Who is the worst villain in history?
My vote: Judas Iscariot. The man who betrayed the Eternal Son of God.
It’s a remarkable story. Actually, for me it’s a stunning story. I can hardly believe it happened.
Wouldn’t we all say, “If I could hang around with Jesus for 2-3 years—even 2 or 3 DAYS— during his time on earth, that would be remarkable? I would be amazed. And I would never doubt nor rebel again.”
- We would see crazy, demon-possessed people become sane. Clear minded.
- A woman who had hemorrhaged for 12 years was instantly healed.
- Lazarus, in the tomb, dead for 4 days, was raised to life.
- Astonishing wisdom and teaching.
- Amazing courage in the face of hypocritical religious leaders.
Don’t we think, “Oh, for sure, if I witnessed all that, I would believe? And I would never doubt Jesus again. Ever.”
Judas, one of Jesus’ 12 men chosen to pass on the message of Jesus to the whole world, witnessed all this. He participated in all this. And Judas even cast out demons and healed people.
But he rejected it all. And he did more than simply walk away. He actually went to the darkest dark on Jesus, and turned him over to murderers for 30 pieces of silver.
How in the world did that happen? We get only a few glimpses into his heart. And at the core is the topic of money. Greed. Love for money. Thievery.
Judas complained to Jesus:
John 12:5–6 ESV “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
He didn’t care about the poor. He cared about himself. About more money for himself. Jesus and his band of 12 had a “bank account” of sorts—a money bag— they carried with them to meet their own needs (food and clothing) and to give away to the poor. Judas the greedy thief was the treasurer!
Judas’s UNDOING was money. His problem was not actually money itself. His problem was a LOVE for money. Greed.
We are finishing a 3-week series on Stewardship.
To be a Steward means to be a Manager. God is the Owner of all things. Our money. Our possessions. Our very lives. And actually he is the Owner of the entire earth. And he has entrusted resources to us to use. And to use well.
Today we are going to examine the Apostle Paul’s words on this Stewardship, and they relate to Judas’s story of greed and a love for money. He has words of warning and promises of glory for us all.
1 Timothy 6
1 Timothy is called First Timothy because it’s Paul’s first letter to a man named….you guessed it… Timothy.
Timothy was a younger man. He and Paul were quite close, like a father and son in their faith in Christ. Timothy was either a pastor or an apostle. Or both.
So the entire letter has the flavor of truth written to a pastor to help teach and guide a church.
Vs. 3-5
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Paul is warning Timothy to keep an eye on so-called preachers of the gospel. Those who teach error.
Those whose teaching does not line up with the good news about Jesus. And those whose teaching is contrary to true godliness. To the practices of the faith that the Lord and his apostles taught.
False teachers in the Bible is far, far more damaging than simply a bad math teacher who doesn’t know his formulas well. Or an English teacher who has bad grammar.
The truths about God and his Son Jesus in the Bible are matters of life and death. Of glory and shame. Of reward and punishment. Of heaven and hell. Everything is at stake in teaching such truths.
So when someone is teaching HALF-TRUTHS or complete UN-TRUTHS, this is serious business.
Neither Jesus nor Paul ever have kind words for such teachers.
In this passage, Paul says that such false teachers (vs. 4) are “puffed up with conceit”. They are arrogant. They “understand nothing.” They are ignorant. They don’t know truth from lies. Perhaps we could say they are stupid.
Paul says more. He says that such a false teacher “has an unhealthy craving for controversy” and for quarreling.
He simply likes to argue.
And the fruit of such teaching and such controversy is “envy, dissension, slander, suspiciousness, and constant friction.” Anyone here like this kind of fruit??
People like this, Paul says are depraved in their minds. Their thinking is corrupt. Warped. Evil. And they have been deprived or ROBBED of the truth. They are believing LIES, not truth.
Their goal in preaching such a false gospel? Money. Riches.
TO CLARIFY: In chapter 5, Paul makes it clear that a teacher of the gospel can make his living from the gospel. A worker is worthy of his wages.
But here, these teachers are interested in much more than having a basic income that sustains them in life. They want RICHES. They want to be wealthy. Their primary goal in their preaching is not truth. It is not love. It is not Jesus. Their primary goal is MONEY.
It has happened before. It happens today. God has harsh words and warnings to anyone who is in so-called Christianity for the money.
Now Paul points us in the right direction.
