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Begin reading in chapter 6 at 
verse 3, we'll read to the end of the chapter, and then as I 
said our focus will be on 6 to 10. If anyone teaches otherwise 
and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 
He is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes 
and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, 
evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds, and 
destitute of the truth. who suppose that godliness is 
a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment 
is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and 
it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, 
with these we shall be content. 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. 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. But you, O man of God, flee these 
things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, 
gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. 
Lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and 
have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 
I urge you in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, 
and before Christ Jesus, who witnessed the good confession 
before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without 
spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, which 
he will manifest in his own time. He who is the blessed and only 
potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone 
has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no 
man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. 
Amen. Command those who are rich in 
this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches 
but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they may 
be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing 
up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they 
may lay hold on eternal life. Oh Timothy, guard what was committed 
to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions 
of what is falsely called knowledge. By professing it, some have strayed 
concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. Well, let us pray. Father, thank 
you for the Word of God. Thank you that it speaks to us 
as individuals, to families, and to the Church. And God, even 
now, we pray that you would help us to understand this passage, 
help us to understand properly the relationship that we bear 
with reference to temporal goods. Grant us grace, Lord God Most 
High, not to make an idol out of the things in this world. 
Help us to pursue your glory and your honor and your praise. 
Help us to be a faithful people, Lord God Most High. And we ask 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Well, remember last time 
we were in 1 Timothy chapter 6, in verses 3 to 5, the apostle 
condemns false teachers. He revisits something that he 
began the book with. In chapter 1, very specifically, 
he wants Timothy in Ephesus so that he can wage the good warfare, 
so that he could fight the heresy and the false teachers that were 
prevailing. As he describes these men in 
verses 3 to 5, he makes this statement at the end of verse 
5. He says, "...useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute 
of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain." 
He then alerts Timothy and the church to the reality that from 
such withdraw yourself. So now he visits again this particular 
statement, godliness and gain, and in so doing he not only condemns 
the false teachers, but he sets forth some general teaching to 
all of God's people concerning stuff, concerning temporal goods, 
concerning those things that are necessary in this particular 
world. We want to have a proper view 
and see those things as aids, we don't want to look at those 
things as idols. And this is Paul's point in verses 
6 to 10. So again, false teachers are 
certainly in the context, no doubt he has an eye toward them, 
but there is a general application in verses 6 to 10 to all of God's 
people. So we'll take this up under two 
considerations first the profitability of godliness in verses 6 to 8 
and then secondly the warning against covetousness in verses 
9 to 10. Note first the statement concerning 
godliness. He's made this clear in verse 
5, that the false teachers suppose that godliness is a means of 
gain. In their particular instance, 
they suppose that godliness is a means of financial gain. They see godliness as a means 
to build up their own wallets or to encourage their own pursuit 
of power. Paul does say, however, that 
godliness with contentment is great gain. The connection is 
obvious between verses 5 and 6. Calvin makes this perceptive 
comment. He says, in an elegant manner 
and with an ironical correction, he instantly throws back those 
very words in an opposite meaning. As if he had said, They do wrong 
and wickedly who make merchandise of the doctrine of Christ, as 
if godliness were gain. Though undoubtedly, if we form 
a correct estimate of it, godliness is a great and abundant gain. So they thought it a means to 
financial gain, they thought it a means to their own prestige 
and power and to their own self-elevation, but having condemned them, he 
doesn't condemn the underlying reality. Godliness with contentment 
is great gain. Go back for just a moment to 
1st Timothy 4.8. 1st Timothy chapter 4 and verse 
8. For bodily exercise profits a 
little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise 
of the life that now is and of that which is to come. the eternal 
security of the believer confirmed in union with Christ, with a 
title and an inheritance in heaven to be sure, but there's temporal 
benefits. Life goes well when you are pursuing 
the things of God. When you are lining up under 
that kingdom mandate of Matthew 6.33, and you seek first the 
kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be added 
unto you. Again, this is the general rule. 
