How Do Our Cravings Affect the Church?

Introduction

This evening we’ll be continuing our sermon series through 1 Timothy. And as we’ve seen over the past several months, this book is practically concerned with the right functioning of healthy churches. One of the leaders of the early Church, named Paul, was specifically sent out by Christ to teach, and to gather people into churches as they accepted the truth about Jesus. And Paul didn’t do this alone. He had many different co-workers and helpers. And this letter was written to one of the people – a man named Timothy. And Paul’s concern here is to make sure that Timothy knows how to establish godly order in the church, and also how to avoid gross error and ungodly cravings.

And we’ll continue to see these concerns as we work through our text this evening. So if you haven’t already, please turn with me to 1 Timothy, Chapter 6. And tonight we’ll be giving our attention to verses 3 through 10. But before I read our text tonight, please pray with me:

[Pray and Read Text]

Wrong Aims, Wrong Cravings – Regretful Outcomes

At some point recently, I was having a conversation with a friend, and they were telling a story, that when they were little, they used to play putt-putt golf with their dad. And it was a good memory. They would climb from one elaborate little putting green to the next – past the rotating windmill, and the rock tunnel, and the flowing water. And my friend remembered, every time when they got done, the result was the same. The dad would say, “good job, you have the highest score!”

But of course, as an adult, my friend came to realize that having the highest score actually wasn’t such a good thing. Certainly, that isn’t how you win putt-putt golf. Wanting the highest score wasn’t the right goal to be aiming for.

But in our text, Paul points out a different situation where desiring the wrong goal has consequences that are much more serious. He warns Timothy about people in the Church who desire self-aggrandizement – self-importance – who distort Christianity in order to make much of themselves. And Paul explains that much of the chaos and conflict that happens in churches, and in the world – it comes from people like this, who are fixated on the wrong desires. And so in order to distinguish between right desires and wrong desires, Paul takes some time to clarify what the right passions and priorities should be for faithful Christians.

And so tonight, I’ll unpack our text under four main ideas that are explained by Paul in these verses. First, we’ll give attention to the core teaching of the Christian life, in verse 3. Then, we’ll identify the cravings that promote ungodliness, as we look in verses 4 and 5. Third, we’ll reflect on the contentment that accompanies godliness in verses 6 through 8. And then finally, we’ll consider the consequences of ungodly desires (cravings), mentioned in verses 9 and 10. (So those will be four main points: The Core Teaching of the Christian Life, the Cravings that Promote Ungodliness, the Contentment that Accompanies Godliness, and the Consequences of Ungodly Desires (cravings).)

The Core Teaching of the Christian Life

So first, the core teaching of the Christian life. You’ll notice that right away in verse 3, Paul expresses a concern about people teaching error instead of truth. He warns Timothy about those who teach a different doctrine (a false teaching), and who do not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness.

And so even before explaining what false teaching looks like, Paul gives a quick explanation of the core teaching of the Christian life. He gives two brief descriptions to help us identify it. He begins by indicating that right teaching is in agreement with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ. You could also translate this as the healthy words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s reminding us here that whatever Jesus has said – it’s for our soundness and health.

But even more than this, Paul’s point is that the word of Christ needs to drive our teaching. What the Church needed then wasn’t Greek philosophy, or guidance from mystical impulses. But the Church needed the reliable, healthy word of Jesus. And we still need it today, in our church in Mt Pleasant. And that’s why it’s important – when people are speaking as spiritual messengers – they need to faithfully deliver the message of the Lord who commissioned them. The words we say must agree with and advance the sound words of Christ.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you need to go out and buy a red-letter Bible – one of those Bibles where the words Jesus said during his earthly ministry are printed in red ink. Some people have the wrong idea, and they imagine that those words Jesus spoke on earth are the only words we need to pay attention to. But in reality, all of the Bible is from Jesus. He is the Word made flesh. All the words of Scripture were produced, as holy men were carried along by the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Christ. And so by good and necessary consequence, the Scriptures are the standard we follow. This is the teaching that all healthy doctrine must agree with. Because this is the word of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But Paul doesn’t just describe core teaching in terms of it’s origin – in terms of being the word of Jesus. But he also describes core Christian teaching in terms of its effect. Right teaching must be teaching that accords with godliness. Now this word godliness – it might mean different things to different people – so I want to briefly define how we should understand this word. Godliness here refers to a reverence for God that’s actively lived out – a reverence for God that’s actively lived out. That’s what godliness is. And all healthy teaching should produce the same general effect – it should take people into that direction. It should expose our human smallness and sinfulness. And it should impress upon people a deeper humility before God, a weightier love for God, a more earnest trust in God. Rather than encouraging indifference or idleness, sound teaching will call people to live as worshippers, who actually desire God and obedience to him. That’s what right teaching will promote – right desires for Jesus.

