I Timothy 6:3-10

1. the false teachers actions are the result of wrong motives - 6:3-5
1. evidence of wrong motives - 3
1. they teach wrong doctrine - "teach otherwise"
1. our present day indifference to doctrine is not an apostolic trait
2. Paul has no tolerance whatsoever for those who deviate from the biblical standard of truth
3. their doctrine is different because it fails to agree with the words of Christ
2. their doctrine is not concerned with producing a life of godliness
1. true doctrine is concerned with genuine humility & godly living
2. these false teachers do not want to "come near" to the truth - "consent"
3. the false teacher is aware of the truth, but will not approach it or attach himself to it
4. truth, properly taught and believed, will transform both the teacher & the disciple
2. cause of wrong motive is pride - 4
1. pride is an inflated ego (thinks he has the right to teach different doctrine)
2. one of the marks of a false teacher in the last days is that he is "highminded"
3. a person puffed up with self-importance is on the brink of spiritual destruction
3. the products of pride - 4
1. pride is ignorance in action - "knowing nothing"
1. unable to do any concentrated thinking or reflective thinking
2. these people are ever learning, but never coming to the knowledge of the truth
2. pride is a spiritual sickness - "doting" - 4
1. "doting" means a diseased appetite
2. rather than a desire for "wholesome words", the have a desire for the unwholesome
3. what their unhealthy diet consist of
1. "questions" - they have no desire for ever finding the truth
2. "strife of words" - word wars about unimportant matters
3. pride produces personal conflict - 4-5
1. these men are proud of their schemes and intellect
2. every type of strife is mentioned here
3. this is the work of the flesh, and not the fruit of the Spirit
4. why these proud teachers act the way they do - 5
1. "corrupt minds"
2. "destitute of the truth"
4. the wrong motive is material gain - "supposing that" - 5
1. their whole object of life was to make money
1. any course of life that contributed to worldly prosperity must be godliness
2. godliness must result in gain, because gain is a proof of godliness
3. any course of life that did not do this was contrary to the true spirit of religion
2. their whole religion may be summed up in this: they lived for gain
1. wealth was the object of their pursuit
2. this pursuit was often cloaked behind a pretense of godliness
3. gain is not godliness
4. spirituality is not judged by ones wealth or poverty
5. how to avoid the influence of these false teachers - "withdraw thyself" - 5
1. have no fellowship with them
2. do not recognize them as spiritual teachers
3. do not accept their views
2. nature of true godliness - 6:6-8
1. godliness mixed with contentment is the true great gain -6
1. the false teachers thought of godliness as a means of financial gain, but godliness is the greatest gain
2. godliness is a means of gain that material things can never be
3. Paul is not praising poverty, or declaring wealth a crime
1. real contentment is independent of poverty or wealth
2. real contentment is finding satisfaction in the spiritual blessings that accompany godliness
2. principles that the greedy false teachers rejected or neglected
1. success is spiritual & inward, not material & outward
1. not only can a believer have gain in this life, but also :great gain" - "godliness with contentment"
2. contentment is an inward satisfaction that is not affected by outward circumstances
3. contentment is having faith in divine sufficiency
4. false teachers minister to receive, but spiritual leaders want to give
2. the eternal & spiritual aspect of life is superior to the temporary & material aspect of life
1. life begins and ends with the absence of material things - 7
1. we enter this life with nothing except potential
2. we leave this life with nothing except a character
3. character is determined by how we used our potential
2. since we enter this world & leave this world with nothing, things must have only a temporary significance
3. Jesus said, "a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth"
3. having the basic necessities of life should foster contentment - 8
3. the desire to be rich - 6:9-10
1. the opposite of godliness with contentment is greed
1. it is not immoral to be rich (Abraham, David, Solomon)
2. it is wrong when the desire to be rich is persistent & overwhelming
3. this sin can be committed by anyone, regardless of their degree of wealth
2. greed takes an individual in an ever downward spiral - 9
1. a lure - "temptation and a snare"
2. a lust - "foolish and hurtful lust"
1. it is foolish because it is done without proper thought
2. it is foolish because it does not result in the promised satisfaction
3. total moral ruin - "drown men in destruction and perdition"
1. that which they thought would bring them to the top is the burden that brings them to the bottom
2. their ruin is in two areas
1. in the present - "destruction"
2. in the future - "perdition"
3. the love of money causes much grief - 10
1. money is not evil; it can be a curse or a blessing
1. whether money leads to good or evil depends on how we use it
2. when a Christian begins to make money, God either gains a fortune or loses a man
2. the ill effects of a love for money
1. backsliding - "erred from the faith"
2. heartache and grief - "pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (self inflicted pain)
4. how much better it is to put God first and to be satisfied with the good things He provides