By Pastor Kevin Harris of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Dapto, approximately 15 minutes south of Wollongong, NSW
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Timothy 6:9-11
As a boy I had my share of running from aggressive geese and chasing after pet rabbits who escaped their cage prison. The first resulted in a broken finger, and the second in a rabbit dinner. Maybe you too have fled from animals you feared and chased after animals that had escaped.
In my last devotional we explored verse 6 which says, ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain.’
Verse 7 adds that we arrived naked, and will leave empty-handed. Verse 8 concludes: ‘And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.’
‘Wait a minute!’ you say. ‘That’s all? Just something to eat and something to wear?’ Yes, those two things are the only absolute essentials.
Now in verse 9 he warns us of a serious danger, which is the attitude, ‘I want to be rich.’ Books and seminars abound telling people how to be rich. Others give up on the steady route of riches – that of hard work on a consistent basis – and just play the lottery.
God says this desire for riches is dangerous.
Why? It tempts and it traps. It causes people to fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts or desires. It leads to drowning in destruction.
How many have sold their bodies for money?
How many have taken work on the Lord’s Day because of the lure of extra penalty rates?
How many have no time for meaningful daily devotions, for the prayer meeting, for evangelism, for the Sunday evening service because they are so busy at work or sports or some other pursuit?
What’s the problem? Verse 10 pinpoints it: ‘the love of money.’
Oh, Christian, beware of a love of money! It’s highly seductive. It will lead you to backslide from Christianity (‘err from the faith’). It is to hurt yourself (‘pierced themselves through with many sorrows’).
God orders the Christian to flee these things. Flee coveting! Flee discontentment! Run from a love of money like you would a rabid dog!
But verse 11 continues to tell us what we should pursue. It’s the phrase ‘follow after’ that means to chase down or pursue.
What should we chase down? He lists six virtues: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. Christlike qualities are to be our focus.
The next verses strongly urge us to fight the good fight of faith. ‘The good fight’ is the fight for the cause of Christ against the world, the flesh and the devil. Fight sin, He says. Concentrate your efforts on what really matters in eternity!
To summarise, rather than pursuing money, God says, pursue Christlikeness and the cause of Christ.
Father, without Your help, I naturally want to flee what I ought to pursue, and pursue what I ought to flee. Help me get and stay on track. Teach me to be satisfied with what You’ve graciously given to me. Make it my habit to consciously chase after the eternal that revolves around You, the Eternal God. I ask this in the Name of my Lord and Saviour, Amen.
Kevin Harris resides in Wollongong, NSW, where he is pastor at the Illawarra Community Baptist Church of Dapto.