The Danger of Perverting the Gospel by Pursuing Money

This passage of scripture we are exploring in this study is an indictment of modern Western culture. Never before in history has there been such a restless pursuit of riches, by more and more highly developed means. Never before has the love of money been elevated to the highest and greatest good. Never before have so many people tripped over one another in their eagerness to get rich and thereby impaled themselves on the consequences of their own greed.

Bishop N.T. Wright asserts, “The greatest irony of it all is that it's done in the name of contentment - or, which is more or less the same thing as happiness.

“Many people give lip service to the maxim that “money can’t buy you happiness”, but most give life-service to the hope that it just might, after all. The “pursuit of happiness”, and the idea that this is a basic human right, is all very well, but when it's taken to mean the unfettered pursuit of wealth it turns into a basic human wrong. And yet every advertisement, every other television program, many movies and most political manifestos are designed, by subtle and not-so-subtle ways, to make us say, “If only I had just a bit more money, then I would be content.”

1. The Deceptive Teachers and Their Perversion of the Gospel – 6:2b-10

1 Timothy 6:2b-10 is Paul's final indictment of the false teachers in Ephesus. This passage has many similarities to 1 Tim. 1:3-7, which was Paul’s opening confrontation with the opponents of the gospel. One paraphrase says, "I go back to the warning with which I began."

The Unhealthiness of the Message of the False Teachers - 6:3-5

The Amplified Bible translates verses 3-5 this way: “But if anyone teaches otherwise and does not assent to the sound and wholesome messages of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and the teaching which is in agreement with godliness (piety toward God), He is puffed up with pride and stupefied with conceit, [although he is] woefully ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy and disputes and strife about words, which result in (produce) envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissension, abuse and insults and slander, and base suspicions, And protracted wrangling and wearing discussion and perpetual friction among men who are corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, who imagine that godliness or righteousness is a source of profit [a moneymaking business, a means of livelihood]. From such withdraw.” 

The opponents of Timothy in the church at Ephesus are teaching a different gospel. Their teaching is not healthy, and they are ignorant, foolish, and given to speculation and arguments over words instead of preaching the message about Jesus the Christ. The opposition has arisen from within the Ephesian church, not from without, and the opponents knowingly have given themselves to the error, thus causing self-inflicted wounds. Their motivation is tainted, desiring not only the respect of being teachers of the law but also money. Their teaching is devoid of almost any content and is rather a babbling about words.

We are seeing so much of this type of ministry today as Christianity is commonly presented on the basis of what you will gain by following Jesus: freedom from guilt and shame, personal success and happiness, a stronger family, a more secure life, etc. These things are all true to some degree, but we must never proclaim the gospel as a product that is first and foremost about me and that will fix every problem in life.

When the gospel is presented this way, it takes the focus off the glory of God and Jesus Himself, and puts the focus on what He will give us. Many have their hearts set on the blessings, not the One who blesses us.

While not ignoring the blessings of following our Lord Jesus Christ, we must proclaim the need to follow Him because He is God, and we owe Him everything as our Creator and the only Savior of sinners. What is right before God, and what glorifies Him, is more important than whatever benefit we may gain. We need to see Christians who are more concerned with what glorifies God than with what benefits me.

The Ungodliness of Teaching that Godliness is a Way of Financial Gain - 6:5c,  “imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” The Message says, “They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.” 

These false teachers supposed “that godliness is a way of financial gain.” They used their religious profession as a means to make money. What they did was not a true ministry; it was just a religious business.

The Unprofitableness of Falling in Love with Money - 6:9-10 - “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.”

1 Timothy 6:5c, "are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth…” What these false teachers thought was profitable turns out to be total loss. The gospel has been taken from them. This same idea is repeated in Titus 1:14: the Cretans should not "give heed to Jewish myths or to commands of people who reject the truth.” The phrase creates a picture of people who have no participation in the gospel whatsoever. They do not teach an altered gospel; what they teach is wholly different (cf. 1 Tim 1:3). In the Prison Epistles, “aletheia” or "truth," is almost a technical term for the orthodox gospel (cf. 1 Tim 2:4). The opponents are often pictured as opposing the truth of the gospel (2 Tim 2:18; 3:7,18; 4:4).

Paul listed five different effects of these false teachers on the church: "envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement" (vv. 4-5). This is what flourishes among those who are "depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain" (v. 5).

Because the opponents had fallen in love with money, they had, as it were, stabbed themselves with the sword of greed and bore the intense pain and grief of self-inflicted wounds. It can refer to the pangs of guilt, conscience, remorse, and the actual pains incurred by the sin itself.

2. The Truth of the Gospel Should Lead the Believer to Godliness of Life – 6:6-8, 17-19

“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.” 

We introduced these studies in 1 Timothy by asserting that its central message in a nutshell, is Christ-centered godliness for the sake of the gospel. Personal godliness (Christ-infused godliness) is essential for glorifying God by enjoying Him and not setting our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy, as well as compelling proclamation of the gospel to the lost world.

Godliness Coupled with Contentment is Very Profitable –6:6

The Greek word for godliness is “eusebeia” which means “to stand in awe and reverence of that which is majestic, holy and divine; to worship in such a way as befits this awesome God; to actively obey the will of this God.” This word is the heart and soul of true faith. When applied to material things in general and money in particular, it carries with it these ideas:

(1) Worshipping Reverently and Passionately – Eusebeia means worshipping God, and not things or money. Matt. 6:24  "No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money. Matt. 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

What Jesus’ was saying in verse 21 was that a man’s interests are where his investments are. John Simpson said: “A man’s soul travels the same road as his money.  If his money travels the high road, so will his soul; if his money travels down the low road, so will his soul.”  This is exactly what Jesus said. 

