If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness and contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men 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.
Commentary
Paul concludes this last section of his letter to Timothy in much the same way that he opened it. He hits the false teachers in the Ephesian church hard, exposing their true motivations. Paul's perspective on this issue is obvious from his words. He sees these teachers as self obsessed - so much so that they reject the instruction handed down to them by the One they report to follow and worship - the Lord Jesus Christ. He says they are both ignorant and arrogant; that they enjoy causing division in the church with false doctrine, thus sowing the seeds of mistrust, envy, strife and gossip. The result is a constant friction between the divided groups that have been deluded by these false teachers and an abandonment of the truth. But the real motivation of these men is financial. They seek to enrich themselves through their divisive activities. They take the money of those they mislead thinking that their false form of godliness is a means to material success.
Paul tells Timothy though, that true godliness leads to contentment and not the desire for power and money. Life is short. We are born with nothing and what we have when we die stays here. We cannot take it with us. So, rather than fall into the trap of constant scheming for financial gain, Paul says that Timothy should focus on being content. The desire to get rich is a distraction that can make people miserable. If there is sufficient food clothing and shelter, Christians should be content with that. Why? The love of money is a root of evil that can cause grief and ruin one's faith.
Questions
1) In verse 3 Paul talks about false doctrine and sound instruction. What makes a doctrine false? What lens do we use to determine what false doctrine is? Look at Second Timothy 3:16 and while you are there ask yourself what "God breathed" means.
2) What false teaching today endangers the church?
3) How does false teaching divide a church?
4) What does internal controversy do to a church?
5) Where do you draw the line between holding church leadership accountable and promoting unhealthy controversy?
6) Paul said that at the root of the false teacher's motivations was the desire for money. What can make a ministry susceptible to dishonest gain?
7) Paul says that godliness with contentment is great gain. Isn't pursuit of wealth intended to bring contentment? Does it work? How does godliness bring contentment? Does this mean we should give up trying to improve our financial status?
8) How many of you have more than you need? How much could you give up and still be content? Is having food shelter and clothing enough for contentment? Can contentment even be defined in terms of material possessions?
9) Which of these situations could you accept without endangering your faith? Which of these would bring the most contentment? (Philippians 4:10-13)
- The ability to work for the rest of your life.
- Enough money for food, shelter and clothing (and nothing else) for the rest of your life
- Enough income to eliminate the need to ever work again.
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