The Rich and the Wannabees
SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus
Introduction: A wag once said, “What good is happiness? You can’t buy money with it.” You, know, I suspect that describes the attitude of a lot of people today, including not a few who profess the name of Christ. Most would not verbalize such a sentiment, of course, but their lifestyle betrays them. Their priorities, their career decisions, their use of time–all seem to point to the fact that getting rich (or at least richer) is the most important thing in life.
Every one of us in this room this morning has a set of priorities, a ranking, if you will, of those things we consider the most important in the world. I’m sure if asked to put those priorities on paper, most of us would probably list God first, family second, and then church, work, friends, and country in some order.
But I am also sure that most of us would lie when we made up our list. Not intentionally, of course. Our list would be what we wished our priorities were rather, than what they really are. I think I can prove that, for nearly everyone in this room has written a book about our priorities. It reveals what is truly important to us, not what we wish was important. And it doesn’t lie. It’s a pretty small book, but you write a new chapter in it every year.
Do you know what book I’m talking about? Yes, it’s your checkbook. You might want to take it out this week and examine what you’ve written in it since January 1. Ask the question, “What does my book tell me about my real priorities in life?”
Statistics indicate the average born-again Christian spends more on his home mortgage than he gives to God.
He spends more on the education of his children.
He spends more on food.
He spends more on insurance.
He spends more on clothes.
He spends more on his cars.
He spends more on vacations and entertainment.
Is it honest for us to claim that God is the highest priority in our lives if He comes up 17th in the average Christian’s book of priorities? Now I am aware that not all these other things are antithetical to having God as one’s highest priority. A home or a car, for example, may be used for ministry, and education expenses may provide a genuine Christian foundation for our children. But I still think it would be difficult for many of us to demonstrate our professed priorities through our checkbook.
This church is above average in its giving habits but let me share with you what a Gallup poll showed about the giving of Americans in general. People under 40 give an average of about 2% of their income to charity, including church. This poll showed that unbelievers give 1.8% while those claiming to be born again give 2.5%. Rather amazing, isn’t it, that the giving of professing believers as a group is just .7% ahead of that of unbelievers? Obviously, there is little relationship between the kind of generous giving practiced and encouraged in the NT and the kind we see in the church at large today. I think we need to be taught how to look at our financial resources the way God looks at them.
I have chosen for our text today the last chapter of 1 Timothy, a book written by the Apostle Paul to a young pastor named Timothy, to encourage him and exhort him regarding his ministry in the city of Ephesus. He gives instructions about how to deal with false teachers in the church, about prayer, the role of women, qualifications for leaders, the care of widows, and the treatment of pastors. The last major theme of the book is money. He starts out addressing pastors and teachers but ends up talking to all of us.
As I read this portion of Scripture, I want you to look for two phrases: “people who want to get rich,” and “those who are rich.” I call them “the rich” and the “wannabees.” 1 Timothy 6:3-19:
“If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, {4} he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions {5} and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
{6} But godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. {8} But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. {9} People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
{11} But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. {12} Fight the good fight of the faith. Skip down to verse 17.
{17} Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. {18} Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. {19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
I encourage you to underline in your Bible the two phrases, “people who want to get rich” (verse 9) and “those who are rich.” (verse 17) A significant distinction is made between these two groups, with very different exhortations offered to each. Of course, it is quite possible for someone in the latter category to be also in the former category. That is, those who are rich often want to get richer. But it is important for us to recognize that God comes down hard on those who want to get rich, not necessarily on those who are rich. However, even before we get to these two categories we are exposed to some…
Advice for those who seek to profit from religion (3-8)
Godliness for financial gain is corrupting. (3-5) The problem of religion for profit is not a new phenomenon. It was present in Paul’s day just as it is in ours. The Apostle opens this chapter with a tirade against false teachers and religious hypocrites, for one of their most common characteristics is greed. He concludes his blistering remarks with the observation in verse 5 that these false teachers “think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” Apparently, they were teaching doctrines which “bring in the coins” and charging exorbitant fees for their religious “services.” Paul had no problem with pastors being paid appropriately for their work, but he was very much opposed to anyone using the ministry as a means of getting rich.
