September 29, 2019
Morning Service

Paul encouraged us last week to exercise our spiritual muscles by giving time to reading the scriptures, applying them into our lives, and giving close attention to staying on the right path that leads us to a closer walk with our Savior.  We are to put spiritual disciplines into practice in our life so that we may be a good example to others of what a true Jesus follower looks like.  In chapter 5, Paul instructed us on how we are to treat others.  We are to treat older men and women as we would our parents and younger men and women as our brothers and sisters.  He again uses a natural truth that we understand to teach us a deeper spiritual truth.  As we begin chapter 6, Paul continues his practical instructions for us to put into practice in our daily lifestyle.

1Ti 6:1-2 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.  (2)  And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

            Slavery was a part of culture that Paul lived in as often people would sell themselves for a period of time to pay a debt referred to here as a bondservant.  The command here is that Christian slaves or servants treat their masters with honor to boldly proclaim the gospel message with their submissive attitude; because they are not only their masters but also their brothers.  I think of the OT story of Joseph and his attitude towards his master.  Today we could better compare bondservants to employee and employer.  Whoever we are working for we are to treat each other with respect and work hard to do our job the best that we can.  Paul encouraged us to apply this truth in the letter to the Colossians.

 

Col 3:22-24 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  (23)  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

            The workplace is a great ministry field for us to live out our faith.  Your attitude and work ethic can give power to your words as you work in this fashion that Paul commands while showing love and respect to the ones you work with and for.  Do your job well; be the best _____ that you can be to bring glory your Savior.  “Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord.”  Do everything including your job as an act of worship to the Lord; that should help change your attitude about work drastically.

 

1Ti 6:3-5 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, (4) he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, (5) useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

            Paul again warns of the false teachers who are not preaching to spread the gospel of Christ (true doctrine), but to use it as a “means of gain.”  Their pride creates disputes, arguments, envy, and strife all of which are tools of our enemy to destroy us.  Paul warns us to “withdraw yourself” from them.  Preaching prosperity often brings pride and jealousy which our enemy uses to create all these other divisive attitudes within a church.  Love, humility, and self-sacrifice are the true attitudes that the gospel will produce.  He continues with that thought.

 

1Ti 6:6-11 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  (9)  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.  (10)  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.  (11)  But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

            Many lives are wasted and ruined seeking after riches that they think will bring them great happiness and contentment.  The sad truth is that they get caught up in either an endless cycle of wanting more focusing only on themselves (rich farmer Luke 12:16).  The desire to have more (greed) clouds their spiritual view of the world and opens them up too many temptations brought on by their own lust in which they “drown in destruction and perdition.”  Think of all the stories we hear about former lottery winners that got their wealth in one quick moment and end up more miserable than before.

            The key point to this whole text is that it is not money that is evil, but “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”  It is not evil to have money, but relying on our money to grant us contentment will lead us “pierce ourselves through with many sorrows.”  Paul gives us some guidelines (guardrails) on how not to get caught up in this lifestyle.

·        Realize that this world is not forever and you can’t take your riches with you (v 7).

·        Be content with what you have (v8).

·        Set guardrails up to limit what you will do for your money (integrity) (v9).

·        Love others as Christ as loved you, putting their needs above your own (v11).

·        Pursue contentment through relationship with your Savior (v11).

·        Be generous with God has blessed you with (v18).

 

Paul is not calling us all to a life of poverty to be content, but is giving us the proper perspective.  If we follow the principles the scriptures lay out for us we will have more than enough to meet our needs.  It is okay to have money and nice things as long as you stay within these guradrails and don’t rely on those things to bring you contentment.  What brings us contentment comes from our heart and who owns it.  If we allow the world (greed) to dictate whether we are content or not, we never will be as we will always desire just a little more than we have.  If Jesus owns your heart, then we are fully able to be content only with Him as we are complete in Him.  Paul explains this well in Colossians.

 

Col 2:8-15 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  (9)  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; (10) and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.  (11)  In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, (12) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  (13)  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (14) having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  (15)  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

            This is the perspective of life that brings contentment.  I am complete in Christ who has paid for my sins in full upon the old rugged cross.  I have died to this world in the waters of baptism through faith and now I am “made alive together with Him.”  He has fought and won against the principalities and powers of darkness who desired to ensnare me and holds me safely in His strong hand in which even our enemy cannot remove me.  Our Savior has done all of this for me and now promises to fulfill my needs and use my life as He chooses to bring Him glory.  I am content with that and have no need of what the world offers me.  Jesus makes me complete and I am content with Him in control of my life as I seek to put Him first in everything.

 

Heavenly Father thank You for fighting my battle and paying the price for my sins.  Open my heart to be content in knowing that I am complete in Jesus my Savior.