This is the general maxim. It is not formulaic. We see that 
Job was a righteous man. Nevertheless, Job suffered greatly. Paul the Apostle was a righteous 
man. Nevertheless, there were lessons 
that God needed to teach him and deal with him in certain 
things. So he had, well, I don't even 
know if that's it. Well, actually in 2 Corinthians he does say, 
This thorn was given to him to teach him specific lessons. But 
as a general rule, godliness is something to be highly prized 
and valued. And notice that Paul says, godliness 
with contentment. Paul alludes to this contentment 
in 2 Corinthians 9, 8 and Philippians 4, 11. Burroughs describes it 
this way. in his Rare Jewel of Christian 
Contentment, a very helpful book for those of you who might be 
struggling with this whole idea of contentment. He says, Christian 
contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit 
which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal 
in every condition. Thomas Manton describes it in 
these terms, contentment is a quiet temper of mind about outward 
things. It's good, isn't it? A quiet 
temper of mind about outward things. And then he makes this 
perceptive comment. He says, and so it is opposite 
to three things. murmurings, distracting cares, 
and covetous desires. You are not a contented person 
if these things are true of you. You murmur, you're distracted 
with care and carnal anxiety, and you have covetous desires. Contentment is just the opposite 
of those things. It is to have a quiet temper 
of mind about outward things. So godliness with contentment 
is great gain according to the Apostle in verse 6. Notice in 
verse 7 he highlights the perspective concerning temporal goods we're 
supposed to have. Look at what he says in verse 
7, for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain 
we can carry nothing out. There's a bit of a variant here. 
I think the new King James gives the proper sense of what the 
Apostle has in mind. For we brought nothing into this 
world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Isn't this 
a helpful perspective with reference to your little figurines on your 
shelf? Let me go one better. Isn't this 
a helpful perspective when I consider the books that are behind that 
wall? Actually, that's different. No, 
I'm kidding. Your figurines aren't as important as those books. 
I'm getting in trouble with everybody. We need to maintain the proper 
perspective. We came into this world not with 
books or figurines. We came into this world not with 
piles of money. We came into this world not with 
piles of rubies and gold and jewels and silver. And it is 
certain that we are not going to take it with us into the Eschaton. Again, Paul's point here is to 
give proper perspective. We ought to think concerning 
the Proverbs, where a righteous man lays up an inheritance for 
his children. Those are legit and good things 
to do. A man ought to make sure that 
his wife is taken care of if he gets whacked by a truck or 
whatever the case may be. but he's speaking in terms with 
reference to this whole idea of material goods. We brought 
nothing into the world and it is certain we can carry nothing 
out. And this is the perspective that 
you and I are to maintain when it comes to temporal goods. Knight 
says birth and death provide the vantage points from which 
to apprise the material things of life and to determine what 
is really necessary. In the grand scheme of things, 
in consideration of birth and death, is it really absolutely 
necessary that we have 15,000 of whatever it is that makes 
us very happy? No. You're not going to take 
it with you. You don't attach a trailer to 
a hearse. They don't put your stuff in 
the tomb with you, so that you can enjoy it in the eschaton. This is just not reality. What we have, with reference 
to temporal goods, stays in this world. When we are absent from 
the body, we are present with the Lord, and we could care less 
about figurines, but we might still care about books. You see, this is Paul's perspective, 
and consider the backdrop. Paul sounds like Job, doesn't 
he? Isn't this what Job confesses in Job 1.21? 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. You see, this is the perspective 
that you and I need to possess with reference to temporal possessions. We can't take it with us. We 
didn't bring it in with us to begin with. And this is the case 
with reference to Paul's instruction. Ecclesiastes 5, 15 and 16. As he 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. 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 win? Knight says the implied conclusion 
is that acquisition of things has no ultimate or final benefit. It has no ultimate or final benefit. Just think back in your own lives, 
