TEXT:  1 Tim. 6:3-10

INTRODUCTION:

A.      SOME LABOR FOR MATERIAL GAIN – RESULT IS ERROR.

B.      THO A GODLY LIFE IS BENEFICIAL, OUR OBJECTIVES NOT MATERIAL.

C.      SEEKING EARTHLY GAIN THEY HURT THEMSELVES AND LOSE THEIR SOULS.

D.      MONEY IS NOT BEHIND ALL EVIL, BUT EVERY KIND OF BAD THING HAS

          BEEN DONE FOR MONEY.  OUR LESSON CONSIDERS SOME EXAMPLES.

GREED LED:

I.      LOT TO ENDANGER HIS FAMILY( Gen. 12:13;  18:20, 32 ).

A.      LOT’S SONS-IN-LAW( Gen. 19:4 ).

B.      HIS WIFE LOOKED BACK( vs. 26 ).

C.      HIS DAUGHTERS( vs. 30-32 ).

II.     ACHAN TO STEAL FROM GOD( Josh. 7 ).

A.      HIS SIN EFFECTED ALL – ISRAEL TURNED BACK AT AI( vs. 5 ).

B.      IT EFFECTED HIS FAMILY – THEY WERE ALL STONED( vs. 25 ).

III.    SAUL TO DISREGARD GOD’S COMMAND( 1 Sam. 15:3, 9 ).

A.      WE ARE NOT LEFT TO CHOOSE HOW TO SERVE( vs. 22-23 ).

B.      THE COST WAS GREAT( vs. 28-29 ).

IV.   GEHAZI TO EXTORT FROM NAAMAN( 2 Kings 5:20-27 ).

A.      HE GOT CAUGHT( vs. 26 ).

B.      A TERRIBLE PRICE( vs. 27 ).

V.    ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA TO LIE( Acts 5:1-11 ).

A.      THEY WANTED HUMAN RESPECT AND MONEY.

B.      THEY WERE MADE AN EXAMPLE( vs. 11 ).

VI.   JUDAS NOT TO SEE THE VALUE OF JESUS( Matt. 26:14-16 ).

THE LESSON:

A.      WOE TO THE MAN WHO ALLOWS GREED TO MANIPULATE HIM

          ( 1 Tim. 6:9-10 ).

B.      OUR HEARTS SHOULD BE ELSEWHERE( 1 Tim. 6:17-19 ).

C.      “GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT” ( vs. 6 ).

          1.       The things of this world are temporary( vs. 7;  Matt. 6:19-21 ).

          2.       Of those named before, what do they have now to show for their efforts

                   ( Matt. 16:26 ).

          3.       What compares with the contentment of knowing our reward is eternal?

                   ( 1 Pet. 3-5;  1 Tim. 6:6-8 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WHERE AE YOUR TREASURES?

B.      WOULD YOU HAVE THE CONTENTMENT THAT COMES FROM SERVING GOD?