Now it’s easy to spot some of the clowns he’s addressing here. If you follow religious news at all, you know there have been literally scores of examples of fraud and extortion practiced by high-profile religious leaders in recent years. High-pressure appeals for money to carry on the “ministry” are accompanied by high living and wasteful spending. And friends, this cuts across denominations and it cuts across race and culture. Richard Dortch, former president of PTL and right-hand man to Jim Bakker, wrote a book from prison appropriately entitled, Integrity: How I Lost It and My Journey Back. It’s well worth reading. It tells how power and greed can corrupt the best of people. Henry Lyons, well-respected pastor and leader of the largest black Baptist denomination in the country, sits today in a federal prison because of the same basic failure. These incidents should grieve but not shock us, for even in the first century it was happening.
Yet godliness and gain are not completely unrelated, for in verse 6 Paul gives us a second piece of advice:
Godliness with contentment is profitable. (6-8) In fact, he says it is “great gain.” I do not believe he is affirming that financial wealth will always result; it may, and often does, but that is not being promised here. We should go back to 1 Tim. 4:8 for insight into the kind of gain he is speaking of: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Many people today are exercise nuts. They wouldn’t miss a workout for love or money; well, maybe for money. And the Apostle grants that there is some value in physical fitness. But its value is not nearly as great as the value of spiritual fitness.
Among the gains that godliness produces are peace, satisfaction, freedom from guilt, good character, integrity, healthy inter-personal relationships, solid family life, good self-esteem, and even future rewards and responsibilities. But for godliness to be profitable it must be accompanied by contentment. A person can keep all the first Nine Commandments, but if he is plagued by covetousness (the Tenth) it will profit him nothing. In fact, if he’s covetous, he can’t really keep the other Nine. David’s adultery, murder, lying and stealing stemmed initially from a lack of contentment with what God had given him. Listen to what the prophet Nathan said to King David after his sin with Bathsheba:
“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more.” But no, you had to go and covet another man’s wife!
Contentment is not only biblical; it’s also logical. Listen as Paul shares the logic of contentment in verse 7: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Someone once asked about a rich man who died, “How much did he leave?” The answer is, of course, “everything.” You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer.
What are the necessities of life after all? Paul identifies them as food and clothing. The believer who has these (and God has promised to provide these) has very little to legitimately complain about. One sage wrote, “If we fasten our attention on what we have, rather than on what we lack, a very little wealth is sufficient.”
So, the advice to those who are trying to profit from religion is simple:
Godliness for financial gain will produce spiritual poverty.
Godliness with contentment will make you a rich person.
Now in verse 9 Paul turns from false teachers and greedy preachers to anyone whose goal in life is financial wealth, as he offers…
Warnings for those who want to get rich. (9-16)
Did you notice as we read these verses earlier that not a single positive thing is communicated about those who want to get rich. As a preacher of the Word, I must challenge each of us to honestly ask ourselves this question, “Is getting rich a passion of mine?” If it is, hear the Word of the Lord.
Those who want to get rich face unique temptations, traps, and foolish and harmful desires. (9) What sorts of temptations are uniquely experienced by someone who wants to get rich? Well, try neglect of family in favor of career. What about making career choices based on salary rather than fulfillment or ministry potential or educational opportunities for the children? Or perhaps the temptation to employ questionable business methods or to cheat on taxes?
An inordinate desire to get rich tempts a person to put image before substance. I remember a young real estate agent back in Wichita who bought a Mercedes. When I asked him why, he said image was everything in his business, and the nicer the car he drove, the more likely certain rich clients would deal with him. I suppose there’s some truth to that, although I’m enough of a rebel that I’d be more inclined to buy from him if he drove a Honda. I wouldn’t feel like I was buying his Mercedes for him. Now if you drive a Mercedes, I hasten to add that I’m sure there are some good reasons to own one; I just don’t think image is one of them.
I offer that caveat because I’ve found it risky over the years to mention specific cars from the pulpit. About five years ago I was speaking about the sin of conspicuous consumption, and to illustrate the point I mentioned driving a Rolls Royce. I chose that because I knew there was no one at First Free who drove a Rolls Royce. That very morning, friends, I kid you not, we had a visitor who drove a Rolls Royce to church. As he was driving out of the parking lot, he stopped one of our staff members, rolled down the window and apologetically explained that his regular car was in the shop, so he drove the collector car he normally kept in the garage. I am pleased to report that he and his wife are still faithfully involved at First Free, but I don’t know if he has ever driven the Rolls back to church.
What special traps threaten the one wanting to get rich? Several years ago there was an article in Reader’s Digest entitled, “The Spy Who Knew Too Much.” One gets the distinct impression from the article that Russian intelligence would be ineffective were it not that lots of otherwise decent, patriotic, upstanding Americans want to get rich, even more than they want to protect their country. The obscene amount of money lost every day in the lottery and in the casinos in our city illustrates, I think, another kind of trap into which those who want to get rich readily fall.
He mentions, thirdly, “foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” What are some of the foolish and harmful desires unique to those who want to get rich? Well, often the one who wants wealth starts acting like he is wealthy before he is, buying cars and clothes and houses he can’t really afford, entertaining at places he doesn’t belong, and associating with those whose ultimate influence is to plunge a person into ruin and destruction.
A second special warning to those who want to get rich is…
They are in danger of doctrinal deviation. (10) “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith….” Now, why should the desire to get rich cause someone to wander away from the faith? It’s quite simple. The desire to get rich implies a love for money, and a love for money is incompatible with a sincere love for God. Jesus Himself said, “You cannot serve God and money.” The first Commandment is “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Money loved is a god, an idol, that prevents true worship of God.
Not only that, the careless and carnal lifestyle that often accompanies the desire to get rich is at odds with sound doctrine. And since we can’t over the long haul live with disequilibrium between belief and behavior, something’s got to give–either the lifestyle or the truth. Too often it’s the truth.
A third warning is that…
They are vulnerable to constant turmoil—both inner and outward. (10) The last phrase in verse 10 says, “they have pierced themselves with many griefs.” These words describe a state of utter unrest and unhappiness. There are inner turmoil and broken relationships with others. I have seen families completely torn apart because of greed. I have seen people hurry to an early grave because of the desire to get rich.
Now I want you to see why all three of these tragic results relate to the desire to get rich–“because the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (verse 10) I often hear people misquote this verse and say, “Money is the root of all evil.” No, it’s not. It’s the love of money that is the root of all evil. Do you doubt that? Consider these biblical examples: a love of money caused…
the man with many flocks and herds to steal the poor man’s one little lamb,
the rich young ruler to turn away from Christ,
the rich fool to deceive himself into thinking all was well,
the rich man to neglect poor Lazarus and his own soul,
Judas to betray his Master,
Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit,
and the rich oppressors to exploit those who worked for them.
It has been the cause of innumerable frauds, dollar-sign marriages, divorces, perjuries, robberies, poisonings, murders, and even wars.
Let me remind you that the love of money is not an exclusive characteristic of the rich. Some rich people do not suffer from the love of money, while some poor people are among the greediest people alive. The warnings here should be taken seriously by all of us.
Now let’s move down to verses 17-19, where special instructions are given to those who are rich.
Instructions for those who are rich (17-19)
Look again at verse 17: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Who are the rich here? Is Paul talking about Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Warren Buffett and Oprah Winfrey? If I asked everyone in this room if you are rich, I really doubt if I’d get more than a dozen affirmative answers, and chances are those who admitted it, would probably not be the wealthiest. Whenever we hear the word “rich” we almost instinctively think of someone richer than we are.
If you live in Valley Park, you think of someone who lives in Kirkwood.
If you live in Kirkwood, you think of someone who lives in Creve Coeur.
If you live in Creve Coeur, you think of someone who lives in Ladue.
The fact is, of course, that wealth is a relative thing, and without any doubt everyone here this morning is among the wealthiest 5% of the world’s population, and probably most of us are in the top one-tenth of 1% of the world’s wealthiest. So, there’s a definite sense in which verses 17-19 applies to all of us. There’s a special sense, of course, in which it applies to the wealthiest among us. The first exhortation is this:
Don’t be arrogant. Don’t be uppity. Don’t expect or demand special treatment just because you’re rich. Yes, wealth will get you special treatment in the secular world, but don’t bring those expectations into the house of the Lord. This is a very subtle temptation, friends. I’ve noticed down through the years that in general (there are, of course, some notable exceptions), but in general, the wealthier a person is, the less likely it is that person will offer to serve as an usher in the church or come to a work day, or park on the fringes of the parking lot to allow others to have the better spots. Why? Well partially I think it’s a matter of getting used to preferential treatment out in the world. If something needs to be done, the rich generally pay someone else to do it, and it’s very easy to bring that kind of attitude into the church.
Of course, this is easy to rationalize. If you’re making $1000 a day in your business, why do something at church that someone can be hired to do for $10 an hour? Yet it’s impossible to put a price on the spirit of unity and the spiritual maturity which comes from serving one another and serving with one another.
Another way I think this arrogance shows up is in the tendency of the filthy rich to complain about the poor, the homeless, and those on welfare, calling them lazy and good-for-nothing. In other words, compassion often seems to decline as wealth increases. There is danger in arrogance.
Don’t put your hope in wealth. The text exhorts the rich not to put their confidence in the uncertainty of riches. Wealth is never a sure bet. If you want proof of that, try to find a rich man who feels he’s rich enough. Bunker Hunt inherited several billion dollars, but it wasn’t enough, so he tried to corner the world market in silver. He nearly lost his shirt. I think the lesson here is that money, no matter how much you have, can never provide real security.
But there are a lot of people who seem to think it can. And they are like the rich fool of Luke 12 who built bigger warehouses in preparation for retirement, but God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you.” The problem is that if you trust riches, you are not trusting their source–God. And that brings us to one of the more fascinating statements in the entire chapter. The last part of verse 17 urges us to put our hope “in God, who richly supplies us with everything for our enjoyment.”
First, I see here that the source of life’s blessings is God. It is not our brilliance, our hard work, or our luck. Second, God is not parsimonious in His blessings–He richly supplies us. Third, it’s OK to enjoy the blessings of God. There are some Christians who take regular guilt trips over their wealth. I don’t think that is God’s intention. If your wealth came to you legitimately (i.e., if God allowed you to become rich without selling out your family or robbing God or robbing others), then you have the right and the privilege to enjoy it! And don’t let others make you feel guilty. There’s nothing particularly godly about poverty. Being poor doesn’t make you holy.
In 1980 I took my wife and Eddie, our only son at the time, to Europe for three weeks. The trip cost nearly $4,000 that we had saved up (probably equivalent to $8,000 today in 1999) and we had a fabulous time. As an added benefit I was able to minister to a group of missionaries for about five days in Holland. When we got back a sort-of friend of mine asked me how many Gospel tracks I could have bought with the money that trip cost. I’m sorry, but I don’t think that was a legitimate question, and I refused to accept the guilt he was trying to put on me. We enjoyed the blessing God had given us and have relived that blessing many times.
Paul isn’t quite through. To this person who became rich without it being his great ambition, he adds in verse 18:
Do good and be rich in good works. The reason he urges this is, I think, because rich people have unique opportunities to do good works because of their wealth. But I don’t think Paul is thinking just of checkbook charity. There are many deeds of love and kindness that speak far louder than money.
Closely related is the 4th and final exhortation:
Be generous and willing to share. It’s OK to enjoy the fruit of your wealth, but not at the expense of generosity to others. There’s an impressive motivation offered by the Apostle for this spirit of generosity. It’s given in verse 19: “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” Paul is here referring to the future rewards and responsibilities which faithful believers will receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ. And his language is quite similar to what Christ used in Matt. 6:19-21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 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.”
The last words in our text today are these: “life that is truly life.” There are a great many people who equate riches with real living. You’ve undoubtedly heard about the man who, upon seeing a very rich man being buried in a gold Cadillac, remarked, “Man, that’s really living!” Friends, that which is really life is irrelevant to riches, but it has everything to do with generosity.
Conclusion: I want to sum up our text today in three simple statements:
Money loved is harmful, always and without exception.
Money used is enjoyable, i.e., when not loved, when obtained honestly, and
when recognized as a gift from God.
Money given is profitable. Our generosity becomes an investment in the
future–even in eternity.
Last week I took the opportunity to challenge you to pursue excellence in grace, particularly the grace of giving. Today we have examined what God has to say about the rich and the wannabees. It’s OK to be rich; it’s not OK to be a wannabee. And if you are rich, God wants you to enjoy His blessing, to do good, be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
DATE: December 12, 1999
Tags:
Wealth
Riches
Greed
Contentment