Evidences of Faithfulness (to the Gospel)

[0:00] Timothy 6, we're going to start in verse 17. 6, 17, I already started my study on the book of Judges.

[0:15] I read the book of Judges yesterday. It took me an hour and 18 minutes. And my wife said, wow, it's fast. I'm like, really? So if you're a really fast reader, you do it in an hour.

[0:28] If you're a really slow reader, then probably in like, thanks, man. And probably like under two hours. So the whole book of Judges, like around two hours or so, if you read the whole thing through.

[0:42] And I encourage you to do that. Next Sunday, I'm going to do a message for the Lord's Supper. Sunday after that, I'm going to do a message on Psalm 16. So I think I'm going to start on the 21st, right?

[0:53] Yeah, 7, 14, 21, the third Sunday of March. I'm going to start in the book of Judges. And I'm not sure how many messages will be in the book of Judges. I got a book called The Distressing Days of the Judges.

[1:08] So it will be neat to go through this to see the grace of God and His sovereignty in the midst of the sinfulness of man. You remember reading Judges? It's horrible. Like, wow, this is really bad.

[1:22] And that's almost like how you know that men, in particular men, just men, did not write the Bible. Men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

[1:35] But you see that even in the book of Judges because you see just the wickedness of people, just how evil that they were. And yet you see still God's sovereign grace in the midst of that.

[1:47] So as you're reading through the book of Judges, don't forget that God is still sovereignly orchestrating all things to bring about Messiah to come. Even in the midst of our stupidity, God is still faithful.

[2:01] You know, you see that in the book of Judges. There's a theme for you, right? But he does it. So all that to say, that's kind of the plan. So today we'll finish up 1 Timothy 6. 1 Timothy, the book of 1 Timothy, we'll do 6, 17 through 21.

[2:15] Excuse me, I'm going to take a drink. Thanks, Aaron, for the water. Appreciate that. Let me read and then we'll jump in.

[2:29] To those who are rich in this present age, command them not to be conceited or hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who grants richly to us all things unto enjoyment for them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing, laying up for themselves the good treasure unto the future so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

[3:05] O Timothy, guard the deposit, avoiding godless chatter and opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge, which some professing it have deviated from the faith.

[3:23] Grace with you. During my workouts, you know, I count a certain number of reps that I'm supposed to do that I've charted for myself.

[3:40] And at times, in the midst of those things, I lose count. And I don't trust myself because I know I probably will say I did less.

[3:54] So I lose count and I go, oh, yeah, I did 15. Oh, sure. But I really probably only did like eight or something like that or 10 because I know I will probably do that. So I don't trust myself in that regard.

[4:07] So I usually say, okay, no, I probably didn't do 15. I probably did like eight or something. So I'll add more because that's my tendency. I don't trust myself. I don't trust myself in other aspects too.

[4:20] Do you trust yourself? You shouldn't. I need God's grace to say faith with Christ.

[4:34] So do you. I have a pastor friend who had another elder with him in the church.

[4:47] And not in this vicinity, this is far away from here. This elder's wife, there was sin that was there. Emotional affair that took place.

[5:02] Not a real one. She kind of came clean and repented and confessed that and was broken. He didn't want to have anything to do with it though.

[5:17] He didn't want to have anything to do with her. He was done with her. He wanted a divorce. This is an elder in the church. Things went south.

[5:32] He ended up drinking. He lost a really good job. They fired him. And he deviated away from the faith.

[5:45] And the church actually had to discipline him out of the church. Don't trust yourself.

[5:57] I don't trust myself. And when you come to a passage like this, you remember why you shouldn't.

[6:10] And yet you remember the call on the positive end to be faithful. And really you see evidences of faithfulness from this text.

[6:23] two ways that will actually display our faithfulness to the gospel. I titled this God's Manual for Church Life Evidences of Faithfulness or Evidences of Faithfulness to the Gospel.

[6:43] Evidences of Faithfulness to the Gospel. A long statement for you to kind of sum up these last few verses of this letter to Timothy.

[6:59] You have two evidences display faithfulness to the gospel. Obeying the commands given regarding wealth or money and guarding the deposit of the gospel.

[7:11] These evidences are especially significant for leaders in the church body as well as the body as a whole. Remember we've talked about this before where this was from Paul to Timothy to be the charge as a lead pastor in this church in Ephesus but these are ways where all of us as the church body we can take away these promises take away these commands take away these truths and apply it to our own lives and you'll see that once again from our passage.

