Introduction. Read 1Tim6v3to10.

Paul issues three warnings as he draws near to the end of his letter. He warns against false teachers, discontent and the pursuit of money. The church remains at risk of all three dangers which makes this a very relevant passage for the twenty first century Christian.

(A) FALSENESS - the distinguishing characteristics of false teaching.

The false teacher:

(1) Is inclined to neglect the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul writes: If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ .... . I am afraid that there are clergymen who prefer to dabble in politics rather than preach Christ and him crucified. There are congregations who much prefer a harmless little homily, a bit of homespun wisdom, than a challenging gospel message. I can remember being asked by an old pupil to give the morning address in the Anglican church of which he was vicar. The Scripture for the day was those uncompromising words of Jesus: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Lk9v23. My talk was challenging! It had to be! See concluding part of exposition on Lk9v18to27. The vicar was not impressed by my message and not one of his hundred strong congregation thanked me for my ministry.

(2) Spends little time on godly teaching, that is, the ethical teaching of Jesus. The various themes of the Sermon on the Mount are rarely explored. I think that one of the best series of expositions on my website is that on the Beatitudes. Jesus' Beatitudes give us briefly but clearly a wonderful recipe for holy living. So why the lack of interest? Why do so very few visit my site to learn more about the Beatitudes?

(3) Is arrogant and ignorant or, as Paul puts it, is conceited and understands nothing. v4. Fundamentalist preachers who are ignorant of Science should not speak dismissively about the "Big Bang." It is arrogant to pooh-pooh the findings of Geology because they suggest the earth is very old. If you are given a created object, something like a beautiful pendant, study of that object will reveal how it has been made. Surely it is possible by studying the universe and the earth to find out something about how God set about his creative work.

I can recall being asked many years ago what I thought about the New International Version of the Bible. I said that it was easier to understand than the Authorised Version. The two elderly men who had asked this as a test question tore into me. The only version that qualified as the infallible Word of God was the Authorised Version and anyone who said differently was "unsound." Those two men were ignorant and arrogant. They knew neither Greek nor Hebrew and were in no position to judge the accuracy of each translation.

(4) Shows a prediliction for controversial subjects. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words. v4. Deep divisions occur in the church over the meanings of words like predestination, election and hell. Many Calvinists cannot see that God's predestination and man's free will can co-exist. This is true if God decided that he would save and give eternal life to those who exercised faith in his son. God in making that decision would predestine those that believed to salvation without taking away a man's responsibility to believe. Now I believe this strongly but I only deal with this subject when considering passages of Scripture that mention predestination. I do not harp on it all the time because this would just antagonise people.

Preachers who love controversial topics produce a variety of bad responses:

(a) Envy. Controversy leads to people taking sides. The controversialist with fewer supporters might well envy the opponent with more.

(b) Strife. When some Christians are reclassified as the opposition the church enters the arena of yah-boo politics.

(c) Malicious talk. It doesn't take long in times of controversy for factions to develop and for rival factions to become the enemy. When another group of Christians are seen as the enemy it is too easy to talk about them maliciously - to engage in misinformation and rumour mongering.

(d) Evil suspicion. When a Christian does not share the viewpoint of another faction members of that faction can classify him as unsound and liable to lead the unwary astray. I have suffered in this way and been "dropped" by one church after another.

(e) Constant friction. When one side in a dispute about words makes Christian fellowship dependent upon a commitment to their point of view the result is friction and ill will.

(5) Is guilty of equating godliness with financial gain. False teachers preach the "prosperity gospel." In simple terms the prosperity gospel proclaims that God wants all the faithful to be materially rich. So if you haven't go loads of money there must be something wrong with your relationship with God. This is a base lie! Jesus was poor throughout his life and consistently warned of the danger of riches.

(B) FULFILMENT: Godliness the best recipe for contentment.

Four ways godliness brings contentment:

(1) It brings many blessings

Some of these blessings are highlighted in the Beatitudes of Jesus. Chief of these is membership of the Kingdom of Heaven. The humble man has Jesus as his king. He enjoys all the benefits of a citizen of the kingdom. Those that earnestly desire to do good deeds will enjoy much satisfaction in the doing of them and in pleasing the king. If we are kind we can expect it to be reciprocated and if we help others to succeed we can rejoice in the reputation as sons of God.

(2) It allows us to cheat death.

The only way to hold on to our treasure beyond death is to lay it up in heaven. This is the advice of Jesus: Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Mt6v20. Paul writes much the same thing to Timothy: Command them to be good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1Tim6v18and19.

We have an account with God in heaven. We can make deposits in it every day. No one can rob us of our heavenly wealth - good deeds, gifts and hospitality are safe with God - recorded for time and eternity. We can be content to leave the final reckoning with God, our loving father.

(3) It promotes gratitude.

