MPC, 26th November 2000.1 Tim 6 - Enjoying the Good Life
Phil Campbell MPC, 26th November 2000.
A singer was celebrity gardener on Burke's Backyard. An honour most of us will probably NEVER ACHIEVE, though Chas Venning's garden might come close.
But this singer had more than just a backyard. She and Don were strolling around her 12 beautiful acres.
They rode around on horses, they looked at the Pecan trees, they sat by the pond. And Don Burke asked an interesting question. He said to her, Has music always been the CENTRE OF YOUR LIFE?
And she didn't hesitate for a moment. She said "NO. Music ISN'T THE CENTRE OF MY LIFE. Not even close."
I was waiting for the next bit. And it came. Next question. What IS the centre of your life. Here's what she said. She said "ME. I am the centre of my life. And then there's HERE. This beautiful place where I live. It's everything I need."
And that was it. The full equation. the GOOD LIFE for that singer equals self plus sensational surroundings.
It's a sad picture, isn't it? Because in the end, none of it's going to last. A life built on SELF; a life built on POSESSIONS. Deep down we know, it doesn't work.
But let me ask you this morning, WHAT ABOUT YOU? What's YOUR definition of THE GOOD LIFE? YOUR aims and goals? What's YOUR ideal picture of what life is meant to be? And how's it different, if you're a Christian, how's it different from the average NON CHRISTIAN. In the desk next to you at work. Or your next door neighbour. What is it for you that adds up to THE GOOD LIFE?
You know, Paul's talking about THE GOOD LIFE here in 1 Timothy 6. My grandfather used to sit down to dinner and rub his hands together and he'd say, "Ahh, this is the life." And that's the sort of life Paul's talking about right near the end of the chapter at the end of verse 19. He's saying he wants us to make the right sort of investments. And to lay up treasure for ourselves as a firm foundation FOR THE COMING AGE. So we can take hold of the life, he says, THE LIFE THAT IS TRULY LIFE.
Paul wants us to focus on the sort of life that really is the good life. And the fact is, what he's talking about has got absolutely nothing to do with MONEY. In fact, it's just the opposite. And it's a passage full of warnings about the PERILS OF WORLDLY WEALTH. The dangers of MONEY. The deceitfulness of riches. The way the money can play you for a fool.
Paul starts by warning Timothy about false teachers. The sort of fake Christians who are in it to make a buck. They're stirring up strife, they're causing divisions, and they've got the idea that giving the APPEARANCE OF GODLINESS is a pretty good MEAL TICKET. Spiritual GURUS. Who are just in it for financial gain. Hear what he's saying from verse 3.
3 If 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.
It's an ugly package. People who wander off from the truth about Jesus, stir up trouble; they've been robbed of the truth, and they want to ROB YOU OF YOUR MONEY. If you don't know the sort of thing he's talking about, try watching some of the RELIGIOUS SHOWS on BRIS 31 sometime.
And it's from THAT POINT that Paul launches into a whole section on the way CHRISTIANS should think about MONEY and WEALTH. Which he says is DANGEROUS STUFF. With three potential BIG PROBLEMS.
He says, it's the wrong place to put your HOPE. Because it doesn't last. It's here today and gone tomorrow. Second, he says wanting to get rich leads you straight into temptation. And all sorts of sin. He says that in verses 9 and 10. And third, he says WEALTH can lead to ARROGANCE. Self sufficient pride. That's the opposite to true godliness.
Friends, this is something we all need to take seriously. Because we're on dangerous ground. We live in a materialistic culture that's telling us over and over again that our security lies in what we've GOT. But it's all a mirage. A fake.
And that's Paul's first point. Verse 7, it's an ancient proverb, and Paul quotes it. Cause it's true.
There's a true story about an American millionaire; I saw it on the TV news a few years back. He was buried in his Mercedes Benz. Because he wanted to prove the proverb wrong. But let me ask you, DO YOU THINK IT'S DONE HIM ANY GOOD? We arrive with nothing. And we'll go with nothing. He might be buried with his Mercedes. But he's not going to DRIVE IT ANYWHERE.
And that's what Paul says. Verse 7, the proverb. You've heard it before. He says, "For we brought nothing into the world. And we can take nothing out of it."
And the fact that's how things are going to END UP should be setting our attitude to what we're doing NOW. Highlighting what's really valuable. Because no matter how much you build up in this life, the moment you die, you let go of the lot. Like the guy at the reading of the will, he says, HOW MUCH DID HE LEAVE. And the solicitor says EVERYTHING. Absolutely EVERYTHING. Which is a great irony for people who make MONEY into their God.
Ever been shopping overseas? You know, don't you, when you're shopping in a market somewhere, there's SOME STUFF that they just won't let you bring home through CUSTOMS. You get a list before you even go there. And so you might pick it up and admire it; but you know, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU. So you put it down. Go for something YOU CAN. Which you buy and you hang on to and cart it round everywhere with you til you finally head for home.
Paul says, whatever you do, DON'T GO HANGING ON TO THE STUFF YOU CAN'T TAKE HOME. Don't PUT YOUR HOPE IN YOUR WEALTH. And he's saying that especially to wealthy Christians. Because it's a trap. Verse 17, he says to Timothy "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."
I mean, it's NEVER BEEN MORE UNCERTAIN, has it? And if you feel your STOMACH CHURNING every time there's a drop in the stock market; if you feel yourself QUIVER at the thought the Aussie dollar's heading for 49 cents... maybe your HOPE is in the WRONG PLACE.
So, point 1, Paul says if you reckon your SECURITY comes from money, THINK AGAIN. Because your triple-A Security Treasury Bonds aren't going with you when you die. Paul says make sure you invest your hope in GOD. Instead.
POINT 2 - The PROBLEM OF TEMPTATION
Well, what about the second danger of wealth? The second danger, Paul says, is that chasing after money gets you into all sorts of trouble. Chasing after money leads you into all sorts of TEMPTATION.
The fact is, it's EASY to make money if you're going to be dishonest. Right from the small scale. You get handed ten dollars extra in your change at the shops. What are you going to do about it? Give it back? OR keep it? Depends whether you love MONEY more than your integrity.
If you love money more than you love doing what's right, then you'll fall for it every time. And it's just like Paul says in verse 9. 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."
I got an email the other day; a warning from a friend. There's a SCHEME GOING... that promises 200% return per annum. And says it also SUPPORTS CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES OF YOUR CHOICE with a 20% slice of the profits before tax.
One of the guys promoting it in Western Australia at the moment was a Baptist Minister here in Queensland. And the scheme specifically targets Christians; and even more specifically targets returned missionaries. The first thing you've got to do is go to a WEEK LONG INVESTMENT CONFERENCE... that costs $15,000 per person. And over and over again, people are being SUCKED IN BY IT. Christians. Who can't afford a hundred bucks for a church camp. Spend $15000 on an investment conference because they're sucked in by the idea they can GET RICH QUICK. Just because it's labeled with the word CHRISTIAN.
People who want to get rich, says Paul, fall into temptation and a trap... and into many harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
Because the LOVE OF MONEY, he says, is a root of ALL KINDS OF EVIL. Now you'll notice, in spite of the way that verse gets misquoted, it's not the money itself. It's the LOVE OF IT. And it's not just MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL at all. There are plenty of OTHER KINDS OF EVIL. But THE LOVE OF MONEY... is A root... of all kinds of evil. And if you're a lover of money, then greed, dishonesty, deceit - they're all just waiting round the corner waiting to pounce. As you just gradually lose sight of what's right and what's wrong.
Some people, says Paul, even lose their faith over it. The last half of verse 10, he says, "Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many griefs."
It's just like Jesus said, isn't it? You can't serve two masters. You CANNOT serve both God and money. Cause if you're devoting yourself to money and worshipping it, there's no room left for God. And because it's deceitful you won't even notice it happening. Just one day it's going to seem MORE IMPORTANT to work the regular overtime than to be regular at church; to work back every week rather than be at your growth group. Any number of options like that. Wandering away from the faith. Heading for many griefs.
3. THE PROBLEM OF ARROGANCE
Well, there's ONE MORE danger Paul points out. And we've touched on it briefly already in verse 17.
First of all, he's said DON'T CHASE AFTER WEALTH. Because it'll just lead you into temptation. But there are some Christians in Timothy's church who are wealthy already. Like we are. So what's Paul want Timothy to say to them?
I mean, what are they meant to do about it? Give it all away and be poor?
Well, you'll see Paul says some interesting things. And we've already seen the warning NOT TO PUT THEIR HOPE IN THEIR WEALTH. But there's another instruction he gives them as well. And it's worth thinking about.
