluation is a lot of people who build great wealth, 281 00:36:01,196 --> 00:36:05,967 have also been incredibly poor because they've lost it all before. 282 00:36:05,967 --> 00:36:21,312 They have learned through both the cycles of being successful and losing everything that you can still be successful so long as you are still cognizant, you are still capable. 283 00:36:22,012 --> 00:36:27,394 Generally speaking, those who have built great wealth at some point in life were incredibly poor. 284 00:36:29,664 --> 00:36:37,501 And yet they didn't let that stop them from building the wealth and the things that they desired and thought that they could do. 285 00:36:38,503 --> 00:36:50,444 Yet you have others who have very little and they're afraid to do anything because they might lose something. 286 00:36:52,446 --> 00:37:08,371 And yet as you consider this disposition of here's someone who has maybe a great fortune before and has nothing now and builds another one, the thing they don't have is fear of 287 00:37:08,371 --> 00:37:09,281 losing. 288 00:37:11,796 --> 00:37:26,456 Yet, in both of those circumstances, you can find people who their only focus is their wealth, is their money, are their possessions. 289 00:37:27,297 --> 00:37:39,366 Now, in all of this discussion, Paul has at no point judged the rich man to be ungodly or the poor person to be godly. 290 00:37:40,182 --> 00:37:46,004 He's not judged the rich person to be godly or the poor person to be ungodly. 291 00:37:47,874 --> 00:37:55,844 He has pointed out that it doesn't matter which one you are if you're godly. 292 00:37:56,966 --> 00:38:01,111 That godliness is the priority. 293 00:38:01,132 --> 00:38:05,978 That godliness with contentment is the priority. 294 00:38:10,476 --> 00:38:19,489 Then he says to Timothy, but you, O man of God, he's set this contrast. 295 00:38:19,489 --> 00:38:24,710 He said this is what these people who you're gonna have to deal with are. 296 00:38:25,170 --> 00:38:27,651 This is what their motivation is. 297 00:38:27,751 --> 00:38:37,994 You're going to deal with people, and again, we're in a context of teachers, those who are influential in the church. 298 00:38:39,170 --> 00:38:46,525 He says you're going to find those who are influential and the only reason they're influential is it's beneficial for their bottom line. 299 00:38:49,570 --> 00:39:04,749 But he says, you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 300 00:39:07,326 --> 00:39:22,654 as he addresses Timothy, his son in the faith, as he builds the defenses of his son who is separated from him, his spiritual son, he says, you flee these things. 301 00:39:24,798 --> 00:39:29,904 You run away from these motivations. 302 00:39:31,146 --> 00:39:34,049 He's already said you run away from these people. 303 00:39:34,891 --> 00:39:39,958 He said you find someone who's like this and you withdraw yourself from them. 304 00:39:39,958 --> 00:39:43,842 Then you look at their motivations and you run the other way. 305 00:39:45,548 --> 00:39:49,625 He says, flee these things, but rather pursue. 306 00:39:53,197 --> 00:40:02,133 Whenever I read a passage that says, flee this, pursue this, my mind always thinks concerning Elijah. 307 00:40:03,714 --> 00:40:20,866 When Elijah was threatened by Jezebel and he started running, he had just performed on Mount Hermon one of the greatest miracles of 308 00:40:21,022 --> 00:40:23,131 Old Testament history. 309 00:40:25,822 --> 00:40:36,674 in not only calling down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, but praying and it raining again after three and a half years of no rain. 310 00:40:38,570 --> 00:40:57,773 And yet on the eve of that victory, he learns that Jezebel is seeking his life and he turn tails and runs, not out of the area, not out of the city, out of the nation and keeps 311 00:40:57,773 --> 00:40:58,873 going. 312 00:41:01,204 --> 00:41:04,912 and out of the next nation and keeps going. 313 00:41:08,198 --> 00:41:10,135 Till he reaches Sinai. 314 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:18,384 And having reached Sane, having fled. 315 00:41:22,370 --> 00:41:24,003 to save his own life. 316 00:41:26,828 --> 00:41:29,765 God talks to him at Sinai. 317 00:41:32,224 --> 00:41:34,547 and tells him turn around and go back. 318 00:41:36,716 --> 00:41:44,317 with this purpose in mind, you're going to anoint this person, you're going to anoint this person, you're going to anoint this person. 319 00:41:48,738 --> 00:41:57,769 He fled something that was a danger, but he needed to replace it with something that was a purpose. 320 00:42:00,492 --> 00:42:08,948 Because at the end of the day was if Elijah had lived a normal life, was Elijah going to see death one way or the other? 321 00:42:10,249 --> 00:42:14,572 Whether it came by Jezebel's hand or somebody else, yes, if he had lived a normal life. 322 00:42:14,572 --> 00:42:17,214 Now, Elijah was an exception. 323 00:42:19,352 --> 00:42:23,013 But his time on this earth was still going to come to an end, didn't it? 324 00:42:25,536 --> 00:42:30,929 So was fleeing for the rest of his life what God would have him to do? 325 00:42:31,370 --> 00:42:32,230 No. 326 00:42:33,472 --> 00:42:38,414 No, he wanted Elijah to pick up the purpose. 327 00:42:38,975 --> 00:42:47,200 He wanted Elijah to fulfill his role and mission. 328 00:42:48,242 --> 00:42:54,926 And then he wanted Elijah to prepare the next generation to do the same thing. 329 00:42:57,422 --> 00:43:08,681 You see, when we focus on riches, focus on possessions, focus on wealth, number one, 330 00:43:10,604 --> 00:43:12,587 that people around us will know. 331 00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:15,370 They'll know. 332 00:43:16,271 --> 00:43:18,271 They'll know what motivates us. 333 00:43:19,211 --> 00:43:21,832 Even if we try to hide it, they'll see it. 334 00:43:22,832 --> 00:43:26,273 They may not know how bad it is, but they'll know. 335 00:43:27,614 --> 00:43:31,214 But even more so, our children will know. 336 00:43:32,675 --> 00:43:34,215 They'll understand. 337 00:43:34,996 --> 00:43:37,816 They'll get it intuitively. 338 00:43:39,297 --> 00:43:44,338 And more often than not, they'll become much worse at it. 339 00:43:45,677 --> 00:43:46,782 than we are. 340 00:43:50,230 --> 00:44:00,238 And you know how Paul said that those who desire to be rich and those who love money will shoot themselves and pierce themselves through with many sorrows? 341 00:44:03,092 --> 00:44:12,907 You look at the sadness and the sorrow and the circumstance of so many wealthy families. 342 00:44:13,882 --> 00:44:15,789 And they build great wealth. 343 00:44:17,451 --> 00:44:29,858 And yet the experience of their children and their grandchildren are sorrow after sorrow after sorrow after sorrow because they have been led down a path of self-destruction. 344 00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:33,680 Thank you for your time and your attention.