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THE ESSENTIAL OF CONTENTMENT 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-11 Pastor Stephen Muncherian March 14, 2010 |
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Please turn with me to 1 Timothy
6 - starting at verse 3. We have been
looking at what? The Essentials of the
Church. What is essential for us as a
congregation to be doing - living out - if we’re to fulfill God’s
mission for us of living and sharing the Gospel in the world -
beginning right here in Merced. This
morning we’re coming to The Essential of Contentment. Let’s
say
that
together, “The
essential of contentment.” The Gallup-Healthways Well Being
Index - think Gallup polls - they came out a few weeks ago with a
survey of more than 353,000 Americans. They
asked
people
to assess their jobs, finances, physical health, emotional
state of mind and their communities. In
other words “How do you feel about where you’re living?”
“How content are you with where you’re at?” Number one on the list - place
where people are most content with their lives? Any
guesses? The place where people are most
content: Boulder, Colorado.
Number 162 - bottom of the pile - city where people are
least content with their lives? Any
guesses? #162 - Huntington, West Virginia. Remember the movie “We Are Marshall.” Same place. #161 - next to the bottom on the
list - Modesto, California. In fact
Modesto scored below Bakersfield which came in at #152.
Fresno came in at #103. On the top of the list - places
where people are most content with their lives and community: #56 Sacramento. #20
San
Francisco. #7 San Jose.
#6 Santa Barbara. #5 -
highest ranking in California: Santa Rosa
and Petaluma. Merced wasn’t even on the list. But then neither were Atwater and Plenada. So, go figure. We’re looking at the essential
of contentment. Contentment can be a
disaster. It can be an excuse for laziness
- avoidance - taking the path of least resistance - going along with
the status quo. There are times when we
need to move forward with our lives. To
not be content with where we’re at. And yet, being discontent can
get us into all kinds of trouble. With all
that we have in our lives - with all the ways that God has blessed us - isn’t it amazing how easily we become
discontent. How we can get ourselves into
trouble pursuing things that we have no business pursuing. In 1 Timothy 6 - beginning at verse 3 Paul goes straight to
our hearts: What Motivates Us? Let’s say that together, “What
motivates us?” At the heart level - deep inside - what really motives us - drives us - itches us under the skin - to be content or discontent with our lives? Is our contentment or discontentment a good thing or a disaster in progress? How do we know the difference?
1 Timothy
6:3: If anyone
advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words - meaning - those - words - the teaching - of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is
conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid - meaning deadly - interest in
controversial questions and disputes - literally battles - about words - arguments about words - out of which
arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant
friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who
suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Let’s pause there.
Paul is
using a real life situation in the
Ephesian church - using that situation as an example - of what goes on deep inside
us as - what motivates us - as we think about what we have and what we
desire - our contentment or discontentment with our lives. In verse 3 Paul writes that
there were those in
the Ephesian church who
were
teaching
what was contrary to what Jesus had taught. Beginning
in verse 4 Paul
focuses on their motivation - what’s going on in their hearts. He writes that they’re “conceited
and understand nothing.” Years ago I was scuba diving off
the coast of Mexico. Absolutely gorgeously clear warm
water. Amazing fish. Like
swimming
around
in a tropical aquarium. Floating around there under the
water the guide I was with handed me this small fish - a pretty little
fish with little spikes sticking out of it. As
I
held
that little fish gingerly between my fingers - avoiding the
spikes - that little fish swelled up to this ball shape twice the size
it was before.
Remember “Finding Nemo”? Same fish. A puffer fish.
They inflate their bodies to make themselves look more
impressive than they are. These men are conceited. They’re all puffed up - huge but empty -
desiring to get recognition they didn’t deserve. Acting
like
they
knew something about God and His word when in reality they
didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. Paul writes - out of that
conceit comes a deadly interest in controversy and questions and
disputes. There’s a saying, “An Irishman
doesn’t know what he believes but he’s willing to die for it.” Some people enjoy a good fight -
a good controversy or dispute or battle over doctrine or theology - or politics or just about
anything they can get a response about. Some
people
enjoy
pointing out how they disagree with others. Soon
they’ve
got people calling up and emailing and texting and Facebooking each other.
