Avoiding the Money Pit

Sermon Notes
Lessons for a Healthy Church:
Avoiding the Money Pit
1 Timothy 6:3-19

Introduction: In 1986 Tom Hanks & Shelly Long starred in a movie called "The Money Pit." It’s a film “for everyone who’s ever been deeply in Love or deeply in debt.” One of my favorite lines: “Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house and it killed him.” Disagreements over money cause marital failures, church splits, business breakups, and any number of other disputes. The power of money can be used to accomplish incredible good or horrible evil.

Proposition: To properly harness the power of money, Paul offers believers some godly financial advice.

1. Embracing materialism promotes discontent (verses 3-10)

One last time Paul warns the Ephesian church about the false teachers that were plaguing them.
They taught that godliness is a means of financial gain.
1) We know that those who adhere to biblical standards often enjoy tangible benefits & concrete blessings
2) Yet there is not one place in the Bible that guarantees financial blessings to the godly. (Ref 2 Corinthians 11:27)

Those who strive to become wealthy by being spiritual open themselves up to all sorts of problems.
1) They will distort & deny the truths of the faith (vs. 3-5, 9-10) Living for the goal of wealth in this world will make us destitute in the next (Lazarus & the rich man)
2) Instead of improving the quality of their lives here & now, they tumble into the pit of discontent & despair (vs. 9-10)
The truth is that those who are sincerely following God will enjoy total contentment that comes from having their basic needs and primary desire met.
A) Basic needs: food & clothing
B) Primary desire: pleasing God
Bob Russell told a story about a rich man who was determined to take his wealth with him. He told his wife to get all his money together, put it in a sack, and then hang the sack from the rafters in the attic. He said, "When my spirit is caught up to heaven, I’ll grab the sack on my way." Well he eventually died, and the woman raced to the attic, only to find the money still there. She said, "I knew I should’ve put the sack in the basement."
C) To avoid discontentment & dismay, there must come a time in our lives when we proclaim, “I’m rich enough.”

2. Rejecting materialism promotes godliness (verses 11-16)

There was once an optimistic farmer who couldn’t wait to greet each new day with a resounding, "Good morning, God!" He lived near a woman whose morning greeting was more like, "Good God... morning?" They were each a trial to the other. Where he saw opportunity, she saw problems. Where he was satisfied, she was discontented. One bright morning he exclaimed, "Look at the beautiful sky! Did you see that glorious sunrise?" "Yeah," she countered. "It’ll probably get so hot the crops will scorch!" During an afternoon shower, he commented, "Isn’t this wonderful? Mother Nature is giving the corn a drink today!” And if it doesn’t stop before too long," came the sour reply, "we’ll wish we’d taken out flood insurance on the crops!" Convinced that he could instill some awe and wonder in her hardened attitude, he bought a remarkable dog. It could perform remarkable and impossible feats, which, the farmer thought, would surely amaze even his neighbor. So he invited her to watch his dog perform.” Fetch!" he commanded, as he tossed a stick out into a lake. The dog