in your own history to things that people have collected. Think 
about beanie babies. Think about those little round 
pods. I'm just speaking in my day and 
age. Do those things have any eternal 
value or merit or benefit whatsoever? Some guys are all into their 
baseball cards. I'm not saying go burn your baseball 
cards. I'm not suggesting that you do that. Just don't tell 
me to go burn my books or your figurines and everybody will 
be fine. You see, what's in view in this passage isn't necessarily 
the condemnation of possessions. We'll see that when we get into 
the next major heading. It's not the possessing of riches 
that is condemned. Because in 6, 16 to 19, Paul 
tells Timothy how he is to instruct those who possess riches. It's 
the pursuit of riches. Poor men can be guilty of this 
particular sin. Pursuing riches doesn't necessarily 
mean you have them. If that's become the idol, if 
that's become the governing thing in your life, if that is the 
overarching concern, then you are condemned by the Word of 
the Living God. But if, as we understand through 
the Bible, a man works hard, and he is pursuing the glory 
of God in his work, and he has that kingdom priority, he seeks 
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and then God 
prospers him, God benefits him, God causes him to flourish and 
thrive, that's not a sin. God is free to convey upon his 
people good things and we ought to receive them very happily. The implied conclusion is that 
acquisition of things has no ultimate or final benefit despite 
what the false teachers suppose. The Apostles teaching is counter 
to that famous, I don't know if it's famous in Canada, I used 
to see it in America all the time, the bumper sticker that 
said, he who dies with the most toys wins. That's simply not 
the case. If you have the most toys and 
you are outside of Christ, you will lose in eternity forever. Now notice, the contentment with 
necessity, still considering the profitability of godliness. We have a statement concerning 
godliness, we have a perspective concerning temporal goods, we 
have thirdly the contentment with necessities, verse 8, and 
having food and clothing with these we shall be content. That's 
really all that we need, isn't it? And notice it's food and 
clothing. It's not steak and lobster and 
designer labels. It's food and clothing. It's 
enough to sustain life. It's that which keeps you breathing. 
It's that which keeps you covered. Probably not only clothing is 
in view, but some sort of a shelter. You're not in the Taj Mahal. 
You may be in a box, but at least you keep the rain and the elements 
off your head. Paul says, with these things 
we shall be content. Notice that vein, notice that 
line running through this, contentedness. That's where the Christian needs 
to be, content with what his God has given unto him. The Bible 
says there are necessities. Deuteronomy chapter 10 and verse 
18. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow 
and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. What does 
Jesus deal with in Matthew chapter 6 with reference to guarding 
or cautioning us against being wrought with carnal anxiety? 
It's food and clothing. Do not worry about what you'll 
wear. Do not worry about what you'll eat. Look at the lilies 
of the field. Look at the birds of the air. 
If God knows how to clothe them and knows how to feed the others, 
then certainly He is able to take care of His people. There 
ought to be in us this contentedness with those necessities that God 
has given to us to maintain life. Manton again says, it is not 
abundance that we need, but a contented heart. You see, you and I might 
go to prayer and say, God, please, enable me to get a raise. And 
again, it's not always the worst thing in the world to pray, but 
to pray for a contented heart. How many of us do that? How many 
of us go to the living and true God and say, Lord, give me contentedness 
with macaroni and cheese? Give me contentedness with, you 
know, clothes from the thrift store. Give me contentedness 
with these necessities that you have given to me to keep me alive. You see, it's just not reality 
that we ought to have everything we ever want. That's just not 
a good practice. It is not abundance that we need, 
but a contented heart. Let a little suffice if God gives 
no more. I want to give a qualification 
here before we move on to verses 9 and 10. The believer should 
diligently guard against a judgmental spirit. Just because you've got 
macaroni and cheese and you live in a shoebox doesn't mean that's 
the lot of every one of God's people. Consider that Proverbs 
31 woman. She has clothing that is fine 
linen and purple. If you happen to be wearing a 
gunny sack, ladies, praise God you're covered from the elements. 
