THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
(Chapter 6)
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Timothy Sparks:
“Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6). I’m Timothy Sparks.
Ben Bailey:
And I’m Ben Bailey. Welcome to our study of 1 Timothy. Today’s lesson is being brought to you by members of the churches of Christ in your area. They would be happy to study the Bible with you, or to have you drop in and visit them in their worship services at any time. They want to be a help in any way they can as you make your spiritual journey. We, too, would like to be of help. We are offering a free CD or DVD of today’s lesson, or any of our other lessons. If you would like to have a copy of any of these, if you will log onto our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com and fill out the request form you will find there, we will be glad to send what you need. We want to help you in any way possible in your study of the Word of God. If you would like to have a Bible correspondence course, we make those available as well. It is a course that you receive in the mail, study on your own time, and return to us for grading. At the end of the course, you will receive a “Certificate of Completion.” If you think that might be something in which you would be interested, please contact us.
Timothy Sparks:
In 1 Timothy 6, Paul is going to warn us about not getting caught up into the affairs of this world. Specifically, Paul speaks about the sin of greed. Paul has a lot to say about the pursuit of money—something in which the child of God should not have an overly active interest. In 1 Timothy 6:6, Paul says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Now what does he mean by “godliness with contentment?” He is saying that if you are content with being godly, that is its own reward. It is much like Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” We should live our lives without being covetous or greedy, and we should learn to be content with what we have. When Paul says, “For He Himself has said…,” that is a reference to the fact that the Lord has made us a promise. If we are content with Christ (Who “will never leave us or forsake us”), then that is enough. That is the same type of sentiment that Paul is expressing in 1 Timothy 6:6 when he says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” In verses 7 and 8, Paul goes on to say, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out, but having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” Paul is saying, “Be content with godliness. Do not live your life in the pursuit of the dollar. Instead make sure you know that as long as God is providing your physical needs, then that is enough because it is “great gain” to pursue godliness for its own sake. Jesus Himself warned us about trying to serve two masters (Mt. 6:24), and addressed the same kind of greediness and covetousness (Luke 12).
Ben Bailey:
The example that you cited from Luke 12 is probably one of the most memorable illustrations about covetousness and greed. Here is the lesson that Jesus teaches to His disciples. He told them about a certain man who had a bumper crop that year. He had more grain than his barns would hold, and so he says to himself, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” He says, “Here’s what I’ll do, I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger barns.” He was just going to sit back and take it easy. He was covetous. He was greedy for the goods of this world, and he sought them more than he did God’s righteousness. What did the Lord say about that man? After the man had made his prideful statements, the Lord said, “You fool! This night will your soul be required of you; then whose things will those be which you have provided?” (Lk. 12:20). In the next verse, Jesus says, “So is he who lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Jesus’ point is that this man was a very covetous fellow. He thought only about his worldly possessions. Yes, he was good at making money, but he did not think about his own soul—the most important thing he had. Although he had laid up many goods for many years, he died that very night. What good were all of his possessions if he did not go to Heaven? They were no good at all.
James 4:4 is a verse that speaks to the problem of greed and worldliness. James said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James’ point is, “You cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in the church. You cannot try to live a worldly life and a godly life at the same time. You cannot be a friend of the world and a friend of God. You put yourself at odds with God when you do so.” As Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:9, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts that drown men in destruction and perdition.” People who say, “I am determined to be rich!,” are sometimes the saddest, most miserable people in the world. History has proven this to us. There are many people who have had more money than you and I could ever imagine, but there were two things they did not have—contentment and happiness. We have all heard stories of such people. They had every pleasure you can envision, yet they were not happy. Why? If you have something physical (money, possessions, etc.) that you think is “the most pleasurable thing” and that you think will bring you “the most happiness,” what happens when that “something” no longer is pleasurable? What do you have to do then? You must find another pleasure, and when that fizzles out, you have to find yet another pleasure. It is an endless cycle of discontent. Here, Paul tells Timothy, “You need to be aware of those people who have made it their goal in life to serve the almighty dollar instead of almighty God.” They have a tendency to fall into temptations and snares. There is a significant difference in the temptations that a rich person experiences, and the temptations that a poor person experiences. A rich person is likely to face many more temptations because he has so many more avenues through which to pursue pleasure. People without quite so much money do not have that problem. But if you have all kinds of money, and if you can indulge in every possible pleasure, then you are going to face more temptations. Paul says, “They fall into harmful and foolish lusts.” What do those lusts do? They drown those people “in destruction and perdition.” It is as if the rich person is in a pool of greed, desire, and lack of contentment—and is drowning in that pool! Paul’s words are so true: “Be content with such things as you have.” The Lord has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us, so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6).
