SATURDAY'S SOUNDNESS: THE WEALTH OF SPIRITUAL HEALTH...

1 TIMOTHY 6: 3-19...
3/ Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching
4/ is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
5/ and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain.

6/ Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
7/ For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
8/ If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
9/ Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
10/ For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

11/ But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
12/ Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13/ I charge (you) before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
14/ to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
15/ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16/ who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17/ Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
18/ Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share,
19/ thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life

Timothy is exhorted to maintain steadfastly the position outlined in this letter, not allowing himself to be pressured into any other course. He must realize that false teachers can be discerned by their pride, envy, quarrelsomeness, and greed for material gain. 1 Tim 6:6 is rather obscure and is interpreted, and therefore translated, variously. The suggestion seems to be that the important gain that religion brings is spiritual, but that there is material gain, too,
up to the point of what is needed for physical sustenance (cf 1 Tim 6:17-19). Contentment: the word autarkeia is a technical Greek philosophical term for the virtue of independence from material goods (Aristotle, Cynics, Stoics).

Timothy's position demands total dedication to God and faultless witness to Christ (1 Tim 6:11-14) operating from an awareness, through faith, of the coming revelation in Jesus of the invisible God (1 Tim 6:15-16).

Commonly those are most proud who know least; for they do not know themselves. Hence come envy, strife, railings, evil-surmisings, disputes that are all subtlety, and of no solidity, between men of corrupt and carnal minds, ignorant of the truth and its sanctifying power, and seeking their worldly advantage. 

Those that make a trade of Christianity to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed; but those who mind it as their calling, will find it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. 

He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content. When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. 

The necessaries of life bound a true Christian's desires, and with these he will endeavour to be content. We see here the evil of covetousness. It is not said, they that are rich, but they will be rich; who place their happiness in wealth, and are eager and determined in the pursuit. Those that are such, give to Satan the opportunity of tempting them, leading them to use dishonest means, and other bad practices, to add to their gains. 

Also, leading into so many employments, and such a hurry of business, as leave no time or inclination for spiritual religion; leading to connections that draw into sin and folly. What sins will not men be drawn into by the love of money! People may have money, and yet not love it; but if they love it, this will push them on to all evil. Every sort of wickedness and vice, in one way or another, grows from the love of money. We cannot look around without perceiving many proofs of this, especially in a day of outward prosperity, great expenses, and loose profession.