It strokes their egos to be at the center of all that. Makes
them
feel puffed up
- important - like
they’re knowledgeable - an important part of something. Paul writes, “This is a
morbid - deadly disease.” All this only leads to “envy,
strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, constant friction.” In a battle someone looses. Resentment builds - a malignancy - a cancer in
the church. Words get said - slander -
tearing at reputations - openly or in secret. Every
action
-
every word is suspect - interpreted - examined for motivation. The anger and hurt builds -
boils beneath the surface. People choose
sides.
They can’t
stand
to
be in the same room together. Ever been there? Sadly,
too
many
of us have. Conceited - empty people -
focused on themselves missing the joy of brotherhood - of sisterhood -
in the Body of Christ. Tearing the body apart from within. Then in verse 5 Paul exposes what’s going on below
the surface - the deeper issue of heart - the motivation that’s driving
their actions. “Men of
depraved mind and deprived of the truth - literally, men whose minds
have been corrupted by their own desires. Their actions - their puffy arguments - show that - in their hearts - in
what motivates them - the truth of God and life in Jesus - inside they
don’t know the truth. Something else
is driving them. Verse 5: these
depraved and deprived men think that godliness is a means of gain.” That’s
the
motivation
- selfish greed - filling the emptiness - the discontent within -
pursuing contentment by
their
own
means and effort and accomplishment. Their
motivation
is
self - not God. In Acts 8, we’re told that in
Samaria there was man by the name of Simon who was a magician. He was amazing the people there with his
tricks. He had a large following. People had given Simon the nickname, “The
Great Power of God.” Do you remember this? About that time the Apostle
Philip arrived in town and began preaching the Gospel.
A lot
of people believed
in Jesus and we’re baptized - including
Simon. When the news about all these
conversions got back to Jerusalem - Peter and John came up to Samaria
to pray for the new believers and to lay hands on them so that they
would receive the Holy Spirit - a sign of unity - connecting the
believers in Jerusalem with the new believers in Samaria. When Simon - “The Great Power of
God” - saw what Peter and John were doing - the laying on of hands and
the receiving of the Holy Spirit - the God given authority and
recognition that Peter and John had in the community - Simon offered
the Apostles money. He said, “Give this
authority to me so that everyone I lay my hands on will receive the
Holy Spirit. Give me the secret to this
magic trick so I can amaze the people too.” He
saw godliness as a means to gain something for himself. Peter says to Simon, “May your
silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift
of God with money! Repent - ask for God’s
forgiveness for this attitude in your heart.” (Acts 8:9-24) People come to Jesus - to
Jesus’ church - because they’re not content with what’s going on in
their lives so they come for some kind of quick fix from God. Then when God begins to work in their lives -
being around God and His people - when their lives get a tad more
manageable - rather than giving their lives to God and seeking His
complete healing - salvation - forgiveness of sin - wholeness in Christ
- they flake out. Because the heart
motivation is about us - what God can do for me. “We’re
teaching our children the importance of regular church attendance… what time should we pick them up?” Many people see Christianity
only as a great moral lifestyle. A great
benefit to how we live life. A great
environment for the kids where they can learn something.
Dropping them off sets a good example for them. Some
people
see church as some kind of happy hunting grounds - a place to
find someone to marry. Someone with
similar values. The church is a place to conduct
business - to meet friends - a community gathering place.
The Creekside Evangelical Free Club. Some people have the idea that
Godliness is doing Godly things - showing up for services - giving
money - not swearing - too much. Trying to
earn God’s blessing - contentment coming from God - buying all that
with a godly lifestyle. But don’t talk to us about all
that joining in the suffering of Jesus stuff - taking up our cross and
living life like Jesus did - sacrificing ourselves - loosing our lives. That’s just over the top.