Don't get mad at her and don't get mad at God. If she's a godly 
woman, she's doing what she's supposed to be doing, she is 
faithful, she is industrious, she is all that is described 
there in chapter 31. Don't begrudge her these gifts. Within the church of the living 
God Most High, and we'll see this in just a moment when we 
do consider some of the Proverbs, men who work hard oftentimes 
get promoted, they oftentimes make more money, and we ought 
not to begrudge that. If they are not evil men, if 
they are not money grubbers, if they are not pursuing riches, 
but rather pursuing the glory of God through faithful, diligent 
hard work, and God has prospered them, we ought to be very careful 
before we start to cast judgment in our minds or in our hearts 
about what someone else may have. Well, do they really need that? Worry about yourself. Pursue 
contentedness in your own life and in your own heart. God has 
not made you the temporal good judge or referee. It is not up 
to you to survey the parking lot to see who's got what. It 
is not up to you to survey the clothing lines that somebody 
happens to be wearing. I mean, in a small church like 
this, it is intriguing. If I wear a new tie, people say, 
oh, you got a new tie. I mean, you know you're a small 
church when you're able to spot that someone has a new tie or 
a new shirt. That's not the saying of, hey, 
what kind of tie? That's a Rush Limbaugh tie. It's 
none of your business, which this isn't a Rush Limbaugh tie, 
by the way. I wouldn't want a Rush Limbaugh 
tie. I couldn't bring myself to it. 
Do you see what our heart's like? Somebody has something we don't 
have, and what happens? We're judgmental. Maybe you're 
not. Maybe you guys have it all down. 
You're just godly, humble people that lets God do what he wants 
with his people. There are some people out there, 
as I understand it, that do get jealous. They do get envious. This is why the scripture addresses 
these things. This is why we have to be commanded. Rejoice with those who rejoice. 
What's the temptation? Somebody comes to prayer meeting 
rejoicing because they just got a big raise. Well, I didn't get 
a raise. I'm still making peace. No! Rejoice 
with the brother! Come on! We're in this together, 
right? So beware of this mentality that 
looks upon others with a suspicious spirit because they're not eating 
macaroni and cheese every night. God has blessed and prospered 
them. As long as they're not pursuing 
riches, as long as they're not covetous people, as long as it's 
not God to them, leave them alone. Leave them alone. That brings 
us to 9 and 10. The warning against covetousness. Verses 9 and 10. First, the pursuit 
of riches. Verse 9, notice very clearly, 
but those who desire to be rich. Not those who desire to work 
hard. Not those who desire to labor 
diligently for six days. Not those who take seriously 
Solomon's instruction in the book of Ecclesiastes, which says, 
whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. When a 
man works the way God calls him to work, I think there is, at 
times, a commensurate benefit that accrues to him. In other 
words, if he's diligent, he's a hard worker, he is conscientious, 
he is loyal, he is faithful, he's a man of integrity, he's 
on time, he doesn't murmur, he doesn't complain, If employers 
have half a brain, they will try to retain such an employee, 
and more often than not, they do that with money. They don't 
just do that by saying, we love you and you're a great worker. 
No, they give them things to try and keep their services under 
their employ. It is the pursuit of riches that 
is condemned, not the possession of riches. If it was the possession 
of riches, then Paul's instruction in 17 to 19 makes absolutely 
no sense whatsoever. Look at verse 17, command those 
who are rich in this present age. If riches possessing them 
was wrong, then Paul's instruction would be, tell them to get rid 
of it. Tell them to go to the BFM. Tell them to clear out their 
garage. Tell them to find brethren in 
the church and give them all their goods. That's not what 
Paul says. He does call for a charitable and a benevolent spirit, to be 
sure, but he doesn't tell them that the possession of riches 
is necessarily evil. Everybody with me on this? Because 
we find verses like, well, I can't work hard because I don't want 
to get rich. What? Work hard because God commands 
it. The fourth commandment not only tells you to Sabbath today, 
it tells you to work hard Monday to Saturday. It tells you to 
get up out of bed, wipe the crust out of your eyes, drink back 
some coffee, show up at work on time, and do what your employer 
pays you to do. And in this modern society, when 
you do that, you'll probably get raises. You'll probably get 
promoted. It is not the possession of riches 
that is herein condemned. It is the pursuit. As I've said, 
a poor man can be guilty of this sin. For a poor man, all he wants 
to do is gain riches. You think he's condemned here? 