The Cravings that Promote Ungodliness

But in the next section of our text, Paul explains the kinds of wrong desires that fuel false teaching. This brings us to my second main point, concerning the cravings that promote ungodliness. We’re told that if someone teaches a different doctrine, not agreeing with the words of Jesus that promote godliness – the reason why is because they have characteristics and cravings that aren’t right.

The first issue Paul identifies is that such a person is driven by conceit. Literally the word here means that the person is filled with fumes. The person is puffed up, but there’s no real substance or impressiveness in them – it’s all just smoke, a vapor that quickly disappears. And Paul’s point here is that people who are deluded with self-importance – it makes it almost impossible for them to submit themselves to the authority or teaching of someone else, even if that someone else is Jesus.

Part of why Paul needed to write something like this is because, at the time that this was written, it’s believed that a heretical movement called Gnosticism was developing in its early stages. And people in this group – they considered themselves to be Christians. But they claimed to have a higher version of Christianity – that they had somehow been given special spiritual knowledge through philosophy, or religious myths, or supernatural experiences. And they relied on these things, thinking that these extra sources of knowledge placed them on a higher pedestal above others. They no longer needed to listen – they were the ones who should be listened to. They were so impressed with their own so-called knowledge, they wanted to make sure everyone else knew about it, too.

But Paul points out to Timothy that such men are puffed up with conceit – full of fumes – and they understand nothing. Because if they understood the truth, they wouldn’t be dancing around on their pedestal – but they’d be dropping to their knees before the Word of Christ. They wouldn’t be insisting that they’re always right, but they’d be admitting their weakness and the depths of saving grace. This craving for self-importance – this conceit – is the first issue Paul speaks of that promotes ungodliness.

But in the second half of verse 4, Paul also mentions another unhealthy craving that these people have – cravings for controversy and quarrels about words. It’s important to clarify, Paul isn’t saying that it’s wrong for people to engage in thoughtful debate in order to define and defend truth. In Scripture – in 1 Peter 3:15, we’re actually encouraged as Christians to be prepared to give a defense of the reason why we have hope in Christ.

But here, Paul’s saying that people shouldn’t get caught up in controversies over things that are more speculative, or uncertain. The Greek words for controversy and quarrels about words both have the connotation – that these are arguments about fringe issues. Those aren’t the kinds of things people should be declaring war over.

You’ll also notice, though, Paul’s pointing out how it’s a problem for people to be craving controversy like this. It’s profoundly unhealthy and unhelpful when people are chomping at the bit, on the hunt for possible areas of disagreement that can be enflamed and intensified.

Sometimes, in small children, you can see something like this. You can see that there are some kids that just seem to have a desire to provoke other people, especially their siblings. And as you’re watching, you might slowly see this child reach out and give a sibling a hard jab in their side, under the rib cage, just because. And of course, it’s not a happy response. Just a moment ago there had been peace. But for no good reason – just out of conceit and a craving for controversy – it gets ruined. And of course, Paul’s point is that there are some grown people, even in the church, who continue to crave this sort of encounter with people. They savor the idea of getting into clashes with people so that they have the opportunity to put down people who are less articulate or influential. They want to get into a duel, because they like showing off the skill they have with their pistol.

