False Teachers and True Contentment

Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But 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. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Paul’s letter to Timothy is loaded with an abundance of information.

Has my Lord Jesus Christ ever said anything to me that is not written in the bible? Yes He has but those things He has said to me are not a teachable moment. They were personal corrections about unacceptable behaviors. Is it possible that others might make the same mistakes that I have made? Sure but confession of condition is not a teachable moment.

Are there things in this reading that I believe others are guilty of committing against sound doctrine? Sure but I am not their conscience nor their Lord and to stand against them would cause dissension in the ranks.

The body of Christ should be about unity and not division. Paul said in verse 6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain,” What I gain by any godly action is peace with God because in those moments He does not have to chastise me.

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Disciplines come less often but I still get disciplined, which I deserved and I embrace them. They say He loves me.

We all want to be loved. Don’t we?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 English Standard Version

The Way of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

These words would not have been necessary if we could obey just one command.

Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

God created us to love and be loved. All He ever wanted was to be loved.

But love that is not given freely is not love, thus He gave all His creation free will.

What we do with our free will speaks directly to the quality of love in this relationship. In the beginning God came to Adam and Eve every morning. Ever since the fall we have been the ones seeking to come to Him. What kept us from achieving that goal is sin.

• Ezekiel 33:13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.
• Romans 3:10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

We are unable to establish righteousness on our own. We cannot love God without being in a deeply personal committed relationship with God. He made that possible, He gave us a way.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This is true doctrine rejected by many who present false doctrines to exploit free will.