[7:42] Trucking back through this letter you remember Paul began this letter to Timothy saying this is our goal love from a pure heart good conscience sincere faith.

[7:59] He reminded Timothy it was all about the gospel calling the men to leadership to exercise authority to have community prayer specifically the men leading that the women learning in silence and submission the overseers and deacons their job description who they should be what these men should be about who we are as a church what we believe and why it's so vital Paul gave practicals for pastors and how as a pastor he should separate members widows elders slaves how to deal with people who have this love for money and the connection with that with false teaching and the pivotal commands that we looked at last week so that's a summation of this letter that first letter that Paul wrote to Timothy and then here Paul needed to warn Timothy to command those who had money in the body about the danger of conceit and hoping in their riches instead they needed to hope in God who gives all for our enjoyment and needed to focus on the right perspective and this is so good for us too because it gives us as our American culture we're one if not the richest nation in the world we have so much how do we handle the money that we have how are we handling this for the glory of God in the same vein

[9:36] Paul charged Timothy to guard the deposit of the faith the gospel not giving attention to false teaching which some had done deviant away from the faith it's so vital that we stay faithful to the gospel not deviating from the faith not deviating from the truth it was striking to me when I started reading this letter and still when I started my study why is it that he gave this whole section verses 17 through 19 why does he talk about riches then why does he do that don't you think it's odd like why did he do that after he said from verse 10 command those who are rich I mean it would sound better when if Paul would have said the end of verse 16 to him honor and eternal dominion amen oh Timothy guard the deposit right why didn't he just end it there why does he start talking about riches don't you find that striking it's odd

[10:43] I came up with three reasons I'll put them up there on the screen for you I think the reason why Paul did this first of all to give positive aspects to being rich and to give positive commands to those who were rich we talked about this a couple weeks ago it's not wrong for you to be rich it's not wrong for you to be wealthy it's not wrong for us to have money it's not wrong but a second reason so he ends the letter here calling Timothy to be faithful so once again we see something we see the connection between staying faithful to the gospel and the dangers of wealth and how it can lead us astray because remember we looked at that in verses 3 through 10 the false teachers they wanted to get rich and that's why Paul says for the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil so you see that connection here once again that's why it's so vital to not have a love for money which leads to the third reason third there may have been some in leadership who are rich and even in the body which makes sense because remember there were false teachers who craved after money using the truth for their own gain and this is where it's going to tie in for all of us how do you handle the money that's been given to you how do you handle that stuff because you can have a love for money and not be rich you can have a love for wealth and not be wealthy and you'll see when Paul gives these commands to the rich you'll see how it applies to all of us in so many different ways but I'll give this last statement to you then we'll jump in true godly leaders true godly

[12:56] Christians give evidence to their faithfulness by being willing to give to the body and to stay true to Christ and the godliness you're investing in the lives of people and you're staying faithful to the gospel or to put it another way you love each other and you're loving Christ oh that sounds familiar I think that's somewhere else in the bible oh I know it's everywhere right we invest in each other's lives because we love each other we care for each other and we're faithful to Christ because we love Christ it's interesting kind of takes us back to what Paul said the goal of our instruction is love this is how you show love so let's jump in shall we notice how it begins here first handling of riches two evidences of faithfulness first handling of riches or how you handle your money and it begins with this first handling of riches or a handle of money two dangers to avoid verse 17 to those who are rich in this life

[14:13] Paul warned Timothy about the danger of riches and wealth so he commands Timothy to those who are rich in this life in this present age in this present world he says command them not to be conceited interesting this word means it's different from the word that's used early on from chapter what's it 6 verse 5 verse 4 he is conceited that's a different word here in verse 17 the word means to think highly so conceited means to think highly because the temptation is for one who's rich to think their personal value or worth is equivalent to their monetary possessions and we can do this whether you're rich or not right my value can be connected to what I make versus what you make or what you make versus what I make we can do that so they think the brethren are lower than them they are higher than them he says don't think this way that's the first danger the first danger to avoid is conceit second notice he says not to be conceited or the words fix their hope literally is just to hope not to hope don't put their hope in the riches wealthy people are tempted to think that their riches can buy them anything and notice what he says put their hope not just on riches but on the uncertainty of riches

