1 Timothy 6 -- It's a Trap!

The discussion question this week is about what we can do to remember the eternal in the midst of our earthly lives.

I was happy to be a part of an interesting conversation. Some of the answers were:

• A general acknowledgement that everything we have is from God 
• Spending time in creation, and specifically at the beauty and vastness of the sky
• Looking toward God when we have utterly failed and need his forgiveness
• Seeking his help when those that we care about are in trouble

And I would add, singing songs of praise. Music is a spiritual thing for me, and the way that is pulls the lid off the world and directs my attention toward God is really amazing.

Digging in:

We are finishing up the book of 1 timothy. Chapter 6 has some summary things and some notes in it, but it is interesting how practical much of the advice here is.

I especially want to focus on the two ways of living that God describes in the middle of the chapter.

“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. 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.”

-1 Timothy 6:6-10

I think that it is really interesting thing to think about how this section of Scripture calls out attention to the trap of collecting wealth as a means to happiness.

So if there is a flashing light on worldliness warning us that it is a trap, you would think that we would avoid it. But our culture has gotten so used to the trap that it is portrayed as the only way that things can work.

So many times I have heard my own Christians friends, (as well as my own actions) declaring that “we do live on earth after all,” and that “money doesn’t grow on trees.” So we "have to think practically.” And by that we mean a little selfish greed is what Capitalism is built upon, and it is the only way to stay afloat in this world.

So, to me that way of thinking is like walking up to the trap, knowing it is a trap, and putting out hand in it anyway, because we are hungry for some cheese. Then we just suck it up, and deal with the pain, and act like it was the only option.

But Paul and God give Timothy a different picture: he said previously, “if we have food and clothing we will be content with that.” And than later he says:

“But you, man of God, flee from all this (the trap), and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

-1 Timothy 6:11

God is telling us that we do not have to give in to the trap of worldliness. He doesn’t say that we cannot be rich, but he does make it very clear that our motivations must not be so selfish as to do things in order to get rich.

“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. Command them to do 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.”

-1 Timothy 6:17-19

Reflection:

What is more difficult for you to do, to let go of your possessions and “be generous and willing to share” them,

Or not to “put your hope in wealth” when it comes to making big decisions about your future?

Who in your life serves as a “Paul,” warning you when you are guilty of chasing money as a route to happiness, or encouraging you to live life in selfless service?

If there is someone in your life that you can be a Paul to, don't be embarrassed or afraid.

1 Timothy 5 -- Being a Grown-Up

The discussion on Facebook this week was about people who serve as an alternate Father/Mother figure in our lives. It was fun to hear about those people who are wonderful blessings in your lives

Digging In:

Take a look at 1 Timothy 5.

1 Timothy chapter 5 is teaching Timothy how to organize the care for widows in the congregation.  A lot of time in the chapter is devoted to that. But, the beginning of the chapter also set the tone for the way that God wants the church to function as a family. The chapter starts this way:

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. 

Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, 

and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”

-1 Timothy 5:1-2

When I walk into a church, the variety is beautiful to me. It always seems like The Holy Spirit is at work when I see a church with a contrast of ages, and stages of life. I love seeing in person what I know to be true of the invisible church. In God’s family, some are healthy and some are sick. Some are richer and some are poorer. Some are 4.0 students, and some are struggling to get by. Some are beautiful by the world’s standards, and some are beautiful in spirit. There are leaders and followers. There are people who are thinkers and people who are feelers. Introverts and extroverts sit next to each other in the pew. And a spiritual family connects all of these people.

Jesus Christ walked on earth and he was surrounded by the whole spectrum of people. We see him showing love and caring for people of all “walks of life”. And because the leaders of his day paid special attention to themselves and those people like them, Jesus paid special attention to include average people and rejected people in his family.

We are loved by that same God, in that same unbiased, all-inclusive way. What a blessing that is. I so often want to celebrate that when I see it in an earthly church, or in a spiritual community.

In the next verses, God wants to make sure that the presence of this spiritual family does not destroy the earthly family. He writes this next section so that we don’t leave behind caring for the family we have here, just because we have an eternal family:

“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.”  

-1 Timothy 5:3-4

I talked to some middle schoolers last week. We talked about what it would be like when they had to apply for jobs and they went to the interview. One girl responded by saying, “I’m not gonna work. I’m gonna live at home and enjoy everything my parents worked for.” This might seem funny to an 8^th grader. But the real, adult truth in this world is that our parents and grandparents take care of us when we are young. Physically, and hopefully spiritually, they pave the way for us so that we can grow up in a safe and smooth environment. Then it is our responsibility to put ourselves in a position to care for them when we are able to.

There was a time in the world (and this still happens in other countries all the time) when there was no such thing as a teenager. You went from being a child to being an adult (around age 13-15). You got married, farmed, had babies, went to war, and matured, until you were ready to be the matriarch and patriarch of your household sometime between the age 25 and 35. In current American culture, some of you will be in school that long. And certainly we consider most of you “adolescents” until you get to age 25. That’s one of the things that I have always loved about junior staff. We give you a real job to do. You can contribute. You have an important responsibility. You have gifts to use, and you use them.