But if look carefully at our text – Paul isn’t just concerned about the first wave of conceited, controversy-loving people themselves. But he’s also concerned because he recognizes that their combativeness and quarrelsomeness will have a negative impact on others. He mentions this in the middle of verse 4. The controversies and quarrels about words – they produce bitter fruits in the lives of people who get caught up in them: envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people. And Paul points out – the reason why some people get drawn in to this constant friction, is again because their doctrine and desires are off-base. They’re depraved in mind – they aren’t dedicated and drawn to the right priorities. They’re deprived of truth, Paul says. And they imagine that godliness is a means of gain. Which is to say, they imagine that displaying passionate zeal and religiosity is just a stepping stone to something else – that if they muster up enough spiritual intensity it’ll help them to gain personal advantages can be lorded over other people.

But Paul wants to make it clear – even though self-advancers and agitators may give the appearance of strength, even success – this is the wrong demeanor for a faithful teacher. And these are wrong desires that’ll ultimately lead to sickness in the church rather than soundness.

Faithful teachers won’t be driven by conceit, but they’ll be directing people to Christ. They won’t be picking fights unnecessarily, but they’ll be promoting reconciliation and peace. Their ministry won’t produce envy and slander and constant friction – but across the Church it will produce evidence of love, and truth, and caring fellowship. That’s the sort of leadership the Church needs. And that’s the sort of leadership Paul is trying to encourage by giving Timothy these warnings.

The Contentment that Accompanies Godliness

But Paul doesn’t just give warnings. He goes on to explain more what right longings and leadership for the Church should look like, in the next section of our text. He describes the contentment that accompanies godliness – true godliness. And this is my third main point from the text – the contentment that accompanies godliness.

Paul speaks of it in verse 6. He says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” This is a significant comment. Because remember, Paul has just identified that people depraved in heart and deprived of truth – they imagine that godliness is a means for gaining something else. From their perspective, godliness is only useful insomuch as it gets them publicity, or influence, or respect that they can lord over other people.

But Paul explains that faithful Christians see godliness in a totally different way. Godliness – having a reverence for God that’s lived out – it isn’t a means to something else. But godliness itself is precious. Having an awareness of God’s supreme authority and majesty – being humbled under his power, being floored by his tremendous mercy toward sinners, having a life that’s being lived out in joyful worship to God – godliness like this isn’t a means to something else. But it’s the true end goal and purpose of human existence, to live out all our days knowing and glorifying and enjoying God.

And if someone knows what this God-full life is like – this life full of God – if you’ve ever gotten a taste of it, then you’ll know that it produces contentment – the type of contentment that Paul talks about in verse 6. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

And there are a couple different ways that godliness brings contentment to us. For one thing, godliness – a right reverence for God – it silences our selfish cravings for self-advancement. Because as soon as we know God rightly – as soon as we see the perfections of his power and wisdom and love, it forces us to see that we’re wicked. We’re totally empty of beauty and glory. Every desire we once had to drag God off his throne, and to draw attention to ourselves – those cravings crumble into dust. Because we see that we’re nothing. And we’re content to admit it.

But in addition to this, godliness brings contentment because it satisfies our cravings. Again, it’s not that godliness is a stepping stone that gets us temporary wealth or earthly power. But a life of godliness, a life of trusting in God and loving him, is a life of knowing and having God himself. And the abundance of God toward his people is a gold mine that never runs out of precious metal. The Christian says – I don’t need to prove myself right in every argument. I don’t need to convince people that I’m someone worth listening to. I don’t need approval or influence to make me feel like I’m somebody great. But all I need is to celebrate and serve the God who truly is great. And I’m content! From today, to the eternal ages ahead, that’ll be all I ever need. Godliness with contentment is great gain – it’s bountifulness that lasts forever.

In contrast, Paul acknowledges that there’s a transience to earthly things that isn’t worth living for. He highlights this in verse 7: “for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” Whatever the greatest works and masterpieces are that we create, Paul’s making the point that there won’t be any lasting profit from those things. If the money or houses or monuments we built in the world were going to show up for our benefit in the afterlife – then by all means, chasing after these types of attainments would count for something.

But instead Paul is firm in explaining: the great king won’t be able to take his power with him. The rich man won’t be able to take his wealth. The social media influencer won’t be able to take his fan base. We came into this world empty – and we leave this world just as empty. And even though this puts us in a very humble position – even though this means we depend totally on God to furnish and fill the new city to come, the God we’re trusting in – He’s perfect in what he provides.

