Jump in the River 7

(1 Timothy 6.6-12The River of GraceStewardship 2015 - #4Jump In the River[ 7 June 2015 8:15 AM ] 05.31.2015 First UMC St. CloudloudCloud)

(NIV) 1 Timothy 6.6-19 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9Those 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. 10For 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.

11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own timeGod, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Our Lives Belong to God 1

Introduction: Make The Decision

1. I would like us to continue our conversation about God's River of Grace. We have learned:

a. About swimming in the river of Grace - to follow God the Father's current (where God is working around us), to look for the Holy Spirit's direction (where are we to participate with God) and finally, to be ready to act with Jesus (to actually do what God leads us to do).

b. That we are rivers of generosity - we give of our time and resources freely as river's of generosity because of God's river of grace that pours into our lives.

c. That we are to be dependable for each other in our life together on God's river of grace.

d. This morning, it is time for us to make a clear choice to jump in the river, to jump into God's river of grace.

2. So, many years ago, I went hiking for three days up Mount Jefferson with three of my friend. Two of them, Mike Brown and Lois Brown (no relationship except me) were in my wedding and I was the best man in both their weddings. These two were also very athletic which as you might know, I am not. What I was, though, was very fit for long climbs in the mountains.

a. The morning of our last day, I suggested that we climb to the peak of Mount Jefferson and then down Castellated Ridge back to the parking lot. From the cabin we were staying in, already half way up Mount Adams, the peak of Jefferson looked far off and the Castellated Ridge looked long and the numerous ups and downs of the ridge looked menacing. My three friends talked about being tired from the past few days of hiking and wanting to get out of the woods as easy as possible. I said, "Whatever you all want to do. We can just go down from here and miss the longer trip up another maintain and down that ridge."

b. Mike brown, ever the competitive person, said, "No, then Briggsy will always tell us we wimped out." So up to the Peak of Jefferson and down the rather grueling rocky Castellated Ridge Trail. Though I can't say this now, Mike asked me if I was part Billy-goat?

3. We were all hot and sweaty by the time be got to flat ground. At the bottom of the trail was a river which looked cool and inviting. I forgot to tell you it was late early June but there was still large patches of snow on the tops of the mountains. So, this river was recently melted snow. Cold. Stick your head in the freezer cold. Hot as we were, each of us had to make the decision to move beyond thinking of cooling off in the river to actually jump in the river.

4. You and I have the same decision to make. Life in God's grace might make us nervous at time and require some shocking moments in our lives yet at some point you and I have to make the decision to jump in the river and not simply stand hot and sweaty at the banks, knowing how cooling and refreshing the water will be.

The Big Idea You and I have to make the decision to jump into the river.

A. To Wander Away

As we begin, Paul sees being eager for or longing for money as being powerful enough to lead Christians to wander away from this eternal life-of-God.

1. First and Second Timothy are letters from Paul (who started many of the church communities in the Mediterranean basin after Jesus returned to heaven) to Timothy, his young protg and church leader. One can safely assume that the content of the first and last sections of many of the New Testament letters are to be seen as of great significance. So, of great significance, at the end of Paul's letter to Timothy, we read a very upfront and sweeping indictment, 1 Timothy 6.10 10For 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. Paul is adamant that the love of money poses a serious threat to Christian character and to the Christian community. Though Paul is not specific, the Scripture sees love of money as being at the root of all kinds of evil thoughts and actions. Further, Paul warns Timothy that to aspire for wealth might lead to grief. In the Greek, a reflexive pronoun () is added to the sentence. Instead of simply using the verb "they will be pierced" the sentence reads " themselves they will be pierced or run through with many pains" heightening the impact of the danger at hand.

2. Now, Paul is not being a moralist or condemning the wealthy in the church. Instead, our text is offering a Christian perspective on life that is meant to shape how we relate to others and to our material possessions. You will note that money is not evil in and of itself. The last two weeks we have seen that money has been an integral aspect of God's grace flowing from the Christians in Achaia and Macedonia to the Christians in Jerusalem. Paul is setting before Timothy and before those who Timothy will lead the choice of true or false life.

3. The Greek word translated as "eager" () in verse 10 means to aspire to something, to strive for something, to desire something, or to long for something. This word is also used in Hebrews 11:16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. In this letter, Timothy is being lead to long for or to desire that which leads to the life-of-God. Paul then commands Timothy 1 Timothy 6.6-19 12....Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Here, eternal life is not a distant expectation but a very present reality in which we live as Christians. Paul sees being eager for or longing for money as being powerful enough to lead his young friend and other Christians to wander away from this eternal life-of-God.

B. A Dark Side

Now, in our lives, there is a dark side to the money we need to live, a powerful influence drawing us to desire the security of money over desiring our security and strength from God

1. John Wesley is the founder of the Methodist movement in England in the early to late 1700's. Wesley died in England in 1791. Wesley's ministry God brought a great revival and many thousands to embrace Jesus and Lord and Savior. One result, though, of God's work through the Methodist movement and through Wesley's preaching was that people who has formerly wasted their money on selfish exploits such as excessive drinking now gave up their wasteful ways, saving their money. Though this brought a new and vibrant life for many, Wesley also observed that there was a dark side. In his journal of Wednesday July 11th, 1764, Wesley wrote, "Riches swiftly increase on many Methodists, so called: What, but the mighty power of God, can hinder their setting their hearts upon them? And if so, the life of God vanishes away." [footnoteRef:1] [1: vol 3. 187]

2. Wesley, like Paul, did not see money as bad. In fact, Wesley spoke of it as a necessity of providing for the things we need in this life for ourselves and our families as well as being able to be generous to others. What Wesley did understand was a dark side. a powerful influence money leveled on people drawing them to desire the security of money over desiring our security and strength from God. In other words, Wesley saw the truth of Jesus' words in Matthew 6.24 24No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Jesus speaks to us in very stark and polarized terms - to serve or be a slave; to hate or to love; to be devoted or to despise.