The message has two parts then.

• First, respect those people who are older than you or younger than you. God’s church is beautifully made up of all types of people. Let our lives be the same way.

• Second, wisely and unselfishly care for those who are in your family. Take responsibility for them.  This includes your earthly family, and your spiritual family.

Reflection:

What is one part of your life where you regularly spend time with a group of adults in your life right now? What impact does that have on you, and them?

If there is not a part of your life like that, what opportunity do you have to become a part of that sort of community?

Bonus question:

In what part of your life have you already had to shoulder the burden of a grown-up? What effect has that had on you?

Soulful Materialism?

I wanted to take a break from First Timothy. So I asked the question at the beginning of this week, “What is a product that did not live up to its advertisement.”

I really appreciated that the answers there weren’t about products as much as about the disappointment that comes when we try to rest on earthly success or happiness.

I saw this video of Jerry Seinfeld accepting an advertising award.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the video:

“I love advertising because I love lying.”

“I don’t care that it won’t be like that when I actually get the product being advertised, because in between seeing the commercial and owning the thing, I’m happy. 

And that’s all I want.”

“We know the product is going to stink. We know that. We live in the world.”

“We are a hopeful species. Stupid, but hopeful.”

“A brief moment of happiness is pretty good.”

“If your things don’t make you happy, you don’t have the right things.” 

“Eventually I’ll be dead, and someone will just take it or sell it or throw it out. 

That’s fine. I’m happy now.”

So. He is being incredibly sarcastic. And the tone he uses, and the fact that he is a comedian, all come together to create a strange vibe. If I was in the room, and in advertising, would I be laughing? Or would I concerned that he was causing us to laugh at ourselves. How sad would it be to have someone make fun of you and get you to laugh along with the joke?

So, thinking about soulful materialism, is it real? Does it work? If I just find the right stuff will it work? I sometimes fall into that trap.  Bring up Toyotas, or Adidas Sambas, or Chacos, and I am happy to celebrate those things with you.

But we will live forever. And my Chacos will not be there in heaven. So let’s ask God to enter into this conversation? What does he have to say about this?

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  

-Luke 16:13

And this is at the end of the parable of the shrewd manager, where Jesus tells the story of a man who knew that his time to manage the accounts was short, so he gave them away freely, to benefit the long-lasting relationships. Let's consider how we can be like that shrewd manager.

Reflecting:

Can you think of a way to do what the shrewd manager did? He used his earthly wealth to benefit relationships, because he knew that the people are what lasts. How can you make use of the earthly blessings that you have to plant seeds that God can grow for eternity?

1 Timothy 4 -- Solid Footing

Digging In:
 
If I told you, “The Bible says, ‘Don’t let anyone look down upon you because you are young,’” you might say, “Yeah, I love that verse!” or maybe even, “Yeah, Paul wrote that to Timothy. Isn’t that so cool that he was a church leader even though he is young!” And I bet there are even a few of you who have memorized the verse, because it is so exciting for you. The rest of the verse says, “but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
 
This verse from 1 Timothy 4:12 is an encouragement to Timothy, and it is an encouragement to us, but when we read the whole chapter, or take a step back and glance at the whole book, we see an even more important encouragement to Timothy and us standing out as a central theme.

I might summarize God’s message to Timothy like this: 

1 Timothy 1-3:

My son Timothy, people in my own church have been and will continue to change my words around. They try to add rules that I haven’t made, and they want to use the power of my church to try to give themselves an important place. So gather together and pray for everyone and each other, and make sure we have godly leaders in our church.

1 Timothy 4:

I need you to speak out against those who have abandoned the truth of my Word, and started relying on their own false wisdom instead. Also, you might be young, but you can fight their faithlessness with faithfulness. Set such a good example that they can’t say anything bad about you without saying something bad about me. It will be hard work, but I have put people in your life that you can speak my truth to. Some of them will believe and be saved because of my words through you.
 
There is a central theme of standing firm in the truth:
 
Rely on God’s Word. Keep his teachings pure. Live those teachings out and speak them to all who can hear. Some around you will have faith and agree with the Word, and some have abandoned and shipwrecked their faith. But don’t let them stop you from being a faithful servant.
 
If you read that last paragraph as one to Timothy, now I want you to read it as one written to you.
 
This is so important for us to remember. We need to be standing on Scripture in order to be sure that we have solid footing. There are so many times when we find ourselves in places or with people when it seems like Scripture is not an accepted source of truth. But as Christians, we are standing on that foundation every step. How do you handle that?
 
1 Timothy 4 makes it clear that it is important, and that it is difficult. God compares it to physical training. If that is hard, but we are willing to do it to be in shape, won’t we also be willing to work hard to stay on the sure footing and exercise godliness?
 
Reflection:
 
Share your reflection by leaving a comment here. 

Name an environment where it is difficult to stand up for the truth, or to live your faith out loud.
 
What makes that environment that way? Is it something spoken or unspoken?
 
Does knowing that Timothy had a similar experience almost two thousand years ago encourage you? God was with him, and used him, and helped him to be bold. He will help you.