Welcome to Bible Believers Fellowship and the ministry of bbfohio.com. I'm Pastor Greg, and I welcome you to our study in 1 Timothy chapter six, verses nine and 10, titled The Love of Money. We're gonna continue here in chapter six. Paul's letter addresses the love of money. So let's read nine and 10. I'm just gonna have you read both with me, beginning verse nine. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Amen? So it says, but they that will be rich, that means their will is to be rich, it's their drive. Fall into temptation and snare. I just never could get into that after I became a Christian. Before I became a Christian, I used a lot of four-letter words, but I didn't like one, and that was the word work. But then I got saved, I stopped using those other four letter words and suddenly work wasn't so bad because I learned that I could work as under the Lord and I would please the Lord and He would reward me for hard work. And then study to show thyself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Work became important. But I kept trying to find a job that, you know, I didn't have, I hadn't made myself really worth Hiring I didn't have any special skills of any value out in the workplace so I got pulled into this and that and They they'd have these meetings every time I'd go to these I'd get hired, but it was almost always involved Commission and And they'd pull you in, they'd have a bunch of other people there, and they'd start the day off with these big happy-clappy rallies. Like, you know, all right everybody, isn't it great to be here? Yeah! And I'm like, oh, I hate morning people. But it was all about money. And they would give you these pep talks. And I'll never forget one of the pep talks. The guy stood up and he said, now, this is Friday. We're going to go out there and everybody's going to have the best day of the week. And then over the weekend, don't come in here to work Monday unless you have a $100 bill on you. I want you to have that $100 bill and I want you to keep it in your wallet and never spend it. I want you to keep it in your wallet and anytime you start filling down, pull out that wallet, pull out that $100 bill and look at that and say, I'm going to make another 100 right now. It was like it was a God or something. People have little trinkets they carry around everything. A $100 bill became your little God. Instead of praying, you'd pull out your wallet and pull out your $100 bill. It was really weird, but a lot of guys did it, and I didn't last that job. I went to another one, same sort of thing. I just wanted to work. Actually, I adopted a saying. Someone said to me a couple of years after those days, said, I work to live, I don't live to work. So I work for money, I don't live for money. But some people, that's what their life is all about. Everything else is secondary to making the bucks. And that probably explains why I'm not rich. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and snare, and the Lord has spared me. You hear people say that all the time. The Lord just knows I'd probably just blow it, so he hasn't given me a lot of money. But the Lord has spared most of us this temptation and snare as I look around. I don't think anybody in here would, you know, say you're like one of the elites in wealth in this country. Money is the key to a world of hurt for people who are intemperate. Now, that includes, just as an example, there are a lot of people who lost their shirt the last month or so. because they had a bunch of money in stocks, and when President Trump put the tariffs on and the stock market dropped, they lost their minds and went out and thought, I'll get whatever I can out of this, and they sold their stocks. You don't sell low. You buy low, sell high. And if you're in it for the long run, turn the TV off, put the paper down, stop looking at the market, and eventually those stocks, especially if you're in the big ones, you know, there's Microsoft, Apple, and all the anti-Christ organizations, their stocks are always going to go back up. And that's the kind of intemperate person that never does well with money. Paul talked about this way in 1 Corinthians 9, 25. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they, talking about the world, do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. So we're storing up our treasures in heaven. Even our money. If you're right-minded with God, you're going to use your money in a way that is going to be for the benefit of the ministry of Jesus Christ, for the glory of His name, for souls to be saved, for Bibles to get in people's hands, for tracts to get into people's hands, and so forth. That's what you're thinking when it comes to your money. I told you about several different examples, but there was a pastor. I went to his church, visited a couple times. They really didn't show much interest in me. But then, the pastor shows up with his wife, and I want to talk about their church, their ministry, and all this. They really didn't act like they wanted to talk about those things. And then the pastor said, you know what? Before we leave, there's something else I want to talk to you about. And his wife had been sitting over there just as bored as can be, and all of a sudden she looked at him and looked at me, and her eyes lit up, and they started talking about Amway. She could have cared less about anything that I asked about ministry, about God, about the Bible. She was bored. But as soon as he indicated they were going to change the subject to Amway, she came to life. Well, the temperate word is not very well understood today, but I want to bring this up before I move on. It's moderate in the indulgence of the appetites and passions as temperate in eating and drinking, temperate in pleasures, temperate in speech. People are driven by the desire to have a bigger house and a newer, bigger, better car. And the, what do they call the clothes that are designer, I guess is the word, you know, they got to have the, and I see this being instilled in kids. Their parents reinforce them when they