Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

1 Timothy 6 - Flee from all this

 

1 Timothy 6 - Flee from all this

In the closing chapter of 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul hits home with a critical warning to the young leader, a verse we should study and dig into. 

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.” - ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We see where Paul is pointing; he is guiding Timothy to the fruit of the spirit. But what is Paul warning him from, flee from what, what is all this? Paul is concerned about, and warning against the false teachers who were teaching that godliness is a means to financial gain. 

“and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” - ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The key here is ambition, purpose, and mission. Money is not bad or evil; money is neutral. But, as we look at the verse above, we read that people were thinking money and financial gain was a result of godliness. This was creating ambition, and an essential purpose in pursuing God and achieving godliness was to become rich and financially wealthy. This is false teaching and heresy. If our mission is money-focused, we have a distorted mission and purpose. If we have a pure, Godly mission and purpose of serving, honoring, and glorifying him...and along the way, we are blessed financially, then that is great! Enjoy the fruit and the blessing of money. With this blessing, allow the money and financial freedom to serve the mission, do not become a slave to the money. 

“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. 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.” - ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is often a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of these verses, so let's clarify them a bit. Let’s start with this one; Those who want to get rich... This is again, motive and mission. If we pursue wealth, and that is our central mission and purpose, then we have a key problem. Wealth as a byproduct of a worthy mission and purpose is terrific, wealth as a mission and purpose leads into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 

Next is another often misunderstood verse; For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It does not say that money is the root of all kinds of evil. It says explicitly FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY is a root of all kinds of evil. It goes onto say some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Money is seductive, alluring, and full of empty promises. The empty pursuit of money, pure love of money, will be a long road full of empty promises and a destination full of grief and destruction. This is simply because money without a pure mission only satisfies itself, the more you get, the more you want and need. A destructive cycle that feeds itself. 

Now, let's shift the conversation and point to wealth done right. Money, wealth, and worldly assets are not a problem; they are a blessing when done right. I know, and I am sure you know many people and families that are wealthy and have a lot of money. The ones that I know that live a life of purpose and mission, a life focused on serving Jesus Christ, and glorifying him leverage their wealth to serve the mission of Christ. They are genuinely generous, and they honor the Shema, a Jewish prayer that includes this verse.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” - ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are called to Love the Lord our God...not love money. Money and worldly wealth can be a beautiful thing, a blessing from God when it is part of a true purpose and Godly mission. May today, we center ourselves around the Shema, focusing on loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength. In doing this, Lord give us a generous spirit and a deep sense of purpose in serving and honoring you. If we happen to be blessed with money, and monetary resources along the way, then we will praise you and glorify you with how we use those resources. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch