Sunday, 23rd September, 2007 [What We Need To Live]¡¡ 1 Timothy 6:3-12

1. How are we to think about money?

Last week we learned, through the book of Colossians, just how strongly we are dominated by earthly desires and sin: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).
Nevertheless, when we take on the new life in Christ, these sins should have been left behind us. Christ died for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. Hence, we are a new creation, and Paul¡Çs advise now is:
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator ” (Colossians 3:9-10).
However, we as humans can never be completely free from these desires and sins. Some of which are anti-social, some sexual and some greed. Today, we will focus on greed, one of the specific sins mentioned by Paul in the above verses.
In the letter to his young disciple, Timothy, Paul says: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Paul¡Çs epistle to Timothy, like another to Titus, are considered as training letters for young preachers. Paul sent these young men, to work as Pastors in the Churches which he founded - Timothy to Ephesus, and Titus to Crete.
They experienced many problems in each place by reason of their youth. Paul gave instructions, for example, concerning how the Church must be managed, and how pastors should conduct themselves when faced with heresies.
In 1 Timothy, Paul gives advice on the subject of money, because of traveling preachers who worked for profit-making purposes. He also addresses the financial issues which had the potential to generate conflicts within the Church. We are focussing on the verses, in which Paul speaks about, false teaching and true riches.
¡ÈIf anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
“Financial gain” here means the way of earning a living, by receiving an income through preaching God¡Çs word. Paul accuses those who preach in order to gain financially as robbers of the truth.
As a general rule, religious groups called heretical sects have greedy tendencies. They promise salvation in exchange for extravagant donations, or claim as obligatory the detailed lists of personal earnings in order to levy the precise amount for the tithe.
Many say we can discern sound minded and true teachings by observing a religious group’s lucrative attitudes. Christ’s teaching is to “wash others’ feet ” or to serve others, from which no avarice nor covetousness can be generated. Only gain can follow, as Paul tells Timothy:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6: 6-8).
Its interesting to note that Paul says: “if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” But, that minimum financial condition can, and often does, cause severe difficulties in today¡Çs real life situation.
For example, twenty three percent of Baptist Churches don¡Çt collect enough money to remunerate permanent Pastors. However there are Pastors who still accept the post, even though some need to earn their living from other jobs, in order to serve the Church. It’s a real act of devotion, where they give of themselves, and we must be prayerfully grateful for that.
It’s true that the Bible does not deny the virtue of money in itself. Joachim Jeremias (*1), said, “through the act and donation of love we are able to make others happy, which is an extraordinary virtue of wealth.”
Nevertheless, the desire of money remains an obstacle. Because it provokes in humans an endless aspiration for more. It sometimes promotes a hostile environment within the confines of industrial relations and public life. The desire for money among humans can create a form of egotism and selfishness which ultimately causes others to suffer.
Here is such a case: “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty” (James 5:4).
Uncontrolled desire goes beyond the reasoning of a human mind, which often leads to abuse, and cheating workers of their pay. Greed is a luxury purchased at the expense of the poor.
Paul also sees that cases of obsessive hoarding and greed in the secular world is not too dissimilar to that within the church:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Very often the rich become arrogant by thinking their wealth makes them respectable and invulnerable. Even though money itself might be benign, Paul, thought such warnings were timely and necessary for the young Pastor:
“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you” (1 Timothy 6: 20-21).
We should always remember from our readings that wealth on earth is not trustworthy, and it will not lead us to eternal life. Paul said: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7).
The parable of the rich man in Luke shows us clearly. The man produced a good crop and he was completely satisfied after building big barns and storing all of his corps there. He said to himself ‘Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God¡Ç” (Luke 12: 20-21).

2. Enter into the real life

We read these verses for today’s invocation: “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (Luke 12:29-31).
Jesus asks us where we should put our hearts. On earth to live physically, or in God’s kingdom to live a spirit filled eternal life?
Though new born babies are without any autonomous abilities, they are also without anxiety because they are fed and protected by their parents.
So does God do the same for us. We must try not to be anxious and concerned because God will take care of us completely. If we were to recognize and understand how God watches over us - there would be no distress.
But human nature is defective, and in writing to young Timothy, Paul says: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Sometimes the rich easily misunderstand and consider themselves superior to others and well protected because of their possessions and wealth.
Wealth itself is not hostile. William Barclay (*2), analyzes the nature of money in this way: “The wealth is not a sin but a responsibility. If wealth makes humans arrogant by being used to nurture only one¡Çs self, it might cause them damnation. But if rich people use their wealth to help others in providing welfare and happiness, more of their heart will become plentiful, and less of their wealth will become abundant.” so he says “The rich is not those who have a lot, but those who give a lot.”
However money is an earthy material and Christians should not trust in such things, but in another, far more meaningful one. Trust in God! Paul concludes his first epistle to Timothy thus:
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:11-12)
When we seek more than we need to live, the surplus leads us to failure. A proverb from the ancient book of wisdom in the Old Testament makes a telling statement:
“Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD ?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God¡É (Proverbs 30:7-9.
“If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Its true, and we are encouraged to give our tithe with real meaning (one tenth of our income). We should give in the spirit of which God gives to us!
This must be done, not as if one is under any obligation, or order, but as our spontaneous free-will offering. This is the way we express our gratefulness to God, who provides all our need. Thus, such acts of giving liberates us humans from the desire of money and greed, which is so profoundly embedded within us.