Timothy Sparks:
Paul then says, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:10). We are not saying that it is wrong to be rich. People can be rich, and they can use their money to spread the Gospel and do good deeds that will glorify God. The problem comes when people, because of their love and pursuit of money, stray from the faith. It is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. People who pursue greed are not pursuing God. Rather, they are pursuing their own selfish desires and their own lusts. But when it is all said and done, the fact remains that “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can take nothing out.” You cannot take your treasure with you, but you can send spiritual treasures ahead. We learn that valuable message from Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus says,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on the earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Are you sending your treasures ahead? Where your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be.”
Three verses later, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money].” Much is said in the New Testament about this type of thing. Jesus even said, “It is harder for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heaven, than for a camel to enter in through the eye of a needle” (Mt. 19:24). Why is this the case? It has to do with the temptations that occur as a result of the great responsibility that comes with being rich. It is possible to be wealthy, and to be able to deal with that wealth, without falling into those various snares and temptations. But the Scriptures warn us that if we are not pursuing godliness, then we are pursuing the wrong thing. Christians must not be attached to this world, and must not love the world, but rather must put first things first, and use what we have for the spread of the Gospel and to the glory of God.
Ben Bailey:
There is nothing inherently wrong with having money. It is what we do with that money that really counts, as far as God is concerned. You can be rich, and yet use your riches to the glory of God. That certainly would be a God-glorifying thing. But Paul wants to make sure that we do not get attached to our money. As he says, “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.” I am reminded of a rather humorous illustration on this point. There was a man who made it his life’s goal to seek money. He had made a lot of money, and he knew that his life was about to end,. So he said to his wife, “Honey, take that money and when I die, before they bury me, I want you to put that money up in the attic, so on my way up to Heaven, I can pick it up as I go by.” The man died. His obedient wife took the money and put it up in the attic, just as her husband had asked. But the day after his burial, she went back up to the attic, and the money was still there. She remarked, “I knew I should have put that money in the basement!” That man was on a downward spiral to Hell because he was focusing on the wrong things. He lived to make more and more money. It is impossible to worship the almighty dollar and still go to Heaven. The Proverbs writer said, “Do not overwork to be rich” (Prov. 23:4). Do not make it your life’s aim to work just to be rich. That is not what Iife is about. Life is about more than money. Life is about serving God, helping others, and making sure that we are living according to God’s will. With more money comes more responsibility.
Timothy Sparks:
Have you ever seen a U-haul behind a hearse? I haven’t. We cannot take our earthly possessions with us, can we? Whatever we do in this life, it is going to have to be in the form of good works, obedience to the Gospel, and being a servant of God. Even if you were to decide, “I want to have a U-haul filled with gold bars behind my hearse,” you could take those gold bars only as far as your gravesite. You cannot take them beyond this life. In Heaven, God has in store something far better for us than anything we could possibly imagine. As Paul says in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to us.” Paul is saying, “Your lot in this life may be difficult, but do not worry, because the glory of Heaven is going to more than make up for it!” God has something far better in store for us, and it is His will that we not get caught up in the affairs of this world, and that we not love the world or the things in the world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world —-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 Jn. 2:15-17).
Ben Bailey:
I am reminded of the example that Jesus used in the Book of Luke. He sat and watched the people give their money to the temple treasury. There were people who gave a great deal of money, and it seems as though when they threw their money into the collection plate, they made sure that it made a lot of noise so people would see what they were giving. But then a poor widow came by and gave all that she had—a mere two mites (the equivalent of about a penny in our currency). But the Lord was pleased with that woman because she took all that she had and gave it to God. There is a great lesson there. God is not pleased with all those who have lots of money, yet give Him the “leftovers.” God is pleased with those who give as they have been prospered. We also must remember that we are to give more than just what we place in the collection plate on Sunday. We are to give of ourselves every day. We are to give our lives to God and serve Him in every way. We cannot take our money with us, but there are some things that do follow us. John wrote in Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. ‘Yes,’ says the spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.” What are you going to take with you? What is going to help you get to Heaven? It is the good things you do in this life. All the good things you do today, you do for your Lord. You live a good Christian example. You help bring others along on the road to Heaven. You have an impact in people’s lives. You are a benevolent person for the cause of Christ. Those are the types of things that matter to God. We cannot take anything physically with us, and it is absurd to think that we can. Thus, Paul says to Timothy, “But you, O man of God, flee these things, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patient, gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11). Paul tells Timothy that he must “flee” from certain things. There are some things mentioned in the Bible that we run to, and there are some things we run from. We run to Christ and good and holy things, but we run from certain the devil, evil, and temptations. We must make sure that we do not get caught up in the wrong things. Paul wrote, “Abhor that which is evil; cling to that which is good” (Rom. 12:9). Consider the example of Joseph. He was a great man of God; but he was tempted to engage in sexual relations with Potiphar’s wife. Joseph actually fled the scene! He ran out and left his garment in her hands. Now that is an example of “fleeing.” If we are in situations where we are being tempted to be greedy, or if we are tempted to do wrong, what should we do? We ought to get as far away from that situation as possible, and never put ourselves in it again if we can help it.