say, I've got to have those $200 sneakers. And I'm like, you could have taken all the sneakers I bought in high school combined and they didn't come to $200. kids today that's what they and they expect their parents to show it out and sadly some of the parents do they feed into that but money is a tool and less in the hands of a fool yes I made that up but it is true money is a tool and less in the hands of a fool The sad thing is that many Christians are intemperate, but have convinced themselves that they're just fine. There are a lot of Christians who have an unhealthy, tilted focus on materialism, on the things that money can buy. But they think they're okay because, folks, if you go to a word-faith church, I mean, mammon is their God. I mean, they talk about Jesus some, but it's all about making money. And the anointed preacher is the guy who drives the Rolls-Royce, wears the $3,000 suits, and even might, he at least has his own airplane if it's not a jet. You know, that's how you know you're anointed. Thinking that, what did you say? Yeah, that's right, you're on the right track, that's right. So the verse goes on to say, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, is that the word you used, Doug? Which drown men in destruction and perdition. There's serious consequences when you get into this mindset. It's all about loving God and not loving this world. But if you're caught up in this mindset, you fall into these many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. It's because you're looking at the wrong thing. You've got your eye on the wrong prize. We'll say it over and over anyway. The man with the most toys doesn't win. He dies and realizes he wasted his life. Look at 1 John 2. 1 John 2.15-17. If you dare, read 15 with me. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Now, I just don't think a lot of professing Christians read that. You're not supposed to love this world. And I don't go around trying to fix everybody. I'm just preaching the truth and then it falls on either ears to hear or deaf ears, you know, online, radio, wherever it goes. But listen, we can soft step around it or we can deal it head on. Most Christians are like totally in this world with maybe a foot in the direction of God. I mean, they listen to this worldly. I don't mean, I'm not saying all secular music is bad. I'm just saying they listen to this. A lot of the new stuff coming out, especially, is so wicked. But even in the 80s, I remember a lot of the stuff Christian kids would listen to was so wicked. I wasn't a professing Christian, so I didn't care. But then when I got saved, I didn't want to listen to that stuff anymore. I mean, there's a good song once in a while, but I didn't want to have the songs pounded in my ear with all that wickedness and sin and everything. And it's just their mindset is so totally into this world. And they think in terms, a lot of Christian women have been caught up in really what's feminism. And the idea of looking good in the eyes of the world the way they run their household, the way they dress, their hairstyles. And same thing with men. A lot of the men. Christian men, I'm not asking you to tell me, I'm asking you, what do you think of when you think of how you live your life? Are you worried about what the world thinks of you? Are you trying to fit in with the world? Because that means that in that mindset, you're not right with God. Is that what it says? I mean, am I reading it wrong? Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him. That's to me, that's a scary verse. It's one that I purposely try not to fit. I try not to be modeled in opposition to the principle of this text. But I try not to be Mr. Judge, always looking at everybody, trying to assess everybody's life. It's between you and God. But there are some people that I've been around through the years, and I'm thinking, how can they read this text and not be under conviction? I don't know. Verse 16. Again, that word is going to come up that Doug used. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride. Again, not once does the Bible use this word pride in a positive sense. The pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. Now, we are in the habit of using that word, and I'm just telling you, you take it or leave it, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm trying not to use the word pride. I'm trying to use biblical terminology, like American pride. That's all over the place, and Christians will wear the American pride t-shirts and have American pride bumper stickers and everything. I'm not saying they're bad people, I'm just saying that's a bad message. What do we have to be proud of? We have American, you know, history that we can look back on and be grateful and thankful, but it's mostly, you know, our prayer is for God to bless America in spite of us, not because of us. We don't have, there's not much for us to be proud of. It's more we should be on our knees just thinking, God, he hasn't wiped us out. And so forth it goes as you consider the word pride and that word lust, we'll come back to that in a minute. But look at verse 17, and the world passeth away and the lust thereof. How many times do you use the word lust here? And he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. I couldn't give a flip what the world thinks of me. I know there are a lot of people I grew up with, a lot of people in my family, a lot of people in this city right here who think Greg Miller is a nut. Thank you, Jesus. Because their thinking I'm a nut is a good sign. And I don't care if the whole world got that, if the whole world went that way, I'd want them all to think I was a nut. But the good thing is I can come to a place like this and hang out with nuts. Amen? And sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you're not at church. 