But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 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. 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.
Prior to the above passage Paul has just warned young Pastor Timothy to beware of a false teaching being spread around the church in his day. It was a teaching that being godly would lead to worldly gain. He told Timothy that this was bringing friction (creating division) into the church:
1 Timothy 6:5 (ESV)
and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Paul counters that it is contentment that is great gain. Paul bases this truth on the following teaching:
1. Contentment is necessary because we brought nothing into the world and cannot take anything out of the world upon our death. The old bumper sticker that read, the one who dies with the most toys wins, is more than false truth. It makes no sense. Upon death all our toys will be given to others, auctioned off, or rightly disposed of.
2. Food and clothing are all we need in this world to be content. That is a hard truth for people to believe. But Paul makes this point. Remember he had very little in this world. Jesus had very little in this world. To our knowledge all Jesus had was food and clothing. To our knowledge He owned nothing. Few, if any, of us would think we could survive with just food and clothing.
3. A desire for richness causes many temptations otherwise avoided. Paul wants Timothy to know that the desire and love for money brings on many snares and plunge people into ruin and destruction.
4. In fact, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. It is not money that is the root but the love of it. By craving money even believers can wander from the truth and be pierced through with many pangs (sorrows).
Paul wants Timothy to know that the false teaching of the day (that you earned more earthly money for a godly walk) is based upon false teachings. In fact, we are to pursue the opposite of riches. Note what he will write Pastor Tim in just a few strokes of his pen:
1 Timothy 6:17-18 (ESV)
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
We are to not seek worldly riches but spiritual riches by doing good work for Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment