by Pastor Wilson
Big idea:
God desires Disciple Maker to have contentment in His provision
1 Timothy 6:2-5
Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[a] of their slaves.
False Teachers and the Love of Money
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
Paul raised an issue about false teachers teaches different gospel to the Cell Group
These false teachers were prideful, envy, disunity and slander against each other. Also have ulterior motives for riches and money. Their destructive intent was to cause confusion and exploit believers for their financial gain.
Paul addressed how believer should live instead
1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Godliness is a life set apart for God. Have Godliness with contentment, it is a great profit.
If you are not the best, can you still remain in content?
Is our personal worth based on you being a child of God, accepted into his family or define by the world?
Theology is the study of God and his relationship to the world
- theology shapes your behaviour
Ethics is the study of moral principles that guide human Behaviour
Communion is taken as a remembrance, not a means to healing
Godliness with contentment is a great profit
1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 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.
Paul describe the danger process of greed, lures us into all forms of temptation and web. Like an animal in a trap. That trapped person will be ruined by the love of greed.
Evil has many roots, the love of money is one of them which leads to destruction
Luke 16:13
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
When you serve God, your decision making process will not be driven by money - having more and more to keep but having more and more to give. Be driven by the Holy Spirit.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
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. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 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.
Although we cannot bring the worldly treasure with us, we can use it to build eternal treasure in God's kingdom With what we have now.
You can build eternal treasures in God's Kingdom with what you have now!
Good works are what we do that please God
1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness
1 Timothy 6:12-16
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. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Fight the good fight of faith!
What are the challenges Timothy faced?
- Facing persecution from the Roman empire
- Handling false teachers, disunity and slander
- Having the difficult task of finding and appointing godly leaders
- Being despised by others because of his age
- Addressing the danger of the love of money
4 reasons to persevere in serving the lord:
1. Persevere becos of God's call upon your life v12
2. Persevere becos of the hope of eternal life v12
3. Persevere becos of Christ example when Christ faced persecution v13
4. Persevere becos of God's power over all creation, he is sovereign, he is in control v15-16
We carry less or more stress than others. Know that your journey of earth is only part 1. There is something that's worth looking forward to. Look forward to Part 2 while we're living on earth.
There will be challenges ahead of you when you're pursuing God's call. Even during hardest time, Christ did not give up what God has called him to do on earth.
Life can become meaningless and purposeless
He will grant you the power, his presence and resources when you choose to journey with God on what God wants you to do
No comments:
Post a Comment