Yes. Do you have a rich man who's not pursuing riches? He's just 
a good entrepreneur. He puts his hand to things and 
God blesses him. Is he condemned here? No. We 
have to have a biblical perspective on these particular items. Go 
to the Proverbs with me for just a moment. Proverbs chapter 10. 
I'm sure that you've heard these Proverbs before. I know because 
I've spoken these Proverbs from or read these Proverbs from this 
pulpit. 10, 4, and 5. He who has a slack 
hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. What 
does Solomon mean there? It means exactly what it says. 
We don't have to be super spiritual interpreters to find some sort 
of a meaning there that is otherwise unseen by the common eye. The hand of the diligent makes 
rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son. He who sleeps 
in harvest is a son who causes shame. Get out of bed and go 
do your work. And the Bible says you're wise. 
Stay in bed, don't do your work, the Bible says you cause shame 
to your parents. 12.11 12.11 He who tills his land will be 
satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid 
of understanding. Verse 24, the hand of the diligent 
will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor. Imagine running on that as your 
political platform in today's climate. Oh, horror of horrors, 
how could you ever suggest something like this? Because it's true. Proverbs chapter 13 and verse 
4, the soul of a lazy man desires and has nothing, but the soul 
of the diligent shall be made rich. Proverbs 13, 11, wealth 
gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers 
by labor will increase. And verse 22, a good man leaves 
an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the 
sinner is stored up for the righteous. 14, 23, 1423, in all labor there is profit 
but idle chatter leads only to poverty. You stand there and 
talk all day and guess what? Poverty is your end. But if you 
are diligent and a hard worker and you engage in honest labor, 
there is profit. 21.5. 21.5. The plans of the 
diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is 
hasty surely to poverty. Proverbs 22 and verse 29. 22.29. 
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings. He 
will not stand before unknown men. You see, the Proverbs depicts 
this as a positive. The pursuit of hard work, the 
pursuit of diligent employment, the pursuit of good, gainful 
employment is all a blessing as far as God is concerned. It's 
the pursuit of riches that's condemned. It's when that becomes 
our focal point, that becomes our goal, that becomes our driving 
pursuit. It isn't God and His glory. It 
isn't all those things that the Bible envisions are good. It 
becomes dollars. It becomes money. It becomes 
the bottom line. That's what's being condemned 
in verse 9 of 1 Timothy 6. Proverbs 28, 19. He who tills 
his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity 
will have poverty enough. Do you see a theme in this? Young 
people and children, be hard workers. But something sadly 
lacking today is a good biblical work ethic. You want to do the 
job you're being paid to do. And this begins in the home. 
If you're going to sit there and idly chatter all day instead 
of cleaning out the garage, you're probably going to be a miserable 
employee for somebody in the future. I don't want to burst 
your little snowflake bubble, but if you don't do your job 
now, you're probably not going to do it in the future. That's 
why as parents we come alongside of you and we say, get to work, 
get to work, get to work. I can't fire you from being my 
son. I can't fire you from being my 
daughter. But an employer certainly can. 
And if you don't do your work, when you're out in the real world, 
you're going to find yourself in a bad state and predicament. 
So children, work hard. That's a good thing. The Proverbs 
also, as we have seen, enjoin diligence and hard work and faithful 
labor on the part of God's people. Also issues this particular warning, 
do not overwork to be rich. Young men often overwork because 
that's just the way it is. Young men typically have to work 
harder. As you get older, hopefully you 
don't have to work as hard. I mean, that's not always the 
case, but typically that seems to be the way things go. But 
the Proverbs issues this warning, do not overwork to be rich. You're 
not overworking because you've got to put food on the table. 
You're not overworking because you need some overtime to make 
sure that you can provide your wife with clothes and food and 
those sorts of things. You're not overworking so that 
you could fulfill a particular need and maybe helping a missionary 
or helping a benevolent charity or cause. You're overworking 
to be rich. You see, that's the end result. 
