On Gain and Godliness (Part 2)

1 Timothy 6:10-12,17-21

Scripture

“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.12 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.

17 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. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.”

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil

This NKJV translation, and I think most others in English, is a bit off. A better literal translation would be:

“For the love of money is a root of all these evils [1,2].”

I don’t think that Paul was making a general philosophical statement about the love of money in this verse, but sharing a specific truth about the root cause for that which he described in the preceding verse. The love of money is the root, from which grows the desire for material accumulation of wealth, which then causes a person to fall into temptation, a trap, a lack of thought, passionate desire, and harm, which ultimately results in ruination and a cutting off of that which could have otherwise been (such as a fruitful life in Christ).

Why?

“No one can serve two masters; for either 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 (Matthew 6:24).”

How is this problem manifest in the “Christian” community?

In general, many authentic Christians make decisions based on money / mammon rather than on the discernment of God’s will. For example, some people decide to uproot their families in pursuit of career advancement, with little or no consideration for the impact on spouses and children. While clearly the Lord can call an individual or even an entire family to relocate for His purposes, and He can use a new job opportunity in order to accomplish this relocation, if said relocation is not God’s purpose for said individual or family, then the uprooting of a family (from friends, school, the church community, etc.) for sole personal desire for career advancement is most likely detrimental and perhaps even sinful. But I don’t think that Paul had authentic Christians in mind in these verses. Paul was concerned that the love of money was something …

for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Which way are you going?

Early Christianity was referred to as “The Way (Acts 9:2, 18:26, 19:9, 19:23).” A vital question for anyone is this: which way are you traveling in life? Are you following The Way — which is an obvious allusion to Jesus, who is “the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)” — or are you following some other way? It’s not possible to follow both. Yes, an authentic Christian will periodically stray from the Way for a time, but he/she will overcome and return to the Way. However, for many nominal (in name only) Christians, such as the purveyors of different doctrine referred to by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:3-5, their choice is between following Jesus and following greed (the love of money and desire for accumulation of wealth). Of these, some nominal Christians will stray and “some have strayed from the faith” in order to pursue “their greediness.” These people will and have made their choice.

What’s the consequence of choosing greed over God?

These people who have chosen greed over Jesus drown in destruction in perdition (1 Timothy 6:9); they have strayed (wandered away) from the faith, and as a result receive many sorrows (that pierce through or permeate their being). How tragic, in particular because the choice of greed didn’t have to be made. They could have chosen to follow Jesus. Note that these people who choose (and have chosen) greed don’t lose (and haven’t lost) their faith in Jesus. Their choice to love money instead of God merely exposed the fact that they never had faith in Jesus. For more on this topic see Can You Lose Your Salvation?

What should a Christian along the Way desire (plan with full resolve) to accumulate?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).”

How should a Christian do this?

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 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.

• Flee from greed, the love of money, and the driven desire to accumulate material wealth!

• Actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness!

• Actively fight the good fight of faith! Wage the good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18)! “Please him who enlisted (you) as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:4b)!

• Lay hold on — have a focused resolve for [3] — eternal life!

• “Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure (2 Peter 1:10)!”

• Be “a (witness) to (Jesus) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8)!”

17 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. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

• Don’t be haughty (proud [4]), watch your attitude, for “God resists the proud (James 4:6)!

• Don’t trust in uncertain material wealth but in the certain living God – “for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23)!”

• Recognize that God gives us richly all things to enjoy and that while “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17a),” “for everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:48)!” Therefore:

• Do good!

• Be rich in good works!

• Be ready to give, and give!

• Be willing to share, and share!

• Lay hold on — have a focused resolve for [3] — eternal life!

• Lay a good foundation that moths and rust shall not destroy! As the apostle Paul has elsewhere written (1 Corinthians 3:9-15):

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you.

This charge originally given to Timothy is also applicable to Christians today:

• Guard (have an “uninterrupted vigilance” to protect [5]) the truth, the “wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and … the doctrine which accords with godliness (1 Timothy 6:3)!”

• Avoid different doctrine, such as profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge!

• Walk in God’s grace. Receive it, and dispense it to others!

Amen!

May it be so!

End Notes

[1] http://studybible.info/interlinear/1%20Timothy%206:10
[2] http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_timothy/6-10.htm
[3] http://biblehub.com/greek/1949.htm
[4] http://biblehub.com/greek/5309.htm
[5] http://biblehub.com/greek/5442.htm

Bibliography

[i] J.R.W.Stott, “The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus,” Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, 1996.
[ii] J.MacArthur, “The New Testament Commentary : 1 Timothy,” Moody Press, Chicago, 1995.
[iii] A.Duane Liftin in J.F.Walvoord and R.B.Zuck (Editors), “The Bible Knowledge Commentary,”Chariot Victor Publishing, Colorado Springs, 1983.

On Gain and Godliness (Part 1)

1 Timothy 6:6-10a

Scripture

“6 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.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Compare this with verse 6:5. What’s Paul’s main point?

This verse is in contrast to that which Paul wrote in the preceding verse about those people diseased with a different doctrine; they “suppose that godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5).” In other words, while many false teachers feign godliness as a means to accumulate material wealth, authentic godliness truly results in great spiritual wealth. And according to Paul, one key to authentic godliness is:

Contentment

Yes, contentment! The Greek root word — αὐτάρκεια (ow-tar’-ki-ah) — means self-sufficiency, “a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed [1],” or in reference to a Christian: “having all (that is) need(ed) within through the indwelling Christ [2].” A Christian should find satisfaction in life through his/her relationship with Christ, and said contentment should impact his/her response to God and His revelation, i.e., it should result in authentic godliness. That said, it’s sad that many people in general lack contentment and are envious of the material wealth of others, including some Christians.
As it is written (Proverb 30:8b-9):

“Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.”