Timothy's the trainee leader of the church, and here's what the apostle Paul tells him to say to people who are already rich. Verse 17. "Command those who are rich in this present world NOT TO BE ARROGANT, nor to PUT THEIR HOPE in wealth."
It's a funny thing, isn't it? I don't know if you've ever noticed it, but so often VERY RICH people are VERY ARROGANT PEOPLE. Because they've got used to thinking they can get whatever they want. They've got used to thinking that the fact that they're rich means they can push people around.
Kerry Packer. The big question of the week... did he BUY THE KIDNEY for his transplant? Well, no, that's against the law. But maybe he'd already BOUGHT THE WHOLE GUY who donated it? So the kidney was just an afterthought? Kerry Packer has lived his whole life as if his MONEY CAN BUY HIM ANYTHING. Walks into a golf club, DEMANDS TO PLAY. Even though it's members only. Threatens to BUY THE WHOLE CLUB if they won't let him play. The arrogance of wealth.
But it's people like us as well. We buy a good education for our kids, we buy straight teeth for our kids - we think we can BUY ANYTHING. And yet when it comes to the things that really count, money can't buy any of it.
Arrogance is the attitude that says I'm a cut above everyone else. That says money equals power. So treat me with RESPECT.
And it's no wonder the first thing Paul says to wealthy Christians, is GET RID OF YOUR ARROGANCE. And replace it with the same sort of godly humility that every Christian's meant to have.
RIGHT ATTITUDES
Well, they're the warnings. Don't put your hope in temporary things. Don't let greed for wealth lead you into temptation. And don't be arrogant.
They're the no-nos. And spread through all of them, there are some POSITIVES as well. Right attitudes to wealth. Attitudes we're meant to work towards.
GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT
Have a look at verse 6 and you'll see it all summed up in two words. Godliness. And Contentment. Godliness. And a deep sense of satisfaction with your circumstances. Whatever they are.
More in verse 11. See, most people spend their lives chasing after money. And you look at most Christians, they're EXACTLY THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. Chasing the bigger, better houses; a mortgage you've got to SELL YOUR SOUL to afford. The promotion that means you're life's not your own any more. But here's what Paul says to Timothy. And he's saying it to us as well.
"But you, man of God," he says in verse 11, "FLEE FROM ALL THIS." Don't run after that sort of stuff. Run away from it. And, he says, "pursue RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, ENDURANCE and GENTLENESS" instead.
You know, I reckon the big test with a lot of us is what we most want for our kids. Somehow, it's apparently OKAY if you put your ambitions in terms of what you WANT FOR YOUR KIDS. So we say, "we want them to have the sort of opportunities we didn't have."
Friends, let me ask you... Opportunities for WHAT?
Better schooling. So they can get a better job. So they can get more money?
What do you really want for your kids? I mean, wouldn't it be better if instead of all that they had righteousness. And Godliness. And faith? And love? And endurance? And Gentleness? What are YOU DOING - what are you MODELLING - when it comes to chasing that stuff?
There's more. Verse 18. Another POSITIVE COMMAND for the wealthy. He says, don't put your hope in your WEALTH. Put your hope in the God who made it. He says LIFT UP YOUR EYES A BIT. And then in verse 18, the command. Command these wealthy Christians to do good, TO BE RICH IN GOOD DEEDS, and to be GENEROUS and WILLING TO SHARE."
Paul says there's only one sort of status symbol for a rich Christian. There's only ONE WAY you should be DEMONSTRATING YOUR WEALTH. And that's in the WAY YOU GIVE IT AWAY. In your GENEROUSITY. The way you share. The way you look for needs. And see what you can do to meet them. And when are you rich enough to start being generous? As soon as you've got anything more than you REALLY, REALLY NEED.
CONCLUSION
It's a whole new set of ambitions, isn't it? Righteousness. Godliness. Faithfulness. Generosity. Will you make up your mind today what you're going to RUN AFTER. Because you can't run after two masters when they're heading different directions.
Godliness is the one investment that has eternal results. And we need to get serious about it. Paul says fight the good fight of the faith. Get stuck into it. He says to Timothy, "Take hold of the eternal life you were called to," and hang on to it for all you're worth. Verse 19, he says, that's how we lay up treasures in heaven. The triple A heavenly investment. Because it's not WHAT YOU'VE GOT when you die that counts. It's WHO YOU'RE SERVING.