That's the game. That's everything. That's the 
pursuit. That's what Paul is condemning. 
Do not overwork to be rich because of your own understanding. Cease. 
Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly 
make themselves wings. They fly away like an eagle toward 
heaven. The very chapter that Paul addresses 
us in, in this section, has in it instructions for those who 
are rich, and the instruction is not to get rid of their stuff. 
One man says, in a very helpful book on economics, the problem 
is sin, not possessions. God owns everything, yet he is 
not tempted by evil, for he is righteous." This man goes on 
to say, the problem is not with money, but with men. Regardless 
of a wicked man's financial condition, he will always seek an excuse 
to sin. If he is poor, he will envy and 
steal. If he is rich, he will boast 
and oppress. Proverbs 30, 7-9. What does the 
author say? What does Solomon ask for? He 
asks for neither poverty nor riches. Because if I have poverty, 
I'll be tempted to go out and steal. If I have riches, I'll 
be tempted to forget God and think that I have prospered my 
own self. So it is the pursuit of riches 
that is in view in 1 Timothy chapter 6. Paul says that those 
who pursue riches open themselves up to a great deal of temptation. 
Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and dismay and 
into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction 
and perdition. You see the Bible nowhere says 
those who desire to work hard. those who desire to obey God, 
those who desire to show up on time and give us faithful day 
service. They don't open themselves up to temptation, but a man who 
is pursuing riches opens himself to all manner of temptations, 
leads a man into a snare, and the pursuit of riches leads a 
man into lusts. They are many, foolish, and harmful. Paul indicates the particular 
result, which drowned men in destruction and perdition. The two terms could be understood 
in one of two ways. They will come to utter destruction, 
which is bad. They will come to utter destruction, 
or it could mean they will experience ruin here and in eternity, which 
essentially means coming to utter destruction. The point with the 
Apostle runs this way. are riches worth pursuing to 
the neglect of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is stuff, is temporal 
goods, are things so important that we will risk our eternal 
well-being for those things? Doesn't Jesus ask the question 
in Mark chapter 8, what shall it profit a man if he gains the 
whole world but he loses his soul? Proverbs 11, 28 says, he 
who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will 
flourish like foliage. And then finally, the love of 
money. Under this second broad category, 
the warning against covetousness, we have the pursuit of riches. 
We have the love of money. Verse 10. I like the New King 
James translation here. For the love of money is a root 
of all kinds of evil. Note it is the love of money. It's not money. Money doesn't 
go down to the gun store and buy guns and go rob banks and 
take more money. Money does not have a soul. Money is not something that in 
and of itself affects things. It is the love of money that 
is herein condemned. If you have five bucks in your 
wallet right now, you are not guilty of this particular Indictment. Money's a tool. We have to have 
money. As Steve Lawson has taught me, 
I think via his father, we don't live on love and fresh air. Not 
that he needed to teach me that. I already knew it. I just didn't 
put it together in quite such a nice way. We don't live on 
love and fresh air. Go to Pricemark tomorrow and 
say, I'd like to buy this item because I love you. They'll probably 
call the police and say, get this nut out of here. We need 
money. We need five dollars in our wallets. 
We must have this to traffic in this world. How do we get 
the food and the clothing? Again, they don't just convey 
it upon us. They don't say, oh, Mr. Butler, boy, you look radiant 
today. Here, I'm going to give you all 
these things because you're just such a good guy. That has never 
happened to me. And I trust it never will. It's 
the love of money that Paul condemns. Certainly you see the difference 
between using money as a legitimate tool to engage in economic trade 
in this society, and the love of it, the hoarding of it, the 
pursuit of it. the bowing to it, the treating 
it as God, the doing what Jesus condemns in Matthew's Gospel 
in chapter 6, this devotion to mammon. Paul condemns the love 
of money, not money, in and of itself. Secondly, it is a root 
of all kinds of evil. It's hard to figure out how a 
love of money would be the root of a man who's an axe murderer. 