The crucial issue for the child of God isn't how much money we make, but what our money is making us in terms of character and not just cash. It's not the size of our treasure, but its location. Why? Because what we prize the most we pursue the hardest. To put it another way, the location of our treasure determines the love of our hearts. Is our goal in life just to make a good living for our family or to make a great life for our God? Are you making a mess of life while making a living? Is our acquisition of money and material things for personal expenses and experiences, or for kingdom extension? Are we in the marketplace for gold or for God?

(2) Thinking Rightly – Eusebeia means understanding the real value of things, of money, and not just their cost. Far too many Americans know the cost of everything and the true value of nothing. They know about riches, but never about wealth. They think success is spelled CASH, instead of CHARACTER, or GOLD instead of GOD. They think success with possessions means success as a person. They believe the bigger the barns and the bank accounts, the better the life.

The Wall Street Journal described money as "an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except Heaven, and as a universal provider of everything except happiness."

God's plan for prosperity includes everything. Yet, too often, we associate prosperity with just money. Money is a part of prosperity, but only a small part. In fact, money is the lowest form of prosperity.

Money can buy a lot of things: A skilled doctor but not health. A high-priced psychiatrist but not peace. A house but not a home. Clothes for your children but not their respect. A vacation but not enjoyment. A car but not safety. Food but not contentment. A Bible but not understanding. Shrewd lawyers but not justice. A beautiful church building but not spiritual people. Companionship but not friendship. A wedding but not a marriage.

There are definite limitations to money. Money is not inherently evil, but neither is it inherently good. Money is amoral. It is only an instrument. You can use it for good, or you can use it for evil. True prosperity is the ability to use God's power, according to God's will, in God's timing, to meet the needs of others and extend the gospel of the kingdom of God.

Money is a barometer of your heart. In a sense, money is you in spendable form. It frequently does what I can't do physically, i.e. be in more than one place at a time. Money can take my place and minister the gospel, minister healing and help, provide food and shelter, by providing the monies for others to go in my behalf.

Right thinking is thinking God’s thoughts after Him. To do this requires Spirit-illumined, Biblical thinking. This type of thinking enables the child of God to understand that there is an eternal difference between material riches and eternal wealth

Riches are material, wealth is spiritual; riches are left behind at death, wealth is transferred into eternity. Real wealth involves being rightly related to God; building redemptive relationships with people; becoming aware of our destiny and strategic place in the Family business of Almighty and Sons; cultivating and appreciating our health and making wise use of the limited time we have; learning the art of material contentment!

Missionary Jim Elliot, who was one of five men brutally slain by the Auca Indians to whom they were attempting to minister the gospel, knew what true wealth was and he wrote in his diary before embarking on this dangerous mission for God: "He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose!"

(3) Loving Deeply - Eusebeia means loving God first and then loving people and not things. It means loving God’s heart and not just His hand. Godliness enables the child of God to use money and things to bless people, instead of using people to get more money to buy more things.

The bishop or overseer of the church is told in 1 Timothy 3:3, “not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” The ministers of mercy, better known as deacons, are told in 1 Timothy 3:8, to not be “greedy for money.” In 2 Timothy 3:2, Paul says that there’s a generation in which, “people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,”

Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

(4) Obeying Willingly – Eusebeia means doing what’s pleasing to God and profitable in producing contentment in God, instead of doing what will make us the most money.. Luke 12:15, “Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of covetousness or greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Covetousness is desiring something so much that you lose your contentment in God and start to get it from something else.

(5) Living Sufficiently – We are told in verse six that godliness with contentment is great gain.  The Greek word for contentment is “autarkeias.”  It comes from a word that pictured an ancient walled in city that had everything it needed inside the walls so that it was self-sufficient and not dependent on outside help or in danger from the enemy cutting off all supplies. It’s the idea expressed in Philps 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The Amplified Bible reads: “I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me – I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, [that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.”

We Must See Material Things in Their Proper Light – 6:17-19

The Ephesian church consisted of slaves, poor widows, well-to-do women and householders, and some of these could be categorized as "the rich." To the latter Paul has left important instructions. They come at the end of the letter because of the preceding discussion about the false teachers' greed. He has written already of the dangers of riches. Now his concern is for the spiritual state of wealthy believers. He focuses on the responsibility and proper attitude toward wealth that comes from a proper understanding of God.

(1) A Manifestation of God’s Goodness – 6:17, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” 

(2) A Means of Doing Good – 6:18, “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,” 

(3) A Material for Investing for Eternal Gain - 6:19, “thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 

We in America and much of Western Europe are rich. If you make $25,000 per year, you are in the top 10 percent of the world's wealthiest people. Food, water, clothes - God has given us so much. But what are we doing with these great blessings? Christians give an average of 2.5 percent to their churches, and churches in North America give an average of 2 percent of their funds to overseas missions. Based on these averages, this means that for every one hundred dollars a North American Christian makes, he gives five cents to the rest of the world.

Jesus gave a parable in Luke 12:16-21 about a rich man who got even richer by producing a good crop and decided to build bigger barns to store all his grain and goods in order to say to his soul: "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' Jesus then gives the point of the parable in Luke 12:21, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

This is the key to prosperity on every level – being rich toward God. Instead of telling believers to be content to do without, or to try and live in material simplicity rather than greedy materialism, we should challenge them to be rich toward God. What does this mean? Obviously, we can’t make God rich. It means pursuing intimacy with God, which is true godliness. It means making ourselves rich with God, by turning our eyes God-ward and finding in God the real Treasure and Pleasure of life. Godliness is a superior desire that overcomes the craving for material things and produces great eternal wealth.

Are you being rich toward God or are you trying to use God to get material riches?