Leadership Lesson #7

False Teaching and True Riches

"Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Paul’s Final Instructions

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:3-11


We are continuing this series on leadership by reading the last portion of the first letter of Paul to Timothy.

In our free time, it is recommended that all ministry leaders continue to study the letters of Paul in their quiet times with the Lord and to continually ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

On the last part of this instructional (pastoral) letter, Paul warned Timothy about those who are teaching things other than what the Lord Jesus has taught them.

So if they were already people doing this back in their time, there are going to be people who will be doing this today.

Fruit

It might not be too easy to spot who these people are. To identify them, we will need to look at the "fruit" of their actions and what their words are resulting in.

So regardless of their good intentions, kind gestures, religious discipline, smiling faces and flowery words, check to see if they...

A. Are always stirring up controversies (with the things they say or do)?
B. Are their actions seemingly the result of jealousy or envy?
C. Are they causing division (even if unintentionally)?
D. Are they speaking slanderous accusations (if not evil suspicions)?
E. Do they always seem to cause trouble (so instead of keeping people in, they are pushing people out)?

WWJD

Jesus created a team who He taught everything they need to know for the purpose of letting them loose and do what they are supposed to do with the help of the Holy Spirit.

In contrast, there will be people who will be creating cliques -- small groups of people which are mainly exclusive, hard if not impossible to get into and their purpose is to look superior to those outside their group. They hardly teach others who are not one of them. They think they are up there (God like) and others are beneath them and not in their league. And they want to keep it that way.

True Riches

Lastly, Paul's final warning to Timothy was that the "love" of money is the root of all kinds of evil. So most if not all of their mistakes will be caused by this misdirected love.

Instead, Paul charged Timothy to pursue God -- to pursue the Giver and not the gift.

And to run after gentleness, perseverance and love. In simple terms, be like Christ.