The Love of Money
1 Timothy 6:3-10
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. 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. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 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. 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.
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. 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. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 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. 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.
The easiest way to be miserable is to never allow yourself to be content. Ironically, the world wants you to work harder and consume more in order to be happy, as if consuming more will make you happier. Take a moment a really think about that logic, that if I consume more and if I have more, then I will be happier and more content with my life. The lie of materialism and consumerism is thinking that the path to happiness is having more.
The path to a blessed life begins “with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul warns Timothy to be cautious around anyone that teaches a different doctrine, because that person is interested in creating quarrels and controversy. The goal is found instead in verse 6, that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” The goal of the Christian life is to find contentment in where God has placed you, not the endless and futile race of trying to acquire more.
Having more doesn’t magically lead to more contentment. If your bank account doubled, would you be more content? If you had double the amount of free time would you be more content? If you had twice as much of all your earthly possession would you be more content? Although we have the temptation to answer yes to these questions, we must be sober minded, and recognize that true contentment is not built upon how much we have, but who we are called to be. The contentment that is so sought after is found only in a purposeful identity.
As followers of Christ, our identity is as servants of the highest king. Our identity is as children of God. We are not blessed because we are rich in possessions, but we are blessed because we are rich in our title. We cannot let the love of money define who we are, but instead the love of the Father tells us who we are.
The path to a blessed life begins “with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul warns Timothy to be cautious around anyone that teaches a different doctrine, because that person is interested in creating quarrels and controversy. The goal is found instead in verse 6, that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” The goal of the Christian life is to find contentment in where God has placed you, not the endless and futile race of trying to acquire more.
Having more doesn’t magically lead to more contentment. If your bank account doubled, would you be more content? If you had double the amount of free time would you be more content? If you had twice as much of all your earthly possession would you be more content? Although we have the temptation to answer yes to these questions, we must be sober minded, and recognize that true contentment is not built upon how much we have, but who we are called to be. The contentment that is so sought after is found only in a purposeful identity.
As followers of Christ, our identity is as servants of the highest king. Our identity is as children of God. We are not blessed because we are rich in possessions, but we are blessed because we are rich in our title. We cannot let the love of money define who we are, but instead the love of the Father tells us who we are.
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