I have a toilet at my house that won’t stop running. Now, I am not a particularly handy person, but I know that generally means it needs a new flush valve flapper. So I went to Walmart and guessed which one I thought was the correct size, purchased it, and brought it home.
You guessed it, it wasn’t the correct size, so (after a few days… or weeks) I returned it and purchased the correct size. I returned home, turned off the water, replaced the flapper, and returned to life. A few days later, my wife texted me, “I think the toilet is still running”.
After some inspection, I have now determined it is the fill valve (which I’ve always called a floater), and in 2-3 weeks, I will probably get bothered with it enough to finally fix it.
If you want to fix anything, you have to actually address the correct problem. If you are struggling financially, it might be because you don’t have enough income, but it could also be because you don’t have healthy spending habits.
If your spending is out of control, you can increase your income, and you’ll still be in the same pickle.
1 Timothy 6:10 contains one of the most important, and most misquoted verses in scripture when it comes to our mindsets around money, consumerism, and wealth.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” - 1 Timothy 6:10 (CSB)
Did you catch that? It’s not MONEY is the root of all evil. It’s not that money is evil. Loving money, it does cause evil and not just in a James Bond Super-Villain, World-Domination type of way. Money causes marriages to fall apart. Friendships have ended over money.
This verse is from a passage of verses where Paul is writing to his protégé, Timothy. The church that Timothy is leading is experiencing infiltration from false teachers. One of the things these teachers are doing is using their position as teachers to financially manipulate people and build their personal wealth.
Paul says that this behavior “betrays Jesus”, and instructs Timothy in how to avoid this trap of greed.
So how do we live free from greed? How do we fight this compulsion to “get ours” at any means necessary?
We fight the love of money by living lives of contentment and intentionally choosing to be people of generosity.
Money’s not the problem! Loving it is the problem. Living for it is the problem.
We fight the love of money first, by aiming for contentment in our lives. “But godliness with contentment is great gain” Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:6. We fight greed by being content with what we have.
The story is told of the old man who was teaching a younger man about overcoming vices. “There are two dogs inside you, a good dog and a bad dog, both are fighting for control” the old man said. “Well how do you know who will win?” The younger asked. “Whichever you feed the most” was the reply.
We feed godliness by choosing to be content.
Jesus told his followers to look at the way God provides for birds, dresses the fields with lilies and asked them if God didn’t love them more than these things. “But seek first the kingdom of God” Jesus instructed, “and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33 CSB)
Paul, while in prison, wrote to the Philippian church and told them it was his contentment in Christ that led to his joy in spite of his circumstances.
Contentment sounds cool, but how do we even do that? If we want to be content, where do we even start?
Contentment requires trust. We are content when we trust God. We trust God is our provider, so we are content with what he has provided. We trust Him as sustainer so we know it’s not on us to sustain.
So if we want to be more content, truly, we need to trust more. We build trust by reflecting on what God has done in our lives. Remembering all the ways he has provided for us and others. Also, we build trust by risking. No. not being foolish, but choosing to step out in faith and surrender when God tells us to.
This is the principle of the Tithe. God told his people to set aside a tenth of their increase and bring it into His house for the provision of the workers there and for the advancement of the work.
This wasn’t really about how much was brought in (remember God provides), but it was an act of faith by God’s people to say, “God can do more with my 90% than I can do with 100%”.
Now, maybe you’re saying, “But David, isn’t the Tithe and Old Testament commandment?” I would tell you you are right! Now, under the new covenant, we have a greater command. Not to give 10% out of law-bound duty, but to give abundantly as led by the Holy Spirit.
We fight greed by being people who are content, and we grow contentment by choosing to trust God.
Paul continues in his instruction that we contain the craving for more.
9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. - 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (CSB)
I don’t know if you’ve ever REALLY wanted something. Like had it in the cart, saved up to buy it, had to have it type beat. What inevitably happens though? You purchase it and soon, you need something else. Or in a year that new, fantastic piece of technology doesn’t do what the new model does.
The craving of greed cannot be satisfied with more! Seriously, think about the richest people. Which one of them has said, “You know what, I’ve made enough money. I’ll give the rest away.”? There’s no magic number that brings satisfaction.
If we truly want to fight greed, we need to get good at giving stuff away. Generosity is the thing that will actually fill out the craving of greed.
We don’t share the things we love the most. Like my wife, she’s my wife. She can’t be your wife. She doesn’t loan me out to be other people’s husband.
So if we want to make sure we don’t love our money, we need to give it away. If we are selfish with our time, start volunteering for stuff. If you are hoarding a closet full of clothes, start giving clothes away.
We are called to be generous ultimately because Jesus is the perfect example of generosity.
One of the core values of our church community is, “Jesus is the Answer.” This isn’t just a platitude. Jesus is why we do everything.
Why should we love? Jesus loved us first.
Why should we serve? Jesus was a servant.
Why do we choose generosity? Because Jesus forwent his status in Heaven to come to Earth. He generously gave up everything for you and me.
Money’s not the problem! It’s when we love it that everything goes wrong. Choose contentment. Choose generosity.