Vs. 6-7
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,
7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
This is a night and day contrast. The false teachers who oppose teachings that accord with godliness are arrogant, ignorant, lovers of quarrels, and lovers of money. Their gain is money, and lots of it.
In contrast with that, Paul is saying, “If you want true riches….great gain…then seek after the godliness of being a follower of Jesus. Walk in the character and conduct of Jesus. And do that with contentment. Contentment.
Oh my, what a beautiful quality. But oh so elusive. Contentment in a marketing-rich, pleasure-seeking culture? Is it possible?
What is contentment? Contentment is saying, “I have enough. Whatever I have is enough. Sure, more would be fine. But I am at peace.”
And Paul gives a perspective for us. He speaks of an eternal perspective.
“We brought nothing into the world. We won’t take anything out. So be at peace with what you have right now as you walk with Jesus in godly living.”
This is very important. If we have only an earthly perspective, we will never have enough. More…is not simply better. More…is essential. I cannot be at peace unless I have more.
Over the years, I have found myself discontent at times. It starts with daydreaming. “It sure would be nice to have a few thousand more $$.” Just a couple more.
But then I noticed that wasn’t enough. My daydreaming went like this: “Well, as long as I’m wishing, why not $10,000 more. Actually, $50,000 more would be nice.”
Or I’ve even daydreamed, “What would I do if I won $100 million in the lottery?” Now, I’ve never purchased a ticket, and I never intend to. But I’ve daydreamed.
I realized there was no end to this. It leads only to discontentment.
Now Paul startles me with his abruptness.
Vs. 8
8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Wait a minute, I say. Contentment with just food and clothing?? That’s a rather low level of desire.
I mean, what about contentment after I get a nicer car? And a bigger retirement accounts. And a pay raise.
What about contentment after I purchase more comfort? A cool vacation?
None of those items are evil in themselves. But Paul says that I should be content with just the most basic things in life: Food. Clothing.
To be content means that we’re satisfied, at peace, at rest. We’re not restless, irritated, annoyed, anxious, troubled, or striving. We are not whining that we are not receiving what we deserve.
Instead we are at peace. Grateful. Satisfied.
[By the way, contentment doesn’t conflict with hard work or modest ambition. Paul’s not talking about laziness or waiting for someone to give me something.]
If we took the time to study Philippians 4, where Paul speaks of contentment, we would see that Paul’s source of strength was Christ himself.
Speaking of contentment with even a very little, Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Jesus is enough for me. Food and clothing is enough.
Honestly, most of us in this room are way, way beyond the basics of life.
Basic clothing? I’m not into clothes very much, but I open my closet and I wonder why I have so many shirts and pants?
Basic food? I open our cabinets and pantry and freezer, and we have enough food to last for a couple of weeks.
Now Paul jolts us with a warning.
Vs. 9
9 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.
He doesn’t say, “Those who are rich….fall into temptation.” He says, “Those who DESIRE to be rich…fall into temptation.” Just the DESIRE for more and more will harm us. Whether we are rich or whether we are poor….the desire for riches will harm us.
OK, timeout, Paul. I just have a little discontentment. I want just a little more money. A little more comfort. A little more fun. What’s so wrong with that?
He is very intense here. Any of us who have a hunger and a thirst for more and more will….he guarantees… we WILL fall into temptations of evil. We will be ensnared by MANY….MANY…senseless and harmful desires. And those desires will PLUNGE us….drown us… into ruin.
Perhaps you’re like me, and at first read, I think, “Oh, come on, Paul, you’re exaggerating, aren’t you? Being a little dramatic?” He is not. He gives us one of the more serious warnings we will ever face. Discontentment is related to a desire for riches. And this can absolutely and utterly ruin our lives.
Vs. 10
Now Paul is going to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: LOVE. However, a WARNING: This is not a good kind of love.
10 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.
Like in vs. 9, Paul is not saying, “MONEY…is a root of all kinds of evil.” No, money and possessions are not inherently evil. Rather, it’s our LOVE for our bank accounts and investments and possessions. THAT…is the root of all sorts of evil.
Paul equates a “desire for riches” with a “love of money.” Such a love is a root of many kinds of evil. We can wander from our faith in Jesus. We can be pierced with many pangs. Much PAIN. Sorrow. Grief.
So in vs. 9 and 10, Paul is flashing this large, brilliant red light. Warning! Warning! Discontentment and a desire for riches will utterly RUIN your life.