I’m not here for all that. Just
keep
me
awake during the sermon - give me something to encourage me -
and then let me get on with my life. Godliness isn’t a commodity - something to
be traded for or earned by our own efforts. Godliness
isn’t
about
us. All that God offers us in
a relationship with Him isn’t about us. If
were working to achieve Godliness by doing what satisfies our own egos
- working for Godliness by our own efforts - we’ll never find the
contentment we’re looking for. Paul writes, that self-serving
motivation - is morbid - depraved - self-destructive - a motivation that has nothing to
do with true godliness. Going on in verse 6: But - in contrast - godliness
actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. There’s a whole different
motivation here - Godliness and contentment. The
two
go
together at the heart level. One of the best definitions of
contentment that I’ve heard comes from the perspective of a tortoise:
Contentment is being at ease in our own shell. The Greek word here for
contentment “autarkeias” means sufficiency - satisfaction.
Having all we need and wanting only that much. Put another way.
When we get God we get contentment. When
we get contentment we get Godliness. Let’s
say that together: “When we get God we get contentment. When we get contentment we get Godliness.” When - at the heart of who we
are - our motivation is God - not us - we experience true contentment. When we’re content with God we begin to
experience true Godliness. All that may sound a tad
confusing. And it is.
Verses 7 to 11 - Paul is going to give us four
principles of contentment to help us think through what all that means
for us. First principal of contentment: You Can’t Take It With You. Say
that
with
me, “You can’t take it with you.” Verse 7: For we have
brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it
either. A few millennia ago the Egyptian
pharaohs built huge pyramids with large vaults filled with riches that
would make Bill Gates envious. They had
themselves mummified - prepared - stuffed and preserved for the next life. Today
we
have
museums filled with rotting mummies and Egyptian artifacts. Jesus told a parable of a rich
man who had a bumper crop. Remember this? He’d
harvested
so
much grain he didn’t know what to do with it. He
was
rich. So he decided to
expand his business. He began to dream of
how he was going to enjoy life and his retirement.
Expansion - wealth - no end in sight.
On the night he was dreaming about all that what happened?
This
upward mobile rich man died. (Luke 12:16-21) Job put it this way, “Naked I
came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.” (Job 1:21) Yet, somehow in our deluded way
of thinking - when we get our eyes off of God and onto ourselves - we
think we can take it with us. So many
people today are working very hard - they’ve given their lives to producing
nothing
of
lasting value. They’re giving everything -
sacrificing family - friendships - health - relationship with God -
stressing themselves out - burning themselves out 26/7 - trying to obtain contentment through the
accumulation of wealth and things and reputation and experiences. Trying
to
hang
on to all that - filling up their houses and garages and
renting storage space - hanging on to stuff like it really counts for
something. First principle of contentment -
let’s
recognize that we
can’t take it with us. So why are we living like we can? Second principle of contentment: God Takes Care of His Own. Let’s
try
that
together, “God takes
care of His own.”
During the Exodus - about 2½ months
after the Hebrews had left Egypt - the
people began to grumble - whining - against Moses and
Aaron.
They said, “We wish God would have
killed us back in Egypt. At least there we
had plenty to eat. There was bread and
meat. But, you - Moses and Aaron have
brought us out into this wilderness to kill us with starvation.” God - being very merciful with this group of whiners - God told Moses what He was going to supply the
needs of His people and what the people were suppose to do. We’re together on this? Right? God was going to rain down bread from heaven - manna - each morning the people were to go out and
gather up whatever bread they needed only for that day.
Every sixth day the people were to gather enough bread for
2 days - the seventh day being the Sabbath - when God wouldn’t send
bread and the people weren’t suppose to work or bake anyway. That’s
pretty basic - gather only
as much bread as you need for one day. No
more - except on the 6th day. The focus here is what? Its not about bread and which days to collect it. The focus is on God and what God is teaching His people about Himself. When God sent the bread the people gathered
it up. True to human nature - some people kept more bread than they
needed for just that day. Maybe they
thought, “What
if
God
doesn’t send bread tomorrow? How
will we have enough to eat.” So they kept extra bread.
The bread they kept - by the next morning - what happened to it? Became
filled with maggots and smelled terrible. So,
the
people
learned - gather just enough for today. God
will
provide for us tomorrow. On the sixth day - the bread they kept
according to God’s instructions - gathering enough for two days - what happened to it? It stayed
fresh
-
even though it was kept over night. So,
the people learned. God is in control. Trust God. (Exodus 16:1-36) Jesus said this, “Don’t worry
about your life - what you’ll eat or what you’ll wear.
There’s more to life than food and clothing.
