The danger of turning away from God’s Word 1 Timothy 6:3 - 10

The danger of turning away from God’s Word BACKGROUND Letter written by Paul in around 64 AD Written to Timothy who he had left in Ephesus to lead the church there In these verses Paul teaches on the dangers of straying from God’s Word and the dangers of living for money rather than for God

The danger of turning away from God’s Word At the beginning of the letter Paul has warned of the dangers of listening to false teachers (1:3 – 7), as he nears the end of the letter he returns to the theme Following the words of Jesus will lead to godly lives Following false teachers will lead to pride, disputes, envy, corruption of the mind, a lack of truth as the basis for living A warning to withdraw from associating with such people (5)

The danger of turning away from God’s Word A major issue for Paul is that the false teachers are seeking financial gain from their activities (5) Religion can be a powerful tool for the unscrupulous Genuine church leaders should not be lovers of money (3:4) or pursue dishonest gain (3;8) If the leaders are corrupt they will “infect” the rest of the Body through their influence and teaching

The danger of turning away from God’s Word True wealth is reflected in a settled (contented) outlook to life no matter how much is in the bank (6) Ultimately we will all leave our possessions behind – we need to have an eternal perspective God will provide our needs in the present (Philippians 4:19) and is preparing a great reward in heaven

The danger of turning away from God’s Word The desire or lust for more money and possessions may lead to disaster (9,10) Hungering for more wealth will result in an unsettled frame of mind, the opposite of contentment Riches look inviting but they can be like a baited hook, once caught you are trapped In v 9 Paul gives a stark warning of the destruction that can await those who follow the path of loving money

The danger of turning away from God’s Word The love of money is a root of much evil (not money itself) Those who pursue it will suffer The contrast is between the false teachers who emphasised legalism and materialism and the true teachers who emphasised the doctrines of grace and glory God’s grace frees us from legalism, The glory of God frees us from materialism – it isn’t about what we have got, it is about what Jesus will bring when He returns in glory

The danger of turning away from God’s Word LESSONS FOR TODAY The dangers of false teaching: Putting our trust in what we can get now (3 – 5) The consequences of loving money (6 – 10) Trust in God’s Word and His provision Use money wisely and for godly purposes Reject the materialism of the world and embrace the kingdom of God