Avoiding Being Ensnared by Money

 “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” - 1 Timothy 6: 6-8

                Socrates, a famous Greek Philosopher, once said that “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” This saying is worthy to be pondered by all Christians, especially professionals.

We live in a society where materialism is highly valued and adored, a society that mostly advertises the latest material things that would give us temporal happiness. Every day, we are encouraged to pursue successes in our careers. This act is a noble thing to do (don’t get me wrong) as long as it is done for the glory of the Lord. Yes, for the Lord only. Other than that, you are guilty of idolatry.

There are only two simple choices that Christ laid out. In Luke 16:13, Christ summarizes His point about the parable of the dishonest manager. He said,

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

In other words, Christ is asking us where our allegiance is. One of the easiest ways to test yourself is by asking a very simple question. What motivates me to become successful in the work place? Is it for wealth, fame and status in life? Or is it for God to be glorified?

Now, for us to have a clear understanding about the two possible reasons, we need to consult God’s Word about this matter. I believe in the sufficiency of God’s Word. Meaning, the Scriptures are sufficient to answer all of life’s problems and dilemmas. We only need to look for it.

First, let’s start in 1 Timothy 6:9-10. This text tells us about the “problem” we are facing daily. The text says,

“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.”

The key phrases we need to have our attention to will show the main reason why people pursue wealth rather than God. Paul warns Timothy that the “desire to be rich”, “the love of money", and “craving” for material wealth have caused people to fall into temptation and eventually to destruction. It is the temptation to put material wealth first rather than God. Putting money as our top priority is idolatry before God and thus, sure destruction will follow. Putting our trust and security on our material possessions to sustain us will be our ultimate damnation. Destruction will come not only in this world but most importantly in eternity. Eternal punishment in hell is in stored for those who deny God as God. Worshiping the creature rather than the Creator is breaking God’s greatest law. Jesus affirms this in Mark 12:29-30, He says,

“The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

To simply put it, Christ says that God must be the first love of our hearts. All of our being (soul) or reason for existence should be only for Him. All of our thoughts will be to glorify Him alone. And all the strength that we use daily in doing our tasks must be attributed only for His glory and honor. God must be all in all.

So what should be our attitudes in order to avoid being ensnared by money? This is where our text comes in. During Paul’s ministry of the gospel to the gentiles, false teachers were rampantly proclaiming false doctrines. These false teachers see godliness or religion as a means of gaining wealth.

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with 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.” 

                                                                                      - 1 Timothy 6:3-5

Paul then tells us how to avoid such temptations of loving money. The following verses tell us these:

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” - 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Mainly, there are four biblical points that Paul cited in these verses that will help us avoiding being ensnared by money.

1) Train Yourself in Godliness

                In 1 Timothy 4:7, Paul mentions that we should train ourselves in developing a godly character. Verse 8 further explains that, “For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Living our lives in accordance to God’s will is both beneficial to our present life and for the life to come, which is eternity in Heaven!

2) Have Our Sufficiency in God Alone

                Paul added the word “contentment” after godliness in verse 6. When we say being contented it simply means being self-sufficient. If we are contented of whatever God has currently gave us, we will never be moved by the tempting pleasures of materialism.

                According to Blaise Pascal, one of the world’s greatest mathematicians, “inside a man’s heart is an infinite vacuum that only God could fill and satisfy.” Henry Ford, a world renowned industrialist, once said in the height of his success, “I was more happier doing a mechanic’s job.”

                During Paul’s early life as a Pharisee he was a highly regarded teacher of the Law. He was circumcised on the 8^th day. He belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. He is a Hebrew of Hebrews. He was blameless and righteous in following God’s moral, civil and ceremonial laws. He was zealous for God to the point he persecuted the church of Christ. However, he counted all of them as rubbish for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.  Paul’s sufficiency was focused on God alone. No wonder that the apostle Paul accomplished many things for God!

                The Psalmist also had it right when he said, “… in Thy presence there is fullness of joy and in Thy right hand are pleasures forevermore.”- Psalm 16:11

               

3) Put More Value on Eternity

                “..for we brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”

                                                                                                                     - 1 Timothy 6:7

                Instead of focusing our minds in the world, we should focus more on eternity. Verse 7 tells us that we brought nothing into this world and more certainly we cannot take anything with us either. And because of that, we should therefore use our current resources to invest for heaven. We should remember that: 

      1)   There is more to life than pursuing material things.

      2)      Money making concern should not be our highest priority.

      3)      We should glorify God in plenty or in hunger, in abundance or in need. (Phil. 4:12 and Job 1:21)

      4)      We should lay up treasures in heaven instead. For where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.  (Matt. 6:20-21)

4) Trust in God’s Providence

                For the apostle Paul, having enough food and clothing during his missionary journeys are enough to cater his physical needs. He never asked God for more material things. God not only provided His physical needs, but more importantly, God provided him wisdom, strength, boldness, love and zeal to carry out the tasks of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.

                Trust in God’s divine providence. Let us not be anxious about life, what we will eat or what we will drink, nor about our body, what we will put on. Life is more than food and clothing. Christ simply puts the analogy about the birds in the air that neither toils for their food. Aren’t we more precious than them? Therefore, we must seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first then God will surely provide our needs. (Matt. 6:25-33 and Romans 8:32)

Our Response:

Paul’s Mission, Our Mission

                What kept the apostle from focusing on material things? The answer is very simple. His primary focus is set in knowing Christ alone intimately and second, to share that love in Christ to others, so that in the end, both him and his fellow brothers in Christ will attain the resurrection from the dead. Paul has set his mind for eternity, we should also!

In Philippians 3:10-11, Paul reveals his reason for forsaking his earthly stature as a Pharisee.

                “ –that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Therefore, knowing all of these things, let us not seek to obtain more than what God has presently provided. Rather, we must train ourselves in godliness, put our sufficiency in God, use our resources to invest in eternity and to share the gospel of Christ to the lost. In doing so, we would not be ensnared by money but be captivated in God.