Man who just likes to cut people up. He doesn't necessarily take 
their wallets. We have to understand that the 
love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It's not the only 
root. Pride, arrogance, weird ideas, 
those also are a root. Paul is saying that it is a root 
of all kinds of evil, not the root of every single evil that 
exists out there. Thirdly, this love of money is 
a violation of the First Commandment. It is to love money and value 
and prize Him more than one loves God and prizes Him. Deuteronomy chapter 8 and verse 
10 makes this specific delineation here. Deuteronomy chapter 8 excuse 
me, and verse 10. It says, when you have eaten 
and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the 
good land which he has given you. The idea being is that what 
we have comes as a result of our gracious God. He gets the 
worship. He gets the glory. He gets the 
praise. We don't prize, praise, love, and adore our money. And 
of course, in the context, this whole idea is symptomatic of 
false teachers. The Pharisees were lovers of 
money. Judas was a lover of money. Judas held the money bag according 
to John's gospel. What did Judas do? Judas skimmed 
from that. Judas lined his own pocket. He's a religious teacher, but 
he wants money. He wants all of the good things 
that money can buy. This is something that drove 
him. And then the effect of this love of money is found at the 
end of verse 10, for which some have strayed from the faith in 
their greediness and pierced themselves through with many 
sorrows. The one who professes Christ 
and then turns to a love of money apostatizes or defects from Christianity. The faith here probably includes 
his subjective belief in the gospel, He has abandoned it, 
that means it wasn't ever there to begin with, but it's the objective 
truth of Christianity. Money has caused this man to 
repudiate the Christian faith. Secondly, the one who engages 
in this conduct engages in idolatry. Paul brings this out very clearly 
in Ephesians 5 and verse 5. For this you know that no fornicator, 
unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater. And the one who loves money affirms 
Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6. No one can serve two masters, 
for 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. And finally, the one who forgets 
God and seeks money will pierce himself through with many sorrows. This is self-inflicted. Don't 
love money. Don't pursue riches. How do I 
not pierce myself through with all these sorrows? I'm having 
sorrow after sorrow after sorrow and after grief. Stop loving 
money. Stop pursuing riches. Have a 
proper biblical understanding of stuff. Have a proper biblical 
understanding of your role as a steward. Have a proper biblical 
understanding of what it means to work hard and to labor diligently. 
Have a proper and biblical understanding what it means to take that money 
as a tool given by God to affect life in this present world. In 
other words, read your Bible and don't be caught up in the 
love of money or the pursuit of riches. In conclusion, two 
thoughts and then we're done. First, the cultivation of contentment. The people of God ought to cultivate 
contentment. This is a great thing to inoculate 
us against falling prey to covetousness. In other words, if we're content 
with the good things that God has given us, if rain isn't hitting 
our heads as we sleep at night, and we have food in our belly, 
it doesn't matter where it came from in terms of, you know, it's 
the best or it's down here. You know, poverty isn't necessarily 
the worst thing in the world. a couple of verses here in just 
a moment. But in terms of cultivating contentment, we need to appreciate, 
first of all, godliness. What's important to the Apostle 
Paul in this section? Godliness with contentment is 
great gain. You see the contrast? Here's what money does, and here's 
what godliness does. You need to appreciate godliness 
and pursue that. Secondly, we need to recognize 
God's sovereignty in the dispensing of goods. The earth is the Lord's 
and the fullness thereof, and He gives us stuff to use according 
to His good pleasure. We need to appreciate that. Thirdly, 
we need to realize that, I've already mentioned this, poverty 
isn't the worst thing. Now, I'm going to say you ought 
to work, labor, be diligent, and try all you can to not be 
impoverished. But the Proverbs do indicate 
that, in fact, there is blessing even with little. Proverbs 15, 
16, and 17. I'm sure you know these verses. 
