Slices
Prepare
Some believe that God blesses his followers with wealth; others, that Christians should give up material possessions. What place do you think that money should have in the life of a Christian? Thank God for his provision for you.
Bible passage
6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.
False teachers and the love of money
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 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. 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.
Explore
‘False teachers,’ says Paul, ‘are greedy, and see their ministry as an opportunity to exploit others for their own financial gain.’ Christian leaders must learn contentment. This is a thought repeated in Philippians 4:11,12 and Hebrews 13:5. Paul is not saying here that Christians should aim to live in destitution, but he is saying that if our basic needs are met, we should be content with that (v 8).
Money in itself is not evil – Paul had stated earlier that everything God created is good, although it should be received with thanksgiving (4:4). Giving thanks reminds us that it is only through God’s goodness to us that we have food, clothing, housing and money. Things go wrong when we allow money to become an idol and driving force in our lives, taking the place that God should have (vs 9,10).
Paul’s words in verse 7 reflect Ecclesiastes 5:15 (‘naked … as everyone comes, so they depart’). Jesus also warned against storing up treasure on earth, encouraging us rather to put our energy into generating treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19). How might we do that?
Respond
What would ‘godliness with contentment’ look like in your context? Read Agur’s prayer in Proverbs 30:7–9 and put it into your own words to reflect your situation.
Deeper Bible study
Lord, break our hearts today with the things that break yours. Amen.
Verses 6–10 are a strong indictment of modern Western culture. There has never been a time of so much wealth in the world. At the time of writing, the richest 1 per cent of people own 43 per cent of the world’s wealth but 9 per cent (690 million people) will go to bed tonight hungry.1 These shocking statistics show how things have gone wrong. There are sufficient resources in the world for us all, but the rich get richer while the poor continue to suffer. Paul says, ‘the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil’ (v 10). It is too simplistic to attribute world poverty to a minority’s desire for wealth, yet our cravings for more for ourselves can lead to less for others.
Verse 10 is often misquoted, omitting ‘the love of’, and consequently wealth is viewed as evil. Paul is not opposed to wealth but is highlighting the battle between contentment and covetousness. Anything that we covet has the danger of becoming an idol to us. To many, the idol is money, but ‘the love of’ anything that takes our gaze away from Christ must be guarded against.
How is this battle between covetousness and contentment going for you? I’ve sat both at banquet tables with the wealthy and in slum gutters with the destitute and have often observed a more genuine contentment in the gutter. Nevertheless, the church is called to help people out of the gutter. Paul is saying that there is a different way that the church should model. Luther famously wrote, ‘I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.’2 May we be granted the wisdom to know what to hold loosely and what to tighten our grip on.
Father, highlight those things that take our gaze off you and give us the courage to look away.
1 https://inequality.org/facts/global-inequality 2 Ray Comfort, Luther Gold, Bridge-Logos (US), 2009, p50
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 17–20; Titus 1
Pray for the nation
Today the King will officially be proclaimed at the Accession Council. Ask for God’s blessing on Charles III as he takes on this responsibility while also dealing with personal grief. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted’ (Matt 5:4).
Pray for Scripture Union
Maureen Okwara, Assistant Accountant, asks us to pray that the Finance team will have wisdom as they process income and expenses, and communicate with suppliers and international movements, and that they will be able to show God’s love in their work.