Look at the ravens. God takes
care of them. Look at the lilies. God takes care of them. You
can’t
add
a single day to your life. So
why are you trying too? Don’t worry. Seek God’s kingdom first.
Make that your priority - your heart motivation - And God will
take care of everything else.” (Luke 12:22-34) Way too often were robbing
ourselves of contentment stressing out over what God never intends for
us to stress out over. Be satisfied with
what God gives you today. Let God take
care of what you’ll need tomorrow. God
takes care of His own. Trust God. If we could get a hold of that reality - down at the heart
level - it would
transform our lives. Then the third principle of
contentment: You Can’t Buy Happiness. Let’s
try
that
together, “You can’t
buy happiness.” Ed was in trouble.
He forgot his wedding anniversary. His
wife
was
really angry. She told him, “Tomorrow
morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to
200 in less than 6 seconds, and it better be there!” The next morning Ed got up early
and left for work. When his wife woke up
she looked out the window and sure enough, there was a wrapped box -
red ribbon - red bow - sitting in the middle of the driveway. Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out
to the driveway and brought the box back in the house.
She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale. Ed has been missing since Wednesday. Verse 9 - you can’t buy happiness - But those
who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish
and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts
of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many griefs. Rabobank is a Dutch bank -
which focuses on food and agri-business. They
have
their
name on the Rabobank Arena down in Bakersfield. Rabobank
is not be confused with this outfit. Robabank
- which is focused on greed and
getting whatever we want when we want it. People trying to buy
happiness - running up credit debt - buying stuff they have no clue
about how they’re going to pay for it. Then
they’re
surprised
that they’re in financial trouble. Then when God wants to use what
He’s blessed them with they’ve spent it and a whole lot more. They’re so tied up in debt that when God puts
an opportunity in front of them - an opportunity to be hugely blessed
by God and to hugely bless others - to experience real blessing coming
from God - true contentment in their lives - they’re so trapped in
their own pit of self-serving debt that they have no way of being a
part of what God is doing. Don’t miss that:
This buy now pay later instant gratification attempt at
contentment robs us today of the future blessings of God. Money isn’t the root of all evil. What is? The love
of money is the root of all evil. An
unhealthy desire - a heart motivation focused on wealth - stuff we
think will bring contentment. Anyone know who this is? Jack
Benny.
Great actor - comedian - of several years ago. We won’t say how many. Putting it mildly, Jack Benny had a problem letting go of money. There was a sketch where a robber comes and
points a gun at Jack Benny and the robber says, “Your money or your life.” After a long
silent pause, again the robber says, “Your money or your
life.” And
Jack
Benny
says, “I’m
thinking. I’m thinking.”
Money represents security - investment -
influence - control. There’s prudence to the
wise use of money. There were a number of wealthy men in the
Bible who were blessed by God. Wealth is
not the problem. Motivation is. Jesus - in talking about birds and flowers - Jesus is asking, “Where’s your heart? In what or whom are you trusting?” Our attitude
towards wealth and material things shows us the priority of our hearts - the priority of
our character - our will - the inner core of who we are.
That’s
why Paul uses wealth as an example for us. What
are
you
longing for? Who do you love?
We need to be very careful with the priorities
of our heart especially when it comes to wealth. Longing
for
money
- and all that that represents for our own self-preservation
and ego - that longing is a trap - a mirage. Enticing. Yes. But, still a
trap. Paul warns us - thinking we can buy contentment
is the beginning of
a plunge into a bottomless pit of ruin and destruction.
Trusting in money we open ourselves up to a host of sins -
pride - selfishness - covetousness - greed. Our
very
faith
- our eternal destiny - is in jeopardy. You can’t take it with you. God takes care of His own, You can’t buy
happiness. And the fourth principle of
contentment: Choose God. Let’s say that together, “Choose God.” Make God your bottom line. Verse 11: But flee
from these things -
all of these other motivations - flee from
these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Erika Greene was a 20 year
old warehouse worker
in Dacula Georgia - just north east of Atlanta. One
day
she
did something she’d never done before. She
went
into a Texaco station - spent $10 and bought two lottery tickets. Erika became one of three winners of the $331
million Big Game jackpot. She choose the
cash option - which meant that in - before taxes money - Erika won
$58.9 million. Some of you - in hearing that -
may be saying. “She is so
lucky.” Some of you are already thinking
about how to spend that money. 10% to the
church. Take care of God.
