What Drives You?

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Introduction:

Good morning once again and since I haven't had the opportunity before today, Happy New Year! I am delighted to be back in the pulpit today. We are starting the new year off with a bang. As you know, we have been walking through the nativity account leading up to Christmas in the book of Luke. We are going to step away from Luke's gospel for a couple of weeks to finish up I Timothy chapter 6 and then we will get back into Luke. As you heard Karen read, we are in I Timothy chapter 6, verses 1 through 10.

Recap of I TIMOTHY details

Opening illustration:

What I am going to tell them: Why should they listen to me?

This morning

If you have ever felt discontented in your life, if you have felt like you are just running the rat race day after day, or if you are always wanting more but never feeling satisfied, today’s passage speaks to your situation.

In this passage we see three main sections. Slaves should be driven by glorifying God and advancing the gospel through their work, the destructive goal and motive of false teaching, and contentment with godliness as the cure to a love for money.

These verses begin with what is considered a very touchy subject in our culture: slavery. Slavery was common in that day and God addressed it in the New Testament in more than one place. So what is Paul doing here? He's not condoning slavery. But before we get to what he's saying here it is helpful to consider that there are four basic types of slavery throughout human history.

1. Hebrew slavery

2. Roman slavery

3. Indentured servitude

4. Euro/American slavery

_Transition statement:_

I. Slaves should be driven by glorifying God and advancing the gospel through their work. (v. 1-2)

1 Timothy 1:1–2 ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Slavery is a product of sin.

Like divorce.

God has spoken to the things we face in a fallen world. Slavery was one of those realities.

Paul's goal was not to condone slavery but to urge those under the burden of slavery to serve in a way that would bring God glory and advance the gospel by making the faith look legit to outsiders.

Especially serving well if the masters are Christians because they are brothers and sisters.

Application: What situation are you currently in ?

Motive of the slaves (what should drive them) - giving a good impression of the faith to unbelievers who are watching

Teach and urge these things - Paul reminds Timothy of his role to teach these things.

_Transition statement:_

II. The goal of false teaching is division, destruction, and confusion. (v. 3-5)

1 Timothy 6:3–5 ESV

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Staying watchful: Me just about merging into another vehicle on the way to MS

We tend to miss things in our blindspots.

Blindspots: Slavery, Materialism, false teaching catches us off guard sometimes

_Transition statement:_

III. Contentment with godliness is the cure for the love of money. (v. 6-10)

1 Timothy 6:6–10 ESV

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

These false teachers thought of godliness as a means of gain.

There were lots of controversies in the church at Ephesus. Paul points out how they got that way.

Materialism is - deceptive

- dangerous

- damning (deadly)

We know from earlier in the letter that there were false teachers present in the church at Ephesus. We see here that they were driven by a love for money. They were in it for gain. Before we get into their greed, Paul aims to explain their basic theological error.

False teaching does not adhere to what the Bible actually teaches about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Sound - What the Bible teaches about Jesus

- this is medical term for healthy or wholesome

- that which produces spiritual well-being

Ryken - "The difference between true religion and false religion always comes down to Jesus Christ - who he is and what he has done."

The reason why we oppose Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and any other religion is because they are unsound in what they teach about Jesus Christ.

Our first question for any other religion should be: What does it teach about Jesus Christ?

The question we should have for every person is: What do you think of Jesus Christ?

_Transition statement:_

Conclusion:

Ryken - "Discontent is life’s burglar. It robs every other experience of its God-given joy. Someone who is discontent is always operating at a loss."

Being content with Christ:

Is Jesus enough for you or are you seeking more? If you have nothing but Jesus, is that enough?

Is His Word enough for you or are you seeking something more than what He has already said and provided? (False teachers go beyond the Word)

A personal word: contentment has been a struggle for me most of my life...

I'm always changing things up in my life. I change up my bags that I carry each day, I change the furniture around in my office, etc.

Under normal circumstances there is nothing wrong with changing things up or moving things around or getting new things. Only if it's not out of a desire to seek joy and happiness in something else other than Jesus.

Making money is not a sin. In fact, we are called to provide for our families. But when we live lives driven by greed and the desire to get more and more, we show where the motivations of our hearts actually lie.

My experience with food??????? - where some find joy or cope or contentment................

Where is your contentment and joy found?

What is the source you find yourself constantly running towards.

In Christ we can find true contentment whether slave or free.

We are free in Christ.

Philippians 4:13 in context.

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