Don’t do it. Don’t think it.
What is Paul’s solution? Verses 11-12 tell us.
Vs. 11-12
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Paul writing to Timothy specifically as a teacher of the gospel–in contrast to the false and greedy teachers in vs. 3-5. But he may also be thinking broadly for all Christians. Four commands. All of us are to flee, pursue, fight, and take hold.
FIRST, we must FLEE sin.
SECOND, we must PURSUE what is right. “Righteousness. Godliness. Faith. Love. Steadfastness. Gentleness.”
What Paul is telling Timothy is, “We cannot be passive. We must take action.” We must run away from sin. And run towards what is good. We must do both. Flee. And Pursue.
Too often we play with sin like it’s a cute little kitten. We like our kitty. It’s fun. Comfortable. Soft and warm.
But our pet turns into a wild, 500-pound tiger that clamps its jaws on our neck and rips us to shreds.
Charles Spurgeon said,
“In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of victory but by flight…The devil I am to resist and he will flee from me, but the lusts of the flesh, I must flee, or they will surely overcome me.”
In this area of our desire for riches and a love of money, we must never play with this. Whatever tempts you toward discontentment, run away. RUN! And the PURSUE Jesus. Look to Jesus. Find your hope and satisfaction in your life in him.
Vs. 17-19
For sake of time, let’s look at vs. 17 now.
Now Paul speaks to those who are rich in this world. Who is rich? We’ll examine that in a minute.
17 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.
18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
I can’t find anywhere else in Paul’s letters where he speaks to wealthy people as a group.
Wealth is a relative term. I suspect few of us in this room would consider ourselves wealthy. And compared to others in our country, most of us are somewhat average.
But if you’ve traveled much overseas or been to impoverished areas in large U.S. cities, compared to them, you’re wealthy. You’re rich.
Here’s one way to categorize us: If we have far more material possessions than just basic survival with food and clothing, then we might be in this category. I venture to say this: A very large percentage of us in this room are rich. We are rich. We have far, far, far more than the basics of life. But even if we’re not in this category, there are lessons we can all learn.
First, Paul warns about arrogance. Haughtiness. Conceitedness.
Having lots of money and stuff is very tempting to be arrogant. Arrogant towards other people. We view ourselves as superior. As harder-working. As simply better people. We might not want to admit that, but in our hearts we think this way.
And we might even be tempted to be arrogant towards God. Having much can push us away from God. We can very subtly feel, “I’m just fine on my own. I have enough. Maybe I don’t need God today.”
Over my 40 years as an adult, my bank accounts have ebbed and flowed. Up and down. I’ve noticed that when my bank account has been low, I feel a little more stress, which I don’t like. But that has also made me more desperate for hungry. It’s pushed me to prayer more. Like Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
And when my bank account has been higher, I feel less desperate for God. I don’t feel the internal push to call out to God. Or even to thank him for so richly providing.
Paul tells us, “If you have plenty, don’t be arrogant.”
Second, Paul warns about misplaced hope.
He tells the wealthy, “Don’t place your hopes….your confidence in the future…on earthly wealth.” Why? It’s so uncertain. Money and investments ultimately are very unstable and unpredictable.
Instead, your hope…your expectations for good in the future…should be placed squarely and completely on the Lord. He is your provider. And he has all the riches you can imagine. God’s bank account will never run dry.
And from Matthew 6 (that we looked at 2 weeks ago), he is your Heavenly Father—a very good and generous Father—who will absolutely take care of you.
He has given you much. Be thankful. Don’t whine. Don’t grumble about not having more or newer or cooler.
Often I look around my house, and I recognize I have a lot. I have many possessions. Sometimes I’m amazed by how much I have. But I often find myself giving thanks for my clothes. Our furniture. Our furnace on a cold night. Our vehicles. Walk around your house or apartment, and simply give thanks for item after item.
So that’s how the rich SHOULDN’T live: Don’t be arrogant. And don’t place your hope in wealth. Hope in the Lord. Trust in your heavenly Father who provides you with all your needs.
Then third, Paul tells the rich how they should live.
Do good. Do good wherever you go. In fact, he says, I want you to be RICH in good works. You are RICH with money, but I want you to be rich in good deeds. Help people. Be generous. Be RICH in generosity. “Be ready to share,” he says. You’re ready. You’re on the lookout.