[16:10] Paul said riches were uncertain that's true when you compare riches to the great holy God riches are uncertain riches appear to provide stability strength steadiness surety in this life but in minutes seconds what was that thing about GameStop they can all just blow away on the contrary riches are volatile they're unstable proverbs proverbs proverbs 23 4 and 5 do not worry yourself to gain wealth cease from your consideration of it when you set your eyes on it it is gone for it certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens it happens every month when you pay the bills gosh where'd that money go it all just blew away right we can be tempted to think that money secures anything what about

[17:38] God how do we handle our money here's something else something that's worth money your time how do you handle your time so two dangers to avoid conceit and hoping in the uncertainty of riches and now he flips it to positive commands actually six positive commands or exhortations and notice the first one not to hope in riches but he says hope in God verse 17 but on God they needed to put their hope in the giver of the gifts not in the gifts themselves our hope must always be in God not in the stuff riches or wealth of this life going back to that and I'll go forward again I'll read to you another Old Testament verse

[18:39] Psalm 33 a king is not saved by a mighty army a warrior is not delivered by great strength a horse is a false hope for victory nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength and then verse 20 to 22 our soul waits for the Lord he is our help and our shield for our heart rejoices in him because we trust in his holy name let your covenant love oh Yahweh be upon us according as we have hoped in you we don't hope in the stuff of this life our hope is in God hope in God they needed to put their hope in the giver of the gifts not in the gift themselves our hope must always be in God not in the stuff the riches or the wealth of this life which is so much part of our culture I mean the rest of the week you are pumped with the fact that wealth stuff riches it satisfies you it gives you security you should hope in stuff did you get the new iPhone yet did you get this do this buy this buy that blah blah blah gobble gobble gobble trust in

[20:11] God hope in God notice he says this too but on God who grants richly to us all things God alone grants all things richly or abundantly because he's so generous and kind and notice the purpose from the Greek it's just unto enjoyment which is the purpose you can enjoy it the aim of his generosity so we can enjoy all his good kind gifts what's the purpose of that we give thanks to him for his good gifts and enjoy them for his glory taking the opportunity given to us with his gifts to generously give to others we're going to see that a little bit more in just a second with the fourth command which is be generous his intention is to give him praise and to enjoy how he providentially provides for us because really when you think about it it's all his grace right and do you notice a play on words by the way those who are rich the uncertainty of riches

[21:43] God richly grants the rich to be rich in good works you're going to see that in that moment you know it's so easy for rich people to get sidetracked down the wrong road putting their hope in this world and it's stuff and not in the Lord it's so easy for all of us to put our hope in money and to get sidetracked away from the gospel and to put our hope in stuff what are the idols that have creeped up in your life and that's what you're putting your hope upon you put your hope upon that not upon God hope in God to do good this goes into verse 18 that they would be those who do good wealthy people should be about doing good to others not trying to buy whatever they want and taking advantage of others no they love doing good this goes back to chapter 1 verse 5 the goal of our instruction is love they do good to others because they love and then third they're rich in good works he says to be rich in good works notice they were rich so be rich in your good works do good and be wealthy in good deeds are they just wanting to count their money or were they doing good works are you so concerned about the money and what you have or are you thinking more about how you can minister to others here's a question how can you minister and serve the church body and good works and be abundant in them how can you be rich by giving yourself to others which leads to the next one number four be generous notice he says to be generous the word means ready to impart so you have hope in

[24:00] God he says to them hope in God and do good he says be rich in good works and fourth be generous listen as God has been so generous and giving to us by giving us his very son on our behalf as the greatest gift those to whom God has graciously granted wealth and riches should be willing to give to others 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9 Paul says that Christ who was rich he became poor so you can become rich is that not the gospel we are poor rebel sinners sinners and you hear Jesus leaves his glory the richness of his glory and takes on humanity to die as a substitute for sinners and resurrected from the dead and so anyone who repents and puts their trust their hope in the

[25:10] Lord Jesus Christ he'll save them and they'll be rich towards God because they'll have a relationship with God if you're here you don't know Jesus that's for you you should repent and trust Christ that's the gospel God has been so generous to us which is why we should be so generous to each other stop giving to me I can't stand it anymore you're giving to me too much that's the way we should be generous and then that's why he says the next part here the end of verse 18 ready to share literally just sharing where you actually get the word koinonia fellowship they are generous with their wealth and are willing to share with others and maybe some things can't be given to others but rich person you have the ability and you should be ready to maintain that community of fellowship by sharing let's go do this with each other let's be a part of this come on those who are wealthy should invest their lives and their wealth in that which is eternal people and relationships a friend of mine used to say there's two things in this life that last forever people and the word of

