Sunday 11/08/15
Series: Living in the Kingdom III
Message – The Economy of the Kingdom III
This week we examined our stewardship of resources in the Kingdom in four passage, the first of which is found in 1 Tim. 6:1-19.
Want a 100% guarantee that your actions will bless the heart of God in the New Year? Actions do not make us accepted or loved before God, but they do impact the pleasure He has in us.
Heb 11:6,
“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.”
Trusting God in regards to our possessions is one of the truest tests of our devotion and confidence in Him. God often asks us to do things which seem unwise – like giving to anyone who asks you, if someone takes your jacket – give him your coat as well…etc. These things look like an invitation to be used by the ungodly, and in fact that might happen. God however, always meets our needs. Jesus successfully lived 3 years traveling all over Palestine with a disciple stealing money from His ministry. Jesus did not confront Judas – He let him have it, and trusted God to make sure they had enough.
Trusting God in regard to our resources – whether solid or liquid assets, is the most clear and direct proof of our love, loyalty, devotion and yes…trust (faith), which is doubtless why Jesus spoke of it more often than heaven or hell.
In our example today, we see Paul writing Timothy who was acting on Paul’s behalf as an apostolic delegate, to finish up what Paul had left untaught, and to appoint elders to co-pastor the church in Ephesus.
In verses 1-5 Paul addresses serving God in whatever social status we were in when we first came to him. This runs contrary to MUCH modern Christian teaching, because Paul even acknowledges that many of those Timothy encountered were slaves. In addition to this, many were even slaves to fellow Christians, and no mention was made to Timothy to teach these Christian slave owners to release their Christian brothers from service, though in Paul later letter to the church of Ephesus, he told the masters of slaves to not threaten, knowing God is their master. Paul also said in another letter to the Colossians that masters were to pay their bondservants what was truly fair, again with the same emphasis on God being their Master.
Furthermore, the slaves are not told to pray for better work, or seek advancement, but to be CONTENT where they were and to live and work in such a was as to honor thier masters and seek their benefit – especially if their master is a Christian.
Paul ended this portion of the letter by calling his commands to them the “wholesome” commands of Jesus Christ. He also offered them a severe warning that if ANYONE taught them something differently they were proud and ignorant, possessing corrupt minds which were destitute of the truth, because they supposed that godliness was a means of gain – “so withdraw yourself from people who talk and teach in this way!”
Let’s read the passage….
Vs. 1-5, “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.
(3) 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 wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”
With this agrees the rest of Paul’s writings. For example let’s read 1 Cor. 7:17-24,
“But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. (18)
Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised.
Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. (19) Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
(20) Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
(21) Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. (22) For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.
(23) You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (24) Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”
1Tim. 6:6-8,
Now Paul tells them that godliness with contentment is GREAT gain! The meaning of this is that such an attitude represents what is truly significant and genuinely important.
Questions arise about simple necessities….is it okay to desire material goods IF those goods are simply meeting basic needs? Paul addresses this concern by telling us where the line of contentment should be drawn – once we possess FOOD & CLOTHING we should be content with these!
“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.”
Why are we to set the bar so low when we could have so many more things? This is a question that I believe EVERY believer knows the answer to already, if they will but look within their own hearts. Never the less, Paul makes the commandment certain and its explanation clear. Far from desiring goods, we are told to flee such desires and turn the focus of our attention to righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience & gentleness….
The true force of this command is SO strong that it is virtually impossible to grasp how the prosperity movement ever got off the ground. Paul tells them that we are to keep this COMMAND of fleeing the desire for things WITHOUT SPOT AND BLAMELESS until our Lord’s appearing. This is very, VERY strong language and we would do well to heed it as duly warned.
1Tim. 6:9-14,
“(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. (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. (13) 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, (14) that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,”
Skipping down a few verses…
1Tim. 6:17-19,
Paul warns those who ARE (as opposed to are desiring to become) rich, to withdraw every trace of hope or trust in their wealth and place it firmly forever into Christ, Who gives us all things to enjoy.
They are commanded to…
- DO GOOD
- Be rich in good works
- Give liberally to others
- Always willing to share their wealth knowing it is their stewardship to share and NOT to hoard or spend on themselves – REMEMBER – the command to be content with food and clothing has JUST as much bearing upon the rich as it does the poor – PERHAPS even MORE. The New Testament is clear in many places that extra – above and beyond basic needs is to be regarded as seed – NOT play money, while other Christians are struggling.
“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.”
Heb 13:1-5,
“(1) Let brotherly love continue.
(2) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
(3) Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
(4) Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
(5) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.“
Jesus draws the line of covetousness in places we would never expect!
Luke 12:13-15,
“(13) Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (14) But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” (15) And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Notice that being willing to seek out an advocate to depute with your brother over your rightful inheritance Jesus called covetousness. It does not fit the gospel description of forgiving and letting go. Paul later said something similar when defrauded by a brother or sister in the Body of Christ – 1Cor. 6:7-9, “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? (8) No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! (9) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived…”
Luke 12:16-34,
(16) Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. (17) And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ (18) So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. (19) And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ‘ (20) But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ (21) “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (22) Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. (23) Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. (24) Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? (25) And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (26) If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? (27) Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (28) If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? (29) “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. (30) For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. (31) But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. (32) “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (33) Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. (34) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
That is all for today, but we will pick up here on Wednesday – studying to show ourselves as approved in regards to money, possessions and giving in the Kingdom.
Blessings!
I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
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Blessings!