Quit my job. Buy a canal
front home in La Grand. Hire a chauffer
for the combine. Some of you are saying, “I hope that
never happens to me.” A while back in the pocket of a
rich man who had just committed suicide they found $30,000 in cash and
a note. The note said, “I have
discovered during my life that piles of money do not bring happiness. I am taking my life because I no longer can
stand the solitude and boredom. When I was
an ordinary workman in New York I was happy. Now
that
I
possess millions I am infinitely sad and prefer death.” (1) Paul writes, “Flee from
these things. RUN!”
The
Greek word is “pheugo.” Like Yugo - only
more powerful. Most cars are.
YOU GO!!! Forget what’s
behind. Throw away the rear view mirror. Put the pedal to the metal.
Floor it. Drive away. “Pursue” is a word that has the
idea of running someone down. Imagine
doing that in a Yugo. The pursuit has
passion. Someone grabs your child and
you’re putting everything you are in catching that person and there’s
gonna be a lot hurt when you do. That’s
the kind of passion that’s in this word “pursue.” Flee is to run from. Pursue is to run towards.
Both are choices of the heart. Flee
from
and
pursue towards. If we’re to find
contentment in our hearts we need to do both. Hold up your hand in front of
your face. With the back towards you. Turn your hand around. The
back
part
turns away the palm turns toward you. Unless
there’s
something
seriously wrong with your hand you can’t turn one
side without turning the other side with it. We can’t flee is we won’t pursue. And we can’t pursue if we won’t flee. Both are crucial. Turning
our
life
away from seeking contentment apart from God - what Paul has
been writing about here in chapter 6 - and turning to pursue God - the
only true source of contentment - turning to pursue God with everything
we are. Verse 11 is a list to get us
started. Paul writes - here’s how
you choose God - pursue these things: First - Pursue
Righteousness: Pursue living life in the
way that God approves of. Saying no to
what’s wrong and yes to what’s right - regardless of what those around
us may be saying - regardless of what it may seem to cost us
personally. Second - Pursue
Godliness: Pursue living life with a
reverence and a respect for God - not just on Sundays or when you’re
hanging around Christians. Third - Pursue Faith: Choose to trust God. To
live
putting
our confidence in God and God alone. In
the
stuff of life - in our relationships - in our daily needs - take
hold of God’s promises and live trusting God. Fourth - Pursue Love: Live with compassion for others.
We need to see others as God sees us.
As those who need help - encouragement - understanding -
grace - mercy - forgiveness. People who
need to know that God loves them. That God
desires for them to know Him and live with Him through life. Pursue sharing God’s love with others. Fifth - Pursue
Perseverance: Be immovable - doggedly
determined to continue following after God - to hang in and hang on
with God - regardless of what the world throws at you. Sixth
-
Pursue Gentleness: Which means relying
on God rather than our own strength - even when we’re wronged by others. God gives us a choice. The emptiness of this world or contentment
that’s found only in Him. The bottom line is that what
Paul writes here - the bottom line of all this is our hearts. What motivates us? Which
is
the
contrast that Paul makes - men who have given their hearts and lives to the on the empty pursuit of
pleasing themselves versus those who have focused their hearts and
lives on God. Those who get God and get contentment. As an essential of the church -
the world needs to see that contentment lived out in our lives. Men - like that man with $30,000 in his pocket
- alone in death - people need to see the alternative found in Jesus
Christ. They need to see churches and
believers in Jesus Christ that trust in God and not the amount of their investments. Churches
that
believe
in God’s promises not the bottom line in a budget.
Churches that are learning to pray together - to study together - to worship together. Believers in Jesus Christ who are
learning to listen together to the voice of God for direction and not
the shifting winds of the economy. One
last
question. A take home question. Is what motivates you winning
the lottery or something much greater found only in Jesus Christ? ________________________ 1. W.A. Maier, “For Better Not For
Worse” Unless otherwise indicated,
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright
© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by
the Lockman Foundation. Used by
permission. |