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Be Free from the Love of Money

Can you use money without loving it?

First Timothy 6.6–10

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • July 22, In the year of our Lord, 2018

Prelude:

  1. King Solomon describes a common way of thinking:

    18 Because of laziness the building decays,
    And through idleness of hands the house leaks.
    19 A feast is made for laughter,
    And wine makes merry;
    But money answers everything.
    (Ecclesiastes 10.18–19)

Persuasion:

  1. First Timothy 6.6–8
    1. 6.6 Godliness with contentment

      6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6.6).

      1. In 6.3–5, Paul spoke of some who did not
        1. consent to the words of Christ and
        2. who had the wrong idea of godliness,
          1. ending in verse 5 by saying
          2. that they suppose the way of godliness as a means of gain.
      2. He argued that godliness coupled with contentment is great gain.
      3. Godly contentment understands true gain:

        11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 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 (Philippians 4.11–12),

        1. because godliness with contentment
        2. understands that life is not about possessions and money.

          15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12.15).
    2. 6.7 think on what Paul said next, for you know it is true:

      7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out (1 Timothy 6.7).

      1. Others have said the same or similar things:

        21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
        And naked shall I return there.
        The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
        Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
        (Job 1.21)

        16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
        When the glory of his house is increased;
        17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
        His glory shall not descend after him.
        (Psalm 49.16–17)

        15 As [the rich] came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return,
        To go as he came;
        And he shall take nothing from his labor
        Which he may carry away in his hand.
        16 And this also is a severe evil—
        Just exactly as he came, so shall he go.
        And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
        (Ecclesiastes 5.15–16)

      2. Sam Walton after crash of 10/19/1987—Paper before and after.
      3. What we take with us is spiritual and intellectual, not material.
    3. 6.8 With what shall we be content?

      8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content (1 Timothy 6.8).

      1. Listen to a vow that Jacob made:

        20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You” (Genesis 28.20–22).
      2. His wants were few.
      3. Notice what Jacob left out:
        1. All that we possess and
        2. think brings joy.
      4. Solomon said:

        11 When goods increase,
        They increase who eat them;
        So what profit have the owners
        Except to see them with their eyes?
        12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet,
        Whether he eats little or much;
        But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
        (Ecclesiastes 5.11–12)
  2. First Timothy 6.9–10 | The Dangers of the Love Of Money
    1. 6.9 watch out for what you think:

      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 (1 Timothy 6.9).

      1. Consumes thinking and not happy till rich.
      2. Remember Balaam.
    2. Dangers they fall into:
      1. Temptation:
        1. All promises of wealth are appealing.
        2. However, remember what temptation is:

          14 …each one is tempted when he is drawn away [from what?] by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (James 1.13–15).
      2. A snare:
        1. Give in to temptation,
        2. find yourself in a snare.
          1. What is a snare?
          2. What is its purpose?
      3. When temptation to riches and a snare capture you, you fall into:
        1. Many foolish lusts:
          1. Judas betrayed the best Friend ever.
          2. Because riches become a god and you will do anything to please it
        2. Many hurtful lusts:

          13 There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun:
          Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
          14 But those riches perish through misfortune;
          When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
          (Ecclesiastes 5.13–14)

          1. Rich men of Luke 12 and 16 not helped, but
          2. hindered by their riches.
      4. Then Paul said they drown in destruction and perdition:
        1. [Picture drowning]
        2. Like a drunk who thinks drinking more will solve his problems.
        3. More money solves problems
        4. Judas took his life; result of October 1987 crash.
        5. Craving wealth is like craving sea water.

          10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;
          Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.
          This also is vanity.
          (Ecclesiastes 5.10)

          20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
          But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
          (Proverbs 28.20)

    3. 6.10 Why is this the case?

      10 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 pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6.10).

      1. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
        1. Not Kim Whitely’s interpretation.
        2. Commit any deed to acquire—Judas betrayed Jesus.
      2. Reach after it and be led astray from the faith.
        1. They drown in it, but
          1. still seeking it desperately, because
          2. their greediness has captured them.
        2. They “have been led astray”—passive voice.
          1. The love of money takes control and
          2. leads them wherever it desires to go.
        3. They stray “from the faith”
          1. Jesus said:

            24 “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” (Matthew 6.24).
          2. God’s demands contradict money’s demands (Cf. Matt 19.21–22).
      3. “Pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
        1. Pierced—sharp
        2. Themselves—self-inflicted
        3. Through—from one end to another, peri
        4. With—instrument indicated
        5. Many—plural
        6. Sorrows—
          1. acute mental pains and heartache;
          2. ultimately:
            1. Mark 10.24 
            2. Luke 16

Exhortation:

  1. Revelation 3.15–19.

    15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3.15–19)