I know many of you in this room have this spirit, and you inspire me. I see you looking for opportunities to be generous. You actually ENJOY giving money away. Whether it’s your TITHE….our RENEW campaign….helping someone in need… giving to an organization that helps needy people.
- One example of such an organization is in your bulletin. “Informed Choices Medical Clinic.” (My wife and I have given to them multiple times.)
- Others of you have served at Food at First.
- You’ve given to Samaritan’s Purse to help in hurricane relief last year.
- You’ve given to local people who have needs.
Many of you are ready. Some of you actually keep savings accounts to be able to give away when a need arises.
Then finally, Paul gives an amazing promise:
Vs. 19. To those who are RICH in generosity, giving by faith…..God has something very special planned for them. He will store up treasures in heaven.
This reminds us of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 that we looked at 2 weeks ago.
“Don’t store up treasures on earth, but store them in heaven.”
God notices our generosity done by Faith and in Love. He notices it. And he will reward it.
Such people find real life. Real life in Jesus. Not the fake and temporary life offered in riches and possessions and earthly comforts. Heavenly life. Heavenly satisfaction and hope and joy.
Application
As I think of this entire passage, I am reminded that we all want life. We want satisfaction. We all want Joy. Comfort. Pleasure. Recognition. Love. Respect. All good things, right??
The real question is, Where will we find such things? In the lure of money and riches? Or in Christ?
Again, speaking of contentment with a little or a lot, Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He found his strength in Christ.
Real life and satisfaction and hope is found in Jesus Christ. The real life we all want will never be found in the things this world has to offer. Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Jesus.
Jesus warned about having our desires set too much on material things,
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 ESV
We can feel so convinced that real life is found in having more. A little more. A lot more.
But we need to grow in our convictions that true riches….real life….is found in the Person of Jesus Christ. Real life is found in the walking in the character and conduct of Jesus. In godliness. Remember Paul said that “godliness with contentment is great grain. True riches.”
This will sometimes feel untrue. We can SEE the money and the possessions and the bank accounts. We can’t SEE Jesus and our future in glory.
We have to take this BY FAITH. We have to trust God and what he says in his Word. A desire for riches will ruin us. But a desire for godliness will give us life.
Flee and Pursue
We must run from sin. Sin will only ruin us. This cute little kitten will turn into a tiger who will rip you to shreds.
At the same time, we must pursue Jesus and his will! Seek him. Real life is found in him.
What does this Flee and Pursue look like?
Be thankful, stop whining or thinking you’re entitled.
Often as I’m walking around my house, I recognize how much I have, and I give thanks for it. I can enjoy it while I have it. But my heart is not attached to it.
Be generous, not tight-fisted.
True riches are found in giving money and possessions away. We let go of it to bring good to others.
Listen more to God and less to this world.
We need to turn down the volume on the voices from this world. If looking at stuff on Amazon stirs up discontentment, stop looking. Instead, listen more to God’s Word. Know him better. Understand the perspective of his Truth.
I want to end with a look at Psalm 16.
King David wrote this. As much as any man or woman in history, David had an intimate, tender, reverent relationship with the Lord. So when we want a glimpse of what real life in Christ could look like, we can read David’s Psalms. He wrote nearly ½ of them.
Psalm 16:1–2 ESV
“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
He found a place of refuge….of shelter and protection… in the Lord. Apart from the Lord he could find nothing truly good.
Psalm 16:4 ESV “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.”
This is staggering. When we run after other gods—including the god of money—our sorrows will increase. Our pain, our grief will grow larger. David says, “I won’t even put the names of these gods on my lips. I won’t even speak of them. Only PAIN is found in such a pursuit.”
Psalm 16:5–6 ESV
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
The Lord was enough for David. What the Lord had given him was sweet. David was content. And thankful.
Then he ends with one of the most beautiful statements ever uttered. He speaks of real life. Like Paul’s “great gain.”
Psalm 16:11 ESV “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
See what joy and satisfaction he brings!! Sin promises but never delivers. The Lord ALWAYS delivers.
My wife and I are facing some challenges in the next few months, and this is one of the verses we are clinging to.
If you want one verse to memorize and meditate on, try this one. The Lord gives life and joy.
The things of this world can seem so enticing. So alluring. We feel sure that we might DIE if we don’t get it. And to FLEE from it and PURSUE Jesus seems so difficult and so impossible.
But Jesus offers us life!
Let us RAISE UP Jesus.
Let us LOWER all other things.