Page 65 - Pastoral Epistles I & 2 Timothy, Titus

Many people claim to be Christians, but are they content, or do they continue to pursue more of
what the world has to offer?

 God has called His people to a life marked by contentment.
• Why is it not possible to serve both God and money?

Matthew 6:24. No 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.

• What does a simple desire look like? Is it the same for all Christians?
9
1 Timothy 6:9-10. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many
10
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.

Whatever our financial situation, we are predisposed to love money. It is part of our sin nature to want what we
do not have.

• Is it wrong to work hard to try to get ahead financially?
• How does Satan use materialism to blind Christians to the needs of the world?
• Where does an obedient Christian draw the line on luxury (having anything more than the
bare necessities)?
• When does it become a sin to want a nicer house, furniture, car, etc.? How do we evaluate
such desires, considering 1 Tim. 6:9-10?

9
1 Timothy 6:9-10. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many
10
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.
Question: What do diets, exercise programs, marriage, and the Christian life have in
common?
Answer: It’s fairly easy and even fun to begin, but it’s not so easy to hang in over the long haul.

Can a Christian expect to reach a point where the Christian life is an effortless victory, or must
we always strive against the world, the flesh, and the devil?

How can you know when it is time to flee (v. 11) and when it is time to fight (v. 12)?

13
1 Timothy 6:13-16. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who
14
while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this
command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will
15
bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who 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.

Definition of Integrity

63