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

From a material perspective, people bring nothing physical into the world when they’re born (other than their bodies). And contrary to what many ancient cultures believed, people bring nothing physical from this world with them into the world to come when they die. Accumulation of material wealth at best is temporal. Paul was certain of this fact (though the phrase “it is certain” doesn’t appear in other manuscript traditions)!

And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

The Greek root word translated as clothing — σκέπασμα (skep’-as-mah) — can also mean covering or shelter, and thus includes both ideas of clothing and shelter [3,4].

Did Paul mean that it’s acceptable to be malcontent if one lacks food and shelter?

Not necessarily. For example, to the church in Philippi he wrote (Philippians 4:11-13):

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Clearly Paul learned a deep form of contentment – satisfaction through his relationship with Christ, even when in need for the basic necessities of life. On the other hand, Paul also made it clear to Timothy that (1 Timothy 5:8):

“If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

That is, if someone (such as a widow in your family) lacks basic material needs, then this was clearly not acceptable from Paul’s perspective. So then, what was Paul’s point in 1 Timothy 6:8? Probably that (1) Christians should have authentic spiritual satisfaction through Christ, even amidst times of destitution in life, but that (2) Christians who lack the basic necessities of life (food, clothing and shelter) should seek to provide said necessities for themselves and their families (ideally through honest labor), or if unable to provide said necessities through work, to solicit said necessities from those able to assist them during their time of need.

What’s Paul’s implicit indictment of the modern welfare system?

Many people who lack basic necessities of life receive assistance from individuals, organizations, or a state entity. This in and of itself isn’t wrong. However, many of these people aren’t content with the basic necessities of life. In fact, many of these people expect (feel entitled) to freely receive much above and beyond the basic necessities of life. Many of these people are even able-bodied and either refuse to work to support themselves, or lack incentive to work because they know that they will receive assistance regardless of their efforts. Consequently, Paul issued a warning:

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.

Desire

There can be a healthy desire to be able to better provide for oneself or one’s family, and there is nothing intrinsically evil about having material wealth. Yet, any person of any income level, from the poorest to the wealthiest, can have a sinful “desire to be rich(er).” In 1 Timothy 6:9, those who “desire to be rich” aren’t rich yet; this verse is directed toward those who are materially poor. The Greek root word for desire in this verse — βούλομαι (boo’-lom-ahee) — means “to plan with full resolve;” it is “a strong term that underlines the predetermined (and determined) intention driving the planning [5].” Paul wrote this verse about materially poor people who have this type of unhealthy desire in which they are intensely focused on the accumulation of material wealth.

Into what do those who “desire to be rich” ”fall into”?

Temptation. The desire for accumulation of wealth is a temptation which is merely the beginning of a bad journey. As it is written (James 1:14-15):

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Snare. The desire for accumulation of wealth is a snare, i.e., like “a trap set for animals [6].”

Foolish. The desire for accumulation of wealth is foolish. The Greek root word — ἀνόητος (an-o’-ay-tos) — literally means without thinking; it indicates lack of “reasoning through a matter (with proper logic)” [7].

Harmful. The desire for accumulation of wealth is harmful.

Lust. The desire for accumulation of wealth is an unhealthy passionate desire [8].

In what way is the focused desire for accumulation of wealth harmful?

It “drown(s) men in destruction and perdition.” The Greek root word for destruction means “ruination with its full destructive results [9].” However, the Greek root word for perdition is much stronger; it means “to be completely severed – cut off (entirely) from what could or should have been [10].” The desire for accumulation of wealth is life changing in a very negative way. As it is written (Proverb 28:20b):

“He who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”

What is the root cause of this desire to accumulate material wealth?

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil

This translation, and I think most others in English, is a bit off. A better literal translation would be “For the love of money is a root of all these evils [11,12].” I don’t think that Paul was making a general philosophical statement about the love of money in this verse, but sharing a specific truth about the root cause for that which he described in the preceding verse. The love of money is a root, from which grows the desire for material accumulation of wealth, which then causes a person to fall into temptation, a trap, a lack of thought, unhealthy passionate desire, and harm, which ultimately results in ruination and a cutting off of that which could have otherwise been (such as a fruitful life in Christ).

Why?

“No one can serve two masters; for either 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 (Matthew 6:24).”

Whom or what do you serve?

End Notes

[1] http://studybible.info/strongs/G841
[2] http://biblehub.com/greek/841.htm
[3] http://studybible.info/strongs/G4629
[4] http://biblehub.com/greek/4629.htm
[5] http://biblehub.com/greek/1014.htm
[6] http://biblehub.com/greek/3803.htm
[7] http://biblehub.com/greek/453.htm
[8] http://biblehub.com/greek/1939.htm
[9] http://biblehub.com/greek/3639.htm
[10] http://biblehub.com/greek/684.htm
[11] http://studybible.info/interlinear/1%20Timothy%206:10
[12] http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_timothy/6-10.htm

Bibliography

[i] J.R.W.Stott, “The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus,” Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, 1996.
[ii] J.MacArthur, “The New Testament Commentary : 1 Timothy,” Moody Press, Chicago, 1995.
[iii] A.Duane Liftin in J.F.Walvoord and R.B.Zuck (Editors), “The Bible Knowledge Commentary,” Chariot Victor Publishing, Colorado Springs, 1983.