Post by Admin on Jul 18, 2019 6:18:31 GMT
The title of tonight’s Bible discussion, concluding the first letter of Paul to Timothy, was “Find Your Riches,” which had potential to enlighten on the church’s theme for the year, Riches of Christ. At the opening we spoke briefly about the role of money in Christian life: having it allows us to engage in charity, to perform works of kindness and fellowship, to learn self-control and self-discipline, to support the work of the church in sharing the Gospel. Paul definitely had warnings for Timothy on the subject.
After reading the passage, we first noted the godly traits Paul highlights: contentment (v. 6) and the fruit of the spirit (v. 11), all couched in the reminder that these are for eternity (v. 12). Much of the conversation then covered the meaning of the term “unhealthy interest,” with which Paul criticizes false teachers and greedy leaders. We all have known people who create discord between others, either out of jealousy or to assuage their own feelings of inadequacy by calling for attention, or simply to exert control, and therefore power, over others. That kind of influence, manipulation, and power may be for some the kind of riches for which they will do anything. We could all readily imagine people who are overwhelmed by obsession for material riches. In same cases, no matter how rich a person is, he is not happy; the pursuit of more and more riches, using whatever means necessary, is the exact ruin and destruction that Paul warns against. This circled us back to the concept of contentment, and how we can achieve it. Strategies included Paul’s recommended perspective of detachment (we are born without material goods and we will leave material goods when we die) and being thankful. If we can find ourselves feeling thankful to God, we inherently are giving in to belief in God’s blessing and control. Too often, instead of being thankful to God, we credit ourselves with our success, and then allow our ego to prod us into desiring more success.
We did not feel that Paul was recommending we don’t work for a living or don’t strive with work hard to be successful. His warning was well summarized in the phrase “unhealthy interest.” We walk a fine line in balancing pursuit of our daily bread with being content with our daily bread. Discontent can push us off the path Jesus leads, and discontent can come in many ways besides not have enough "stuff" – any time an expectation doesn’t materialize, or we have something we think we should have (time, attention, praise, etc.) our discontent inhibits the work of the Spirit in us.
Paul drops several other interesting bits of advice in the last lines of this letter. He backstops his previous statement about being born and dying without anything with a portrait of the all-powerful God - Timothy is being reminded to give all to God, exercising the fundamental humility and thankfulness that leads to contentedness. Paul also advises Timothy to watch out for wasting time debating issues, when he has a responsibility to care for the congregation, sort of a memo to focus. Paul is speaking to all of us, because we have been entrusted to care for one another in the congregation, and like Timothy, we need to avoid distraction and breed contentment.
After reading the passage, we first noted the godly traits Paul highlights: contentment (v. 6) and the fruit of the spirit (v. 11), all couched in the reminder that these are for eternity (v. 12). Much of the conversation then covered the meaning of the term “unhealthy interest,” with which Paul criticizes false teachers and greedy leaders. We all have known people who create discord between others, either out of jealousy or to assuage their own feelings of inadequacy by calling for attention, or simply to exert control, and therefore power, over others. That kind of influence, manipulation, and power may be for some the kind of riches for which they will do anything. We could all readily imagine people who are overwhelmed by obsession for material riches. In same cases, no matter how rich a person is, he is not happy; the pursuit of more and more riches, using whatever means necessary, is the exact ruin and destruction that Paul warns against. This circled us back to the concept of contentment, and how we can achieve it. Strategies included Paul’s recommended perspective of detachment (we are born without material goods and we will leave material goods when we die) and being thankful. If we can find ourselves feeling thankful to God, we inherently are giving in to belief in God’s blessing and control. Too often, instead of being thankful to God, we credit ourselves with our success, and then allow our ego to prod us into desiring more success.
We did not feel that Paul was recommending we don’t work for a living or don’t strive with work hard to be successful. His warning was well summarized in the phrase “unhealthy interest.” We walk a fine line in balancing pursuit of our daily bread with being content with our daily bread. Discontent can push us off the path Jesus leads, and discontent can come in many ways besides not have enough "stuff" – any time an expectation doesn’t materialize, or we have something we think we should have (time, attention, praise, etc.) our discontent inhibits the work of the Spirit in us.
Paul drops several other interesting bits of advice in the last lines of this letter. He backstops his previous statement about being born and dying without anything with a portrait of the all-powerful God - Timothy is being reminded to give all to God, exercising the fundamental humility and thankfulness that leads to contentedness. Paul also advises Timothy to watch out for wasting time debating issues, when he has a responsibility to care for the congregation, sort of a memo to focus. Paul is speaking to all of us, because we have been entrusted to care for one another in the congregation, and like Timothy, we need to avoid distraction and breed contentment.