Timothy Sparks:
In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul encourages Timothy and all faithful Christians by saying, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession, in the sight of many witnesses.” When Paul says, “Fight the good fight of faith,” he is referring to the Christian’s struggle. Being a Christian is not always going to be easy, but we must make sure that we are fighting “the good fight of faith.” We must flee from worldliness, and pursue godliness, righteousness, love, patience, and gentleness. In Jude 3, Christians are commanded to “contend earnestly for the faith.” That means we are to “wrestle for” the faith. Thus, Paul tells Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith.” Jesus makes it clear that we are to agonize to enter into the kingdom. It is not always going to be “a bed of roses.” In this life, we are going to have some thorns. But every effort on our part to remain faithful will be well worth it. Why? Because Heaven is our home! We must fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life because we have been called to this. We are called to “lay hold on eternal life.” God is voting for us. Satan is voting against us. But we are the one who casts the final ballot. We make the decision as to whether or not we are going to go to Heaven or Hell. If you are a Christian, it is because you believed in Jesus. You believed in Him so much that you repented of your sins. You changed your heart and your mind. You turned from worldliness to serve the living and true God, and you made the good confession that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 8:37-38). You then were baptized into Christ to be cleansed by the saving blood of Jesus, and you arose to walk “in newness of life,” to faithfully serve Jesus Christ all the days of your life. Heaven will be your home if you remain faithful.
Ben Bailey:
I think this is what Jesus had in mind when He said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Is Jesus talking about a person standing up in a crowd and making the one-time statement, “I believe in Jesus”? No, that is not what He is saying. Confessing carries the idea of “a daily connection to,” or “a daily striving after.” Our confession is not a one-time thing. Rather, our lives must show over and over again that we confessed Jesus as the Son of God because we believed it then, and we continue to believe it now. Jesus said, “If any man desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23). Jesus also said in Luke 9:62, “No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” It is a continual fight. It is a continual struggle. It is a continual striving after the will of God. So yes, this confession that Paul urged Timothy to make (within the context of 1 Timothy 6:13-15) is something that we exhibit in our lives in such a way that it shows we believe in Jesus.
There are numerous important principles taught in the Book of 1 Timothy. The book is designed to show us how to conduct ourselves as part of the family of God. In the key text, 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Paul said that he wanted Timothy to know “how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” The Book of 1 Timothy is about having a proper conduct in the church of God. The church not the building, but the people. Our conduct is to be proper not just in worship only, but also in every other area of our lives. So how does Paul tell Timothy to do that? In chapter 1, Paul teaches that we must conduct ourselves properly when we preach the Gospel. In chapter 2, Paul offers instructions regarding the proper scope of public prayer. In chapter 3, Paul discusses how the church conducts itself properly by having qualified elders and deacons. In chapter 4, Paul talks about the preacher as a good minister of Jesus Christ. In chapter 5, we see how the church conducts itself properly when it honors its various members. And in chapter 6, we learn that we conduct ourselves properly when we don’t give into greed, but are content with the whatever we have.
It is our hope today that if you are not a child of God, you will do the things that God wants you to do—so that you will become a New Testament Christian and so that you will live according to God’s Word. If you are not a member of the body of Christ, you can become one. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:4 that when we read God’s Word, we can understand God’s will. You can read the Bible and know what God’s will is for you in this life. You first must believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Then you must repent by changing your old way of life. You must confess that Jesus is God’s only Son, and by your life, show that you truly mean it. Then, you must be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus made it so clear in Mark 16:16 when He said, “He that believes and is baptized will be saved.”
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Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
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1. Paul told Timothy, “Godliness with contentment” leads to something. What is that “something”?
2. Using your answer to question #1 above, explain what Paul meant by his statement in 1 Timothy 6:6.
3. The writer of the Book of Hebrews said, “For He Himself has said…” (Heb. 13:5). To what is this phrase referring?
4. Jesus told a story about a farmer who was greedy, yet who came to no good end. Where is that story found, and what was the point Jesus was trying to get across?
5. What did James mean when he wrote, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4)?
6. Why is a rich person likely to face more temptations than someone who does not have nearly as much money?
7. Explain the connection between Hebrews 13:5-6 and Jesus’ statement in Matthew 6:33.
8. What did Jesus mean when He said, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt. 6: 24)?
9. According to 1 John 2:15-17, “something” will pass away, and “something” will abide forever. What are those two “somethings”?
10. In Revelation 14:13, John wrote that those who die in the Lord are “blessed.” He gave two reasons why they are blessed. What are those two reasons?
11. In 1 Timothy 6:11, Paul admonished Timothy to “flee” certain things, and to “pursue” others. List six things that Timothy was told to pursue.
12. In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul speaks of “fighting the good fight of faith.” To what does his phrase refer?
13. In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul says something that makes it clear that the Christian’s “good fight of faith” will be worth it in the end. What is that “something” to which Paul refers?
14. Who casts the final ballot regarding our individual salvation?
15. When Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven,” what type of confession was He not talking about?
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