"True Contentment" Part 2

1 Timothy 6:7-10

Acquiring possessions and money
Money Vrs 7-10

The motivation for the false teaching seemed to be personal gain (in this case monetary)

A great topic to talk about during Christmas week, true contentment as far as money and material possessions are concerned.

“True Contentment” can never be achieved by money or possessions

Vrs. 7 you brought nothing in, you can’t take anything with you. Job 1:21 & Eccl 5:15
The implication of this verse is there is no final or eternal benefit to material possessions in the next life. Not only did you not bring anything in or can’t take anything out.
You didn’t care when you were born and you won’t care when you die.

That is exactly why God wants us to use what we have, enjoy it, not be selfish with it, or find false security in it.

Vrs 8 This verse counterbalances verse 7 by saying there are things we need to live in this world such as food and clothing. It seems that the first concept that Paul deals with is that we should be content with God’s basic provisions for us.

The fact that God provides for those needs is evidence to us that He is good. He provides for the sparrow, how much more will he provide for us. Matt 6:25-34 Jesus tells us don’t worry or be anxious. He will take care of those things.

When we are content with what God has given us…then we will be able to fulfill what He has called us to do in Matt 6:19-21 (sermon Desire Series “How to get Rich”)

3 Principles
-Temporal wealth does not last.
-Spiritual wealth is gained by obedience to Jesus and inherited in the next life. This also has benefits for this life as far as fulfillment.
-Focuses our heart on what is important

If we look at having an abundance as necessity it will squelch “true contentment” because we will think we need things that are just wants and those wants let us down.

Vrs 9 The desire to be rich...
If your goal and desire is to always have more you have taken the bait.
The Puritan’s do a good job developing the concept of how Satan uses the good things that God blesses us with as bait to hook us into sin

Thomas Brooks 1600’s the Puritan Writer in “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices” sums up what Paul is saying in verse 9 warns of the bait and hook that Satan puts out when it come to sin.
“By presenting the bait and hiding the hook”
The bait with money is…
money will solve my problems, money will make me happy, if I only had…this or that I would be content.

Brooks says here are the Remedies
1. We ought to keep greatest distance from sin and playing with the bait.
2. Remember sin is often bittersweet (money can solve some problems it also can create problems)
3. Remember sin will usher in the greatest and saddest losses (money and possessions often are not all they are cracked up to be and let us down when we have them and devastate us when we lose them if we trusted and found security in them)
4. Remember sin is deceitful and bewitching (v9 “plunge people into ruin and destruction”)

Is it wrong to be rich or have an abundance of money and material passions?
1 Timothy 6:17 answers no and reminds us of 3 things
-Don’t flaunt it
-Don’t trust it
-It belongs to God

Vrs 10 What love of something other then the Jesus can and will do to you. It will harm you because it is another god that does not want good for you.

Why is money such a powerful vice? Becomes a god. Jesus said you cannot serve God and money.

Thomas Aquinas 1200’s , On Prayer and the Contemplative Life

“My deafness, too, to the inner voice of my Shepherd; and, what is far worse, that I have chosen God for my enemy and my adversary as often as I have chosen sin, and that I have offered Him the grievous insult of refusing to have Him for my God, and choosing instead my belly, or money, or false delights-and called them my God!

When we make something else “god” in our lives we are going to hurt ourselves and offend Jesus. Matt 6:24 “Canst serve two masters”

Blinded by greed (Timothy Keller “no one thinks they are greedy) Not only are we are we blinded by greed we are blinded of or from our greed. Illustration: He was teaching a men’s class on the 7 deadly sins.

Because there is always someone who has more for us to look at and say “They must be greedy because they have more then me”

Greed displays the love of money.

How to avoid the love of money…
1. Don’t make money your motivating factor. Attention younger people. When looking for a career to pursue ask yourself…would I do this if they did not pay me?
2. Hold on with open hands (be generous the best offense against greed)
Phil 4:10-13 Paul speaks of the generosity of the Philippians helped him to understand contentment. He was in need and God’s people helped.
3. Steward wisely- part of the problem many people have with money and why they need and desire more is because they made bad decisions with what they do have. (now they have an abusive love relationship with money)
4. Have a right perspective. (money should not change who I am, how secure I am or solve my sin problem) GOSPEL Jesus is the only one who can change who we are, give us security and solve our sin problem.


Heb 13:5 “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said “I will not leave you or forsake you”.

“True Contentment”
Accepting the Truth
Accepting what God has given you and using it for His glory.”