Such As I Have

January 1, 2006 - 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Open It

1. What evidence do you see of a love for money among your friends or coworkers?

2. Why do you think most people are or aren't content with what they have?

Explore It

3. What do false teachers ignore? (6:3)

4. What grim words did Paul have for those who teach false doctrines? (6:3-4)

5. In what did the false teachers of Paul's day have an unhealthy interest? (6:4)

6. What was the result of the false teachers' unhealthy interests? (6:4-5)

7. What did the false teachers of Paul's day really want? (6:5)

8. What brings us great gain? (6:6)

9. What do we bring into the world? (6:7)

10. What will we take out of the world? (6:7)

11. With what should we be content? (6:8)

12. What often happens to people who want to get rich for riches sake? (6:9)

13. What is a root of all kinds of evil? (6:10)

14. What price do some people eager for money pay? (6:10)

Get It

15. What controversial false doctrines have been an issue in your church?

16. How could someone think that godliness was a means to financial gain?

17. How do people attempt to use Christianity for their own profit?

18. Why is it hard to be content?

19. What would it take to make you content right now?

20. What get-rich-quick schemes (big or small) have you fallen for?

21. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being very important), how important is money to you?

22. Why do you think that money is important or not very important?

23. How can you guard against placing too much stock in your personal possessions?

Apply It

24. About what situation in life will you ask God to help you be more content each day this week?

25. How can you help a fellow believer keep a proper perspective on money and possessions?

Notes

1 Timothy 6:3-5: Paul told Timothy to stay away from those who just wanted to make money from preaching, and from those who strayed from the sound teachings of the gospel into quarrels that caused strife in the church. A person's understanding of the finer points of theology should not become the basis for lording it over others or for making money. Stay away from people who just want to argue.

1 Timothy 6:6-10: This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our desires on him ("godliness," see Matthew 6:33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives (see Philippians 4:11-13).

1 Timothy 6:6-10: Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness. Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction. How can you keep away from the love of money? Paul gives us some guidelines: (1) realize that one day riches will all be gone (1 Timothy 6:7, 17); (2) be content with what you have (1 Timothy 6:8); (3) monitor what you are willing to do to get more money (1 Timothy 6:9-10); (4) love people more than money (1 Timothy 6:11); (5) love God's work more than money (1 Timothy 6:11); (6) freely share what you have with others (1 Timothy 6:18).

1 Timothy 6:8: It is often helpful to distinguish between needs and wants. We may have all we need to live but let ourselves become anxious and discontented over what we merely want. Like Paul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want. The only alternative is to be a slave to our desires.

1 Timothy 6:10: Greed leads to all kinds of evil. Greed is another word for selfishness. The only way to overcome selfishness is by developing a loving heart and spirit.