And that’s why, in verse 8, Paul says, “But if we have food and clothing” – if in this life, we just have our basic necessities – “with these we will be content.” And in light of what God has waiting for us as Christians – how could we not be content? Ephesians 2, verse 7 says that God has raised up Christians with Jesus, “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ.” In the coming ages, God will show the riches of his kindness, beyond measure, beyond comprehension. Even if you were the emperor of the world, it would just be finite. There would still be limits. But the rich kindness of God is boundless – endless. Of course this should make us content.

And I want to be clear – this contentment shouldn’t just be theoretical for us. But Paul expects that godliness with contentment is something that we’re called to together as Christians. Even in the hardest of circumstances – war, depression, miscarriages, break-ups, terminal illnesses – the reason we have for contentment is unchanged. Because knowing God comes with a fullness and foreverness that no affliction in this world can overpower or outlast.

Those of who have turned from sin, and have taken hold of Christ: make sure you live in the reality of this truth. You have a gracious God who really loves you. He, in history – he sent His Son to suffer for you and to save you from your evil, from your despair, even from the bitter sting of death. Your trial isn’t bigger or better than he is. Continue to set your mind on the Lord. Revere him. Live out your trust in him and enjoy the daily comfort and confidence that be brings. Godliness, with contentment, is great gain. As people who have been given such a great treasure – we shouldn’t live like penniless paupers.

The Consequences of Ungodly Desires (Cravings)

But in the remaining verses of our text, Paul once again turns his attention to people who aren’t setting their hope on the richness of God’s kindness. And he explains some of the consequences that result when people persist in ungodly desires. And this brings to my fourth and final point, dealing with the consequences of ungodly desires.

You’ll see in verses 9 and 10, Paul cautions, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. It is through this craving, that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Earlier on, Paul warned about self-centered cravings related to conceit and controversy. But here he deals very specifically with a different type of craving – the love of money. And he warns Timothy that it’s a root of all kinds of evils. Just to be clear, he doesn’t say that money itself is evil. Money is just a tool ­– a resource. And in many cases, money can be used in ways that are really good and helpful. But what Paul says is that the love of money – the desire for money – that’s the root of all kinds of evils. (Like a Canada thistle – it has a long root-like thing that lies under the surface of the ground, called a rhizome – and from it, new thistles burst out of the ground in a hundred different places). The love of money gives rise to prickly evils like jealousy, rivalry, cheating, stealing, unthankfulness, and idolatry.

And so again, Paul is making it clear to Timothy that when people have wrong desires, it leads to real disturbances in the church. In fact, Paul says that it leads to destruction. “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” And based on how this is worded – it isn’t just the money-loving people who get plunged into destruction, but it’s also those around them. Our evil cravings don’t just affect us – but they cause collateral damage to the bystanders around us.

It’s important for us to realize – sin isn’t just about what people do. But so much of our sinfulness and wrongness is tied up in what we desire. Even our thoughts and desires can be evil. Just like the poisonous fumes of carbon monoxide, they can’t be seen, they can’t be smelled – but they’re ruinous. They’re deadly.

And when Paul was saying this, it’s clear that he had seen this play out in real life. He seems to have several specific people in mind when he speaks in verse 10. He says, “It is through this craving (the cravings for money) that some have wandered away from the faith, and have pierced themselves with many pangs.” The passions we have, and the things we desire, really do have an important effect on the course of our lives.

And so practically, Paul wants to make sure that Timothy is pastorally aware. We don’t just need to be warned against certain words, or against certain actions. But we need to be warned against wrong desires. As you’re caring spiritually for your friends – or parents, as you care spiritually for your children – the basic issue is never just what the other person is doing. The issue comes down to what the other person is desiring.

Those who desire the glorification of self, those who crave controversy, those who are driven by the love of money – those desires will lead to humiliation, loss, and bankruptcy. But Paul shows us a better way. Those who depend on Jesus for salvation will be rescued from their punishment and pollution. Those who delight themselves in the Lord will have all their desires filled from the fullness of heaven. Godliness, with contentment, is great gain. What will you desire? (What are your cravings?) What will be your destination? Let’s pray: