God's Word, The Path to Life: The Stuffs of Life 11-8-20

Is there any limit to what you want in your house, or garage, or closet?  If the advertising efforts of so many is any indication, almost everyone wants for “stuff!”  And, if you don’t really want much of anything, the goal of a good advertising campaign is to “create” in you a desire, or even a need, for something, so they can sell it to you!

 

This is the way it has always been.  People want stuff; and in the back of our minds we often make the connection between “stuff,” and “happiness,” even though we know better!

When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to a young pastor friend Timothy, the people in his congregation were struggling with the desire for the “stuffs” of this life; so much so that their faith in Jesus was being comprised, and they were beginning to do things that would damage both their faith, and their lives; all in the pursuit of “stuff.”  I Timothy 6:9-12 

 

Timothy’s congregation needed to learn that:

 

 The pursuits of this world threaten to keep us from the best this life has to offer.

So many of the “pursuits of this world,” that we think will bring us lasting joy and happiness, often do the very opposite!  

In our passage, Paul explained this to Timothy in v. 9 when he said that sometimes, in their pursuit of the riches of this world, people “fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires.”  In those ancient days it could have been any number of things:  wasting money on that which you did not need; drugs and other abuses; gambling and other ‘get rich quick’ schemes - you name it - it’s all been here forever!    The point Paul was making was simple: When people allow their desires for the stuffs of this world drive their actions and values, there was seemingly no limit to what they would do -  no matter how foolish, or destructive!  It not only has the capacity to destroy one’s life; Paul writes in v. 10 that this pursuit and re-shaping of values may also cause them to “wander away from the faith,” and cause great spiritual pain.

 

Nothing has changed, has it?  Most of us here have made foolish purchases over years, only to recognize later we squandered away our resources.  We buy things to bring us pleasure, to make us happy, to help fill our lives - seldom do they last!  If you want proof, go to a garage sale - or worse, have one!   We come to value fleeting pleasures rather than lasting joy, and make choices that do nothing more than steal something from our lives.

Some of us pursue the ‘stuffs’ of this world by working too much - we justify it by saying it is “for our family;” the paradox is, though, that by spending too much time working you ‘lose’ the very family you love - if not through actual loss of relationship, then just by losing the years they are home - they may be gone when you finally realize what you’ve done, and reap the consequences of foolish decisions, based on a less-than-godly value system.

 

What we modern people do - known as ‘chasing the dream,’ is a practice that is as old as humanity itself.  Paul, in our passage, challenges us to live differently:

 

The pursuit of faith can lead you to experience a life that is real, and full.

 

The most successful way to live a life that leads away from the world’s desires, is to focus on a faithful life.  In other words, instead of trying to resist the desires of the stuffs of this life, fill your life with the things that a better life can offer!  (i.e., if trying to lose weight: Don’t focus on what you can’t have, instead think about what you can have:  good and healthy foods, and better health, and smaller waistline, etc.)   This is just good psychology!  The same principle can enable you to develop a more successful approach to your struggle against worldly desires:  The good things of God, and the things that come into your life when you focus on a life of faith, a sense of purpose and meaning in life:  they really are better than the stuffs this world can offer!  

 

This approach to life is mentioned in the rest of our passage. I Timothy 6:17-19

Paul instructs Timothy to help his people pursue a life worth living - literally, “real life,’ or “life indeed.” (v.19)   Here are some ideas Paul gives his readers, and us, to live “life indeed,” or “keeping it real.”

 

 “Keeping it Real”

 

Don’t base your worth on your worth (v.17) Your value as a person, and your relationships, are worth much more than any possession.  Use this truth to establish your life-values.

 

Place your hope in that which lasts (v.17) Only the things of God last; everything else is temporary, and can be lost or taken away.

 

Invest in others (v.18) Do good works, be ready to share.  You are a missionary from another world!

 

Recognize your treasure (v.19) Allow God and his Word to guide your values, and help you find fulfillment in the larger things of this life and the life to come.

 

Even Jesus addressed the problem of our worldly concerns:

           

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. . . But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Matthew 6:19-21, 33

 

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Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.