EAGER TO BE RICH IS A TEMPTATION AND A TRAP
SCRIPTURE:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1Timothy 6:6—12)
OBSERVATION
Paul gave Timothy a young pastor advise that will help him stand against false teachers and help him lead the church. Godliness with contentment is a great gain. Nothing can truly bring contentment unless God is in it. People have desires to be rich and fill their lives with materialistic things. People want to be rich and have fallen into many temptations.
Paul shared a perspective with Timothy that will help curb the desires to be rich. Paul warned that the desire to get rich often is a trap that gets people into many foolish and harmful desires that plunged them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Money is a great necessity. Everyone needs money, and just a little bit more money.
But money is not the root of all evil things. The LOVE money is. It is a trap that has ruined so many people and leads so many to do ALL KINDS OF EVIL. I love what Paul said to Timothy, “BUT YOU MAN OF GOD, FLEE FROM ALL THIS. To be rich is not your pursuit, because it doesn’t bring contentment. Once one tasted riches, people often want more. Thus, our pursuit is righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
The pursue of the man of God is different from what other people run after. Pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness, Paul calls it Fighting the good fight of faith. The good fight of faith does not pierce a person with many kinds of pain. I must fight a good fight of faith in pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. What a great warning and exhortation to pursue not the love of money, but the love of what makes one a man or a woman of God.
APPLICATION:
My desire is to pursue what will draw me closer to God. I will continue to set myself to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness so I may be able to be a person that God is please with and use for his glory. Money, though important, it does not bring contentment. I want to live a life of contentment by pursuing godliness.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you for reminding me of what to pursue as I journey with you. I ask that you continue to help me pursue your righteousness. Help me to live a godly life and to develop my faith in such a way that honors you. Help me to love as you love and to learn endurance and gentleness. Teach me to be a person that loves you more than anything in life. Amen!