[26:34] God that's true another pastor he said to me man ministry would be so much easier if it wasn't for people ministry is people if there's anyone who should take advantage of what God has given to them it's those of money but see notice how this transfers not only to wealthy people but to all of us are we investing in each other's lives you see where this love for each other comes into play all the way back to chapter 1 verse 5 what's the goal of our instruction it's love out of a pure heart a good conscience sincere faith because it's all about the gospel God has been so generous to us and shared with us we should be willing to share and be gracious to each other be ministry minded invest in the body members be ministry minded invest in each other with relationships connecting with each other that's going to last forever because money is just going to go to hell it's going to burn one writer said this true wealth is found in relationships and employing one's physical possessions to enhance those relationships and it's hard because you don't want to come across manipulating you don't want to take advantage of others either you don't want to flip side hey you're rich why don't you invite me over for lunch buddy right but we all have to have that gospel

[28:21] Christ focus so hope in God do good rich and good works generous share there's five number six this kind of ties in with number five eternal investing look at verse 19 laying up for themselves the good treasure it has foundation but literally the word means treasure we translate it that way and notice he says treasure for the future unto that which is coming turn the currency turn the currency of this world into eternal currency that has lasting value got that from a writer but kind of tweaked it a little bit from what he said this is how he tweaked it turn the currency of this world into eternal currency that has lasting value and see as the rich do these first five

[29:33] I mean they're transmuting their riches now riches into eternal riches that's that's the right view how how can you turn the currency of this world into eternal currency maybe it's getting lunch with others maybe it's getting together with them for coffee things like that that's investing in each other's lives and you're familiar with this we read it Matthew chapter 6 Jesus said the same thing in Matthew gospel we read that 6 19 21 future treasure is lasting it has true value unlike the stuff here on earth it's a rust it's destroyed it's stolen you gotta fix it blah blah blah you know what I think is so ironic with this whole pandemic what's the word that people say now be safe really

[30:44] I always shiver when I hear that what eternal treasure is safe reliable steady the gospel is safe Christ is safe where in the bible are you you see we're supposed to be safe Paul was never safe that guy was a nut case that guy would go into the city they would throw stones at me get up and be like ah man I broke my arm and my leg but I'm gonna go back in the city and preach the gospel no no Paul be safe what he'd be like what's the matter with you he'd probably smack you if you said that to him you see what I mean there's this whole way of thinking and I'm not saying that you know you get sick you have the virus and you hey how you doing brother alright

[31:51] I'm not saying you do that if you do that I'll freak out on you and I'll smack you don't do that to me that's why I have my hand sanitizer right I'm safe whatever Jim right when you think about it what's safe Jesus we're never promised to be safe in this life we're promised to be secure in Christ because Christ is safe we're safe in Jesus eternal value that's safe and look at what he says here too laying up for themselves the good treasure unto the future and here's the purpose so that you can grasp that which truly is life it's not it's not it's not about this life it's not that life it's not about it's not about the purpose of these six positive commands we're so that they we may grab or take hold of eternal life which is true or real life and that is the spiritual life God will give to us more fully in the future but it's what we enjoy in Christ right now you have that life now that's eternal life that he mentioned earlier what chapter 6 verse 12 take hold of the eternal life we have that now and the good works they evidence that investing in each other's lives how you handle your money that's the way you evidence faithfulness to Christ how you love each other is an evidence of faithfulness to Jesus good works demonstrate true faith and love for Christ and his body and to be rich in them is laying up true and lasting treasure stored up in heaven as

[33:49] Jesus said Luke chapter 12 Luke chapter 16 our Lord taught a lot about money so use your wealth use what's given to you by God for the glory of God and the good of others to bless Christ's body to serve them investing in the lives of people remember what's the goal of our instruction love out of a pure heart sincere conscience good conscience sincere faith handling money handling riches and then here's the second evidence guarding the gospel verse 20 and 21 here's Paul's final charge warning once again with such urgency see oh Timothy guard and has your what has been entrusted to you and that gives you the definition of the word deposit and the word here guard was used in the ancient world it denoted the high obligation of being entrusted with another's treasured possession keeping it safe keeping it safe keep the gospel safe and return it as it was for safe keeping like a safe deposit box you want to guard something to make sure it's safe not your life but the gospel you're guarding the gospel you're guarding this deposit

