For the past couple of weeks we have been
walking through 1st Timothy. The major theme/concept Paul stresses
is godliness through contentment.
1 Timothy
6:6-10:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we
can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be
content with that. 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. V.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.
As I was reviewing this passage, The Lord really
convicted me- “What areas of my life am I uneasy? Where am I still trying to be
in control?” Focusing on verse 10, I could replace the word money with self: “For the love of
SELF is the root of all kinds of evil.”
As I prepared to give this lesson to my Sunday school class, the Holy Spirit stirred
my heart and forced me to repent of my selfishness.
As we close 1st Timothy and
transition into Paul’s second letter (2nd Timothy) He warns us of
two things not to put our faith in. Or as I would phrase it, two things to
leave out of your safety deposit box.
1.) Don’t put your Faith
in Riches
1 Timothy 6:17- Command those who are rich in this
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.
Matthew 19: 21-23 Jesus answered, “If you want to be
perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he
went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of
heaven.
I know there are
dozens of celebrities who have put their faith in riches- thinking they had more
than enough money to flaunt. For example- M.C. Hammer, in 1996 he was
13.7 million dollars in debt and was forced to file for bankruptcy. If only he
had said “can’t touch this” to his bank account!
Another example- Mike
Tyson- this famous boxer earned $300 million dollars during his career, but
that still wasn’t enough to support his lavish life style- that included pet
tigers! That’s A LOT of cat food. He filed for bankruptcy in 2003 owing $27
million!!
2.) Don’t put your Faith
in False or “Worldly” Knowledge
1 Timothy 6:20-21 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted
to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is
falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed
from the faith.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have talked a
lot about false teachers and false doctrines of this world. Paul describes
false teachings “godless
chatter.” False teaching doesn’t have to come from an actual teacher
or preacher, but we have all been guilty of this charge. We can all get caught
up in the gossip/lies of the world when the things we talk about and listen to
do not glorify God.
As we transition into 2nd Timothy, Paul
tells us: what, how, and who to put our
faith in.
Can you remember a moment or specific time when
you felt like an adult? When you truly became your own independent person?
When I was in High School, I think it was my sophomore year because
I was 16 at the time. I was going to take a day trip with a guy I had a huge
crush on and a few other friends. Since we had five or six people, my mom was
going to let me take her suburban. She gave me the keys and I decided to go
fill up the tank before people came to my house. Well I hadn’t been driving
that long so anytime I got behind the wheel I felt super cool!
So I get to the gas station, park the car, fill it up and then get
back in to head home. When I get back in the car, one of my favorite songs (at
the time) comes on and naturally I roll the windows down and Jam… because I am
so cool. Well, as I turn out of the fill station slot, I scraped the entire
side of my mom’s car on a yellow pole. It left a huge Yellow line across the
entire left side of her car… there was NO WAY to cover that up. Even people a
mile away could see this Neon yellow streak.
I get back in the car, utterly embarrassed- turn the music off and
roll the windows up, praying to God no one I knew was around. I go back home
and of course my mom is like “OMG what did you do??” Now I’m crying, the cute
guy and all our friends are on the way and I’m a complete wreck. And to put the
icing on the cake, Mom has now volunteered herself to drive us. Which as a
teenager trying to impress someone- that’s not how you do it!
I share this story because for some of you, your
adult moment may have been like mine. You went to drivers Ed, graduated, and
got the car keys (which equaled freedom!) and then you got in a wreck- feeling
completely childish again.
But in 2nd Timothy we are going to
see that we do not reach our full potential (become a spiritual adult) over
night. Just like we don’t become an adult just because the keys have been given
to us; we have to work at it. It is a gradual process. Before we jump into
today’s text lets look at Psalm 119:9-
How can
a young person stay on the path of purity (or righteousness)? By living
according to your word.
Living according to
God’s word isn’t the same as passing a drivers test. It goes past the test. We
are given the keys once we put our faith in Christ but now we have to actually
drive and watch out for traffic. (Or in my case, yellow stationary objects! )
Finally lets dig
into our text for today:
2 Timothy 1: 3-5- I thank God, whom I serve, as my
ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember
you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see
you, so that I may be filled with joy. I
am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Many of us, like
Timothy, were raised in a Christian home. If so, you probably accepted Christ
at a very young age because that’s what your parents encouraged you to do. So
for a long time you may have simply believed because that is what your family
did. But just like we slowly become independent from our parents, learning to
drive, going to school, getting a job, paying our own bills… Our spiritual life
should progress in a similar fashion.
I used to think because I didn’t have a testimony as mind blowing as some individuals who grew up Muslim or were in terrible accidents as children, that I would never be as radical about Christ as they were. I felt like my faith would always just be something I was born into. However, looking at 2nd Timothy, Paul’s says that many great leaders come from Christ centered families. Faith started with Timothy’s older relatives who were the ones that raised him and taught him the truth. In the beginning of this letter, Paul basically says: “Timothy, I know you have it in you. What I have seen in your relatives, I am convinced is not only in you, but that it will soon become your own.”
And as we progress
into this second letter, Paul gives us two choices:
2 Timothy 1:6-5 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which
is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does
not make us timid, but gives us
power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about
our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the
gospel, by the power of God.
So our two choices are simple:
1)
Fear
or
2)
Fan into Flame (Fight/Suffer for Christ)
In this context I don’t think “Fear” is the
scary movie, hide, or run away kind of fear. Rather I believe this kind of
“Fear” is complacency, selfishness, doubt, or maybe even laziness. If we are
honest, many of us- even though we are now adults (well most of us ;)) we still
do not fully claim our own faith. We are just showing up at church because of a
habit we formed growing up- There is not depth behind it. This is kind of
“going through the motions” living is called “Passive fear.”
But when we are passively fearful, we miss God’s
call on our life. No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do, God
made you for missional living! (Yes I think I just made up the term Missional) “Missional Living” is not something we DO, but it
is something we ARE.
Romans 8:15- The Spirit you received does not make
you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received
brought about your adoption to son ship. And by him we cry, “Abba,
Father.”
Joshua 1:9-
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
So Paul gives Timothy his options: Fear or Fight
(Fan into Flame)
A couple weeks ago I was in Hawaii and I got to
visit Pearl Harbor. For those of you, who also enjoy American History, You will
appreciate this connection and the short history lesson:
Days after the
December 7, 1941 attach on Pearl Harbor; where 2,400 sailors, soldiers and
civilians were killed, thousands of Americans rushed to enlist in the armed
forces. Newspapers were filled with predictions that
·
The Japanese
would soon invade and take the Philippines
·
The British
would have to surrender in Hong Kong and Singapore.
·
Germany and
Italy would soon honor the terms of the Axis Treaty and declare war on the
United States.
·
Japan might
have submarines ready to attack the West Coast.
·
Germany
could already have long-range bombers capable of reaching America's East Coast.
For many young
Americans, enlisting was a their national duty. They were eager and ready to
fight. In fact there were several reports of young men lying about their
age/health so that they could go to battle. There have been reports as some
soldiers being as young as 14 years old- claiming to be 18.
However; there were
also many men who would have lied about their health to get out of fighting.
These were the men that waited fearfully by their mailboxes afraid that they
may get drafted.
I share these events with you as an
illustration. Both groups, the men eager to fight and those frightened by the
draft, both groups were Americans. And of those who made it to battle, whether
drafted or not, each were soldiers.
As Christians, this is the same for us. God has
already drafted us into his army, but some of us still sit fearfully by the
mailbox scared that God might actually call us to do something. “ Don’t call me
to missions Lord.”
But God has called each and every one of us to
missions. He has created us with passions and talents that we can use to honor
and serve Him.
2 cor. 5 says that we are a new Creation! Once
we decided to put our faith in him, we instantly become His soldier.
You might not know it, but God has you right
where you are for a reason. Maybe he has you there because He is training you
for something greater or maybe because this is right where you are suppose to
serve! Maybe you are thinking- “Gosh, I don’t know if I have a special talent, but I sure
love starbucks!” Well actually God can use even the smallest
interest to bring him Glory. You never know who you will meet or impact when
you make a morning coffee run. If you live a “missional” life, your words could
make Him famous, even at a coffee shop!
All of us have two options… which one will you
choose? Fear
or Fan into Flame.
