Hackermoon #2 Finance

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The urban dictionary classifies a hacker as: as someone who strictly pursues creature comforts through completely legal means that while frustrating to others; allow him to live his best life

We are all hackers looking for shortcuts or ways to do things which are less stressful and more comfortable. Life is hard enough so finding the fastest way to, or through, the obstacles of life seems like an appropriate subject in this covid reality we have found ourselves in.

So over the next six weeks, we will be sharing simple shortcuts to help you live your best life. Over the next few weeks, we will offer financial, relationship, parenting, purpose, work and even a simple shortcut to God.

Today, we will look for our life shortcut in the New Testament letter Paul wrote to his protege Timothy. In specific, we will be reviewing 1 Timothy 6:6-20

First Timothy is one of three pastoral letters (including 2 Timothy and Titus) that the aging apostle Paul sent to those who would continue his work. Timothy was, in every way, Paul's spiritual son. Young but gifted, Timothy had been assigned to lead the church at Ephesus-a church needing order in worship as well as doctrinal correction, plagued as it was by false teachers. Paul's letter, likely written about a.d. 62-66, counseled the young man on matters of church leadership-from proper worship, to qualifications for overseers (elders) and deacons, to advice on confronting false teaching and how to treat various individuals within a congregation. Paul charged Timothy to live a life beyond reproach, giving believers a standard to emulate. ESV commentary

Paul had just completed a warning to Timothy about those in the church who seemed to be serving themselves over and above serving the Lord. So let’s explore:

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.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

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. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 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.

The thought seemed to validate one of greatest misquotations from the Bible. It happens within verse 10. Please underline and highlight the words “For the love of” because in context the scripture changes significantly. I think we often fail to read the word “For the love of” because secretly we want to support a myth that vilinaizes the rich and glorifies the poor. However, this creates a very damaging half truth. In the same way, verses 17-19 commands the rich 1) to not be arrogant 2) not to trust in it 3) to enjoy it through being generous.

I hope we can be honest for a moment. We all wanted to be on the TV show “lifestyles of the rich and famous” at some point in your life. My dad used to say, “You don’t have to have money to be happy, but it sure makes it easier.” While a half truth, it places too much faith in man’s portable power to fix an inside problem.