[35:21] Paul called him to guard the deposit which was is the faith the apostolic teaching of Christ from verse 13 chapter 1 the faith and this guarding is in opposition to the false teaching which was the teaching that opposed the apostolic teaching it opposed Paul regarding Jesus our Lord regarding salvation anything that's contradicted what Paul says that's false that's wrong and notice he says guard it avoiding it says worldly here it's actually the word where we get the word godless or even profane vile irreligious talk he uses the same word in chapter 4 verse 7 godless talk and he says opposing arguments or opposing oppositions it's where you actually get the word antithesis interesting anything it's anything that's antithetical to the faith to the words of the faith to the message of godliness to Christ oh church guard that when we gather together as people we should guard that we should we should do it we should take the truth we should guard that as a church because our tendency is to forget our tendency is to move away from gospel truth to move away from the importance of

[37:19] Christ and him crucified he says these ideas are falsely called knowledge interesting when he says falsely it's from where we get the word pseudonym pseudonym pseudo author false author it tried to look like the real thing but it was really fake it's nothing but a false deception a typical of false teaching taking a strand of truth but a hair then twisting it so it looks like the real thing but it's really just a farce it's a sham guard it Timothy guard the deposit that's the evidence of faithfulness that we're guarding this gospel truth and remember these false teachers are using the false erroneous teaching to get money try and make them rich their focus is on gain the love of money instead of the love of people because you see what happens verse 21 which some professing this or the word actually means to be promised or to lay claim to this because they lay claim to this they've gone astray or deviated from the faith because they have done this what he describes above in verse 20 they had deviated from the faith that caused them to go astray from the faith from the gospel from the truth from

[39:08] Christ Christ he talked about that earlier in chapter 1 verse 19 among these are hymenas and alexander verse 19 and 20 of chapter 1 and riches can do that money or a lack of it can draw us away from the truth of the gospel we start to focus on stuff and upon yourself not upon others guard the truth don't trust yourself and notice how he ends the same way he began grace with you God's unmerited favor ultimately shown in Christ at the cross oh we need grace to hold to this deposit oh we need grace to display this investing in each other's lives this love we need grace yes and notice too grace with you you is actually plural in the Greek so it's not just a Timothy this prayer of grace was upon the whole church body you guys need grace to love each other you need grace to guard the gospel to guard the truth

[40:29] Paul wanted to encourage and exhort and strengthen Timothy calling him to be faithful to God's calling upon his life but he wanted also to exhort the church to faithfulness and for us as a church not to deviate away from the truth so two evidences and there's more but just from the text display faithfulness to the gospel obeying the commands given regarding wealth how we handle our money and guarding the deposit of the gospel these evidences are especially significant for the leaders in the church body but for all of us really for us all remember it's love from a pure heart a good conscience into your faith all the way back to chapter one how we're investing in each other's eyes because we love each other and we love Christ we're gonna guard this gospel truth what a fun book for us to have gone through and let's pray that God will help us to be this people

[41:33] Father we don't trust ourselves but we trust you we don't hope in ourselves and our riches and our money but we hope in you we don't put our hope in our health or our wealth but in you and yet we are pulled by this world to put our hope and to live safe and to be selfish and to stray from the truth help us as your church as you are in this mode now an exciting mode in the history of this church you've been growing us there's been such great and positive things that have been happening in your church and we're excited and the evil one does not like it so we listen to the charge that's given to us oh Father

[42:55] I pray that we would invest in each other's lives as a church building relationships and allowing those relationships to happen organically loving each other and loving Christ guarding this deposit this truth the words of the faith help us not to lose sight of who you've called us to be and thank you there'll be times when we fail and that's why Jesus had to die because we fail but you pick us up you dust us off and you give us your grace and you move us forward once again your grace changes us and your grace picks us up so make us cause us to walk in the path of your commands because we delight in them yes because we delight in you take this time if you would as we do each week to fill your mind to ponder upon the truth of God's word let your mind be filled with truth let your mind be filled with Christ a few moments minute and a half or so whatever you know we'll sing we'll pray you will it you can you you you