Paul told Timothy to encourage the Ephesians to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1Tim6v17.

Last Friday I was out bird watching with my friend Tommy Bamber. We got a lot of pleasure on Cavenham Heath from watching two smart spotted flycatchers one of which was hawking for insects. Then as we drove off the heath along a rough track we were able to draw up beside a row of swallows perched on a wire fence. What lovely birds they are - so elegant with their red waistcoats. My friend and I certainly enjoyed two of God's special creations. Later in the morning, at the Lackford reserve, I was delighted to see a mass of basil thyme growing on a sandy bank. Its bluey purple flowers provided a glorious splash of colour.

There is no doubt that the simple things of life provide much pleasure - if we make a little time for them and take a break from the pursuit of material prosperity.

(4) It is an outcome of knowing you have done your best.

This week I distributed the Brockley Baptist Chapel Newsheet round the village. I don't mind so much writing it but I hate distributing it. Satan doesn't want me to distribute it. So he fills me with a reluctance to sally forth. I get started and my back aches. I have to rest every 100 yards or so. However, when I have finished I am contented. I have done what I could to remind the people of Brockley what Jesus has done for them.

I have just finished reading a biography of Billy Graham by his daughter, Ruth. He was undoubtedly a man God used abundantly. But there is a big difference between the ministry of Billy and Paul the apostle. Paul suffered personal rejection on a scale unknown to Billy. I have just finished writing a series of expositions on Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians. His second letter to that church leaves us in no doubt of the anguish Paul felt at his rejection and loss of authority.

But such was Paul's godliness he was able to write to Timothy in anticipation of his death: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day. 2Tim4v7and8.

Paul had fulfilled his commission - he had done his best - he had lived a godly life and could rest content. Perhaps we even detect a note of triumph in his words to Timothy. In this he was like his Master who when he knew his work was done said in triumph, "It is finished." NOTE: not "I am finished" - but, "IT is finished" - the great atoning work of redemptions IS DONE - and Jesus can die not only content but in triumph.

(C) FOLLY: the folly of desiring riches.

The desire to get rich:

(1) Can lead to ruin and destruction.

Men speculate, gamble or overreach themselves in an attempt to get rich but instead lose everything. Scarcely a day goes past without a cautionary tale in the media of the way to financial ruin. Today's Daily Telegraph (2nd Sept2015) carries the headline: Fruit and nut businessman jailed for £38 million invoice fraud. A businessman who swindled Barclays out of millions by flirting with his female bank manager was jailed for more than 3 years yesterday.

(2) Spawns many evils. These include:

(a) Ruthless competition where the weakest go to the wall.

(b) The exploitation of labour. During the industrial revolution in the mad scramble to get rich many lives were lost because of dangerous working practices in the mines and factories. Today, it is a sad fact that wages often reflect the strength of the union a person belongs to rather than the amount of training and skill they need for the job. This is what explains the considerable difference between what a London tube train driver earns and what a nurse earns.

(c) Extravagance and ostentatious living. I like the story related by Wiersbe: I am reminded of the simple-minded Quaker who was watching his new neighbour move in, with all of the furnishings and expensive "toys" that "successful people" collect. The Quaker finally went over to his new neighbour and said, "Neighbour, if ever thou dost need anything, come to see me, and I will tell thee how to get along without it."

(d) Crime. Theft, fraud, prostitution and drug peddling are all the outcome of a desire to be rich.

(3) Results in the loss of faith.

(a) It is easy for money to become a person's idol and as such displace God from his rightful place. Jesus told his hearers that they couldn't serve both God and Mammon. This made the Pharisees sneer as they loved money. It is probable that Judas' devotion to money played a part in his betrayal of Jesus.

(b) Making money can take up more and more of a person's time and energy. The pursuit of wealth can become all consuming so that no time is left for Christian service or even worship. Jesus told a parable about people like this. The good seed took root and grew but it wasn't long before the tender plant was choked by thorns. Jesus gave the following explanation: "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." Lk8v14.

(c) Becoming wealthy may engender a false sense of security. The rich man may end up having faith in riches and not God. Jesus told a story of a rich farmer who after a bumper harvest thought he was set up for life and all he had to do was eat, drink and be merry. "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God. Lk12v20and21.

Paul reinforces the message of Jesus by telling Timothy: Command those who are rich in the present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1Tim6v17.

(d) Making money becomes a crucial measure of a man's worth. We even ask questions like, "How much do you think he is worth?" when enquiring about a man's wealth. There is no doubt that some people take enormous satisfaction in their bank balance as a measure of their success.

God most certainly does not assess a man's worth by the money at his disposal. Jesus and his peerless servant, Paul, died penniless.

John Bunyan wrote:

He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low no pride:
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide

I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much;
And, Lord contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.

WITHOUT DOUBT: GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.

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