1 Timothy 6, 10. This is a much misinterpreted verse we're about to read here. For the love of money is the root of all evil. We're just going to stop right there, because there are several points to make on this line of Scripture, and I'm running out of time. First, we could spend the entirety of our study demonstrating how that religion in general, and the Vatican state in particular, proved this point. I am here to tell you that the Vatican has its fingers in all the world economy and could crash everything if they wanted to. They have that kind of power. And this, I didn't make that picture, that's something somebody else came up with. That's the Vatican state flag over the Euros. I could go on and on about that, but for the love of money is the root of all evil. First, money is not inherently evil. It's the love of money that is the root of all evil. The more money God gives you, the more you should be doing for God. And the more you're doing for God with that money, I believe the more money He'll give you. And it's not always cash, but He'll bless you. Amen? It's a truism. The more you chase money, the more it'll run away from you. The more you chase money, the more it will run away from you. Now this is more of a truism for Christians. I can't speak for the unsaved man, but I've seen it. Christians who spend all their time trying to make money, they end up losing it, and losing family, and losing other things. Money isn't an end, but a means to an end. When you see money like that, and it's not your number one priority in life, you have a good frame of mind for handling money. It isn't an end, but it means to an end. Matthew 6, 21, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. So if your treasure is in heaven, your heart is in heaven, oh, you got this money stuff too, what do you want to do with it? You want to do things that are going to please the God of heaven. Amen? So think about the fact that less than 20% of church members, these are statistics all over the board, I didn't make these up, less than 20% of church members give as the Bible teaches to give. And usually, there are exceptions, but most of the time it shows in their lives. People who don't give biblically, they also don't live biblically. They might not be in outright sin, but they don't live biblically, and they're miserable people, and they're constantly dealing with misery in their lives that is self-inflicted. Just, that's how it is. If you know someone who doesn't give biblically, but otherwise does live a victorious Christian life, you're seeing a rare and temporary exception. Someone who loves money and can't let it go and can't give to God's work, even if they may seem like they're living a victorious Christian life, but it is temporary at best. Jesus said in Matthew 6, 24, no man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Amen. When you reject God's commandment to give, you're rejecting Him as your Lord in practical terms, and serving, clinging to mammon. It's like mammon is what you're clinging to, and you're, instead of obeying the Lord, you are really, in practical terms, you're rejecting Him. It's practical atheism. Really, it comes down to, look at Luke 6 real quick. Luke 6. 46. Luke 6, 46. Jesus says, and why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man which built an house and dig deep, and laid the foundation on rock, and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded upon a rock. Read 49 with me. But he that heareth and doeth not is like a man that built a foundation, built an house upon the earth, against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. That is, Jesus teaches, I said it a moment ago, but I got it from him. When you see someone who's not doing the things the Lord says, you're not gonna see a victorious Christian life for very long. It's a temporary thing. Number two, the love of money is the root of all evil. So it is the hidden source of evil in many instances. Look up here if you can see this. It's a tree, right? Why is that tree there? Because of the roots. When you see evil, you may not understand the connection, but it's there. And if you want to know the source of evil, chase the money trail. Amen. Boy, we could go on and on about that. Doge, for example. Number three, the love of money is the root of all evil. You don't have to believe that, but you do have to believe that if you're going to call yourself a Bible believer, because that's what the Bible says. Not just all kinds of evil, as the corrupt New Versions claim. There's the NIV for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Look at it. It's a root of all kinds of evil. Yeah. Here's the English Standard Version. It's even weird. It's weird. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. My favorite comes from the consultant for The Message. I'll imitate him. But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. That's supposed to be 1 Timothy 6.10 in the message. Again, root of all evil. We don't always see the connections, but they're there. Another truism, if it doesn't make sense, there's a buck in it. As Ruckman said. I probably heard him say that. And then in verse 10, as we close, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Now what does the Bible say about coveting? While some coveted after, somebody said it, Exodus 20, 17, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's. Thou shalt not covet. Coveting is lusting. Romans 7, 7, real quick, turn there. Acts, Romans 7, 7. I had to have you turn there because this is a verse that I think a lot of people read through and read past in their Bible reading. Look close at what it says here. Read 7 with me. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law. For I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Yeah, coveting is lusting. And lusting is coveting. There's synonymous terms there. So when money becomes your focus, you have lost your focus on God. And that's how we'll close it. Keep your focus on Jesus and his word. Amen. Father, we thank you, Lord, for what you've taught us tonight, reminded us of things. Hopefully, prayerfully, we brought clarity to some folks and their minds. Lord, I pray that everyone with really what we could call reckless abandon of this world and of our own opinions and our own desires, may