3. Toward the end of his life, Wesley observed in a sermon entitled "Causes of Inefficacy of Christianity" preached in Dublin in 1789, that "The Methodists grow more and more self indulgent, because they grow rich." Wesley then noted that this did not mean that they were all wealthy but simply through the grace of God had grown increasingly financially better off. He laments, "that nine in ten of these decreased in grace, in the same proportion as they increased in wealth." [footnoteRef:2] The a dark side to the money we need to live. [2: 7 289]

4. I think JW could write the same thing about our time. Like Paul to Timothy, like Wesley to those Christians who first lived in the Methodist movement, this is not part of a conspiracy to guilt you into giving more. Yes, the outcome of this text from the Bible is increased giving but that is not the intention or purpose. If you and I do not take this seriously then we will easily descend 1 Timothy 6.9 and 10 9..... into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. Or become Christians who have, 10.... wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Paul and Wesley want us to avoid the ruin and the destruction and the grief of losing our faith and no longer swimming in God's river of grace in our lives.

C. Content

There is always hope from God: In God's river of grace, in a relationship with Jesus, God gives us the opportunity to live content lives.

1. Let's be honest with each other. For you and me to let these words from God through 1 Timothy take a hold of our heart will most likely only happen with God's grace, that is God's Holy Spirit transforming our view of the world. Through our text this morning, God reminds us of a great truth 1 Timothy 6.7 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. This belief that everything in this life - our money and our possessions and our time - were given to us by God and will in a sense be taken back when we die or Jesus returns. I believe this can only occur through prayer and worship and Bible study and baptism and communion - through engaging in the "means " that God has given so that we can swim deeply in the river of grace.

2. Then we can be with Jesus who tells us Matthew 6.25 and 31-33 25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?....31So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

3. So how does God help us to not worry? Our text gives us some direction in this matter 1 Timothy 6.6 and 8 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. When we are pursuing God the Father through our relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit offers us the power and the courage to be content with what we have. More importantly, to be content with what we need and not to always be striving and worrying for what we might really not need. So, to this life of contentment we now turn.

D. Take Hold

1. Many of us understand God's eternal life as some future event after our death or when Jesus returns. Most dangerous to the Christian life is a belief that this eternal life has no direct influence on our day-today lives or on how we view our word. 1 Timothy 6.12 12....Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. When you and I claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, when we receive God the Father's forgiveness through faith in Jesus (God the Son) and are empowered to resist sin and serve others through the power of the Holy Spirit. Here, you and I have entered eternal life; we are now living in God's eternal life.

2. Yet, if you and I are to take these verses to heart, we are not to be passive recipients of this eternal life-of-God. 1 Timothy 6.12 12Fight the good fight of the faith...and then to take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.... Fight the good fight might be better translated as contest the good contest. The language is that of an athlete. Our faith in Jesus requires the energy and the discipline of a good athlete. Here, in these verses, you and I are told to "flee" from a love of money and an eagerness for money as a vital aspect "contesting the good contest." JW (John Wesley) saw only one possible solution, arguing, "I can see only one possible way...do you gain all you can and save all you can? Then you must in the nature of all things grow rich. Then if you have any desire to escape the damnation of hell, give all you can; otherwise I can have no more hope of your salvation."[footnoteRef:3] [3: 290]

3. I want to encourage us to take hold of the eternal life to which we are called by simplifying our lives. [Looking to [From (NRSV) 1 Timothy 6.17-19] For you and I to silence the voices constantly telling us we need more. For us to live counter to our culture by living below, not above, our means. In this way we will be able do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,

a. I want to point us to build into our budgets the money to buy with cash instead of credit. For you and I to build budgets that enable us to live generously and faithfully thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future

4. Paul, in his letter to the Christians in the city of Philippi, wrote about this athletic like grasping of eternal life. In Philippians 3.12-14 12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead [to take hold of], 14I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call [the eternal and abundant life] of God in Christ Jesus.

a. When we simplify our financial lives, we can begin to take hold of the contentment Jesus offers to us. Then, we are able to more fully and faithfully participate in the work God is doing in this life and in this world; work that will last into the coming age, into the Gods fully realized new heaven and new earth. In this way you and I will take hold of the life that really is life. In living generously, we take hold of the abundant and eternal life which is ours because Jesus first has taken hold of us. You and I must jump in the river of grace.

b.

Action Point This week, make specific steps to simplify your spending so you can be more generous.

5. Now, I do not want you to hear "Give because the church wants your money and that's all they want is your money." Like Paul and JW, I want you to experience and to live deeply in God's eternal life, to swim in God's river of grace. I yearn for to give all you can so you can learn to live in the contentment of Christ and to avoid the evil and ruin and destruction that these foolish and harmful desire might so easily plunge you and me into. So, I heard this from God yesterday as I finished our message for this morning. If giving to the church distracts you from the reason God asks us to give - to avoid evil and to live in God's contentment - then give in Jesus name to World Vision, International Christian Development Mission in Haiti, to Campus Crusade for Christ or to Imagine No Malaria. Just give.

a. I am confident that if we become the people Paul and JW are pointing us towards becoming, God will richly bless this church. I just want you to trust Jesus and to give.

Imagine No Malaria

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fcumc

International Caribbean Development Mission in Haiti

http://www.icdm.us/donate/

World Vision

http://donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/by-category/urgent-needs

Campus Crusade for Christ (Justin Yates - the missionary working in local schools who we support)

https://give.cru.org/0664994

Action Point This week, make specific steps to simplify your spending so you can be more generous.