It's good for us to remind ourselves that they are in the Bible. Proverbs 
15. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure 
with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where 
love is than a fatted calf with hatred. We all know that, right? That's a good thing, to have 
peace at our table, more than a prime rib. Proverbs 17, 1. Better is a dry morsel with quietness 
than a house full of feasting with strife. It's better to choke 
down a crusty piece of bread with peace and happiness and 
joy than a house full of feasting with strife." And then Proverbs 
28 and verse 6, a similar text. Better is the poor who walks 
in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. So the realization that having 
little, we'll couch it in those terms, having little isn't the 
worst thing. Fourth, in terms of cultivating 
contentment, the expression of thanksgiving to God for providing 
our necessities. It is a good day to be thankful 
in all things, as the Apostle indicates. And then fifthly, 
in terms of the cultivation of contentment, prioritization of 
God and His kingdom. Seek first the kingdom of God. 
That comes in a particular context that has to do with what we'll 
wear and what we'll eat. It is absolutely crucial to this 
whole pursuit of Christian contentment. Seeking God first and His righteousness, 
and then these things will be added to us. In terms of preventing 
covetousness, preventing covetousness, recognize the evil of it. Paul 
says in Ephesians 5.5, covetousness is idolatry. It's interesting, 
when you look at the Decalogue, it starts with a prohibition 
against idolatry. How does it end? With a prohibition 
against idolatry. What is God communicating to 
us? Don't be idolaters! Refrain from that wicked practice. Secondly, we ought to diligently 
pursue our honest labor. Please don't leave here and say, 
well, I don't want to be rich, so I'm going to be a very lax 
employee. No, learn how to act and think 
biblically. Work hard, be diligent. Thirdly, 
the practice of benevolence, charity toward others. This is 
a great help to prevent covetousness. If all you do is hoard and hoard 
and hoard and you're a covetous wretch, take up a stack and throw 
it someone else's way. That will hopefully help you 
wean from this tendency to just crave your stuff. Give it away. Paul says this in Ephesians 4.28, 
let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him work hard 
with his hands, so that he may have in order to give to others 
as well." So Paul says the new man in Christ doesn't steal anymore, 
And he works hard, yes, to provide for his own, but he works hard 
to give to others who have need also. Benevolence is a great 
means to practice to wean yourself from a covetous spirit. Again, 
the appreciation of necessities and the giving of thanks to God 
for all things. The prophet Isaiah shows us the 
folly of those who pursue anything over Jesus Christ, and I think 
this is a fitting capstone for a study like this, where the 
Apostle is cautioning us against covetousness, the Apostle tells 
us elsewhere, the entirety of the Bible tells us elsewhere 
that Christ far exceeds, Christ is surpassing, Christ is more 
excellent than anything that this world has. The prophet says, 
ho, everyone who thirsts, come. to the waters, and you who have 
no money come, buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without 
money and without price. Why do you spend your money for 
what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen 
carefully to me and eat what is good, and let your soul delight 
itself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to 
me here, and your soul shall live." For those who struggle 
with covetousness, the prophet would say, put it down, get rid 
of it, and come to the living Christ. Come to the one in whom 
is all blessing, all fullness, all riches, and he will convey 
those things upon you. It is, in the final analysis, 
a question of priority. We need to seek first God and 
his kingdom, and all these things will be added to us. So that 
is the apostles' teaching. If you have a lot of money, and 
you're wondering what you're supposed to do with it, stick 
around in a couple of weeks, we'll be in 16 or 17 to 19, where 
Paul will tell you exactly what you're supposed to do with all 
that loot. Well, let us pray and ask God's 
blessing upon our day. Father, we thank you for this 
day that we've spent together. Certainly being in the house 
of God is a great joy. The psalmist said he'd rather 
be a doorkeeper at the house of God. than dwell in the tents 
of wickedness." And we can amen that sentiment wholly. We thank 
you for your presence. We thank you for your power. 
We thank you for your mercy and your grace. We thank you for 
Holy Scripture and for the good things that you instruct us. 
We ask that you would go with us now. We ask that you would 
help us to have a proper perspective concerning work and money and 
possessions and all these things. And God help us in all things 
to seek Christ. first and foremost in our lives. 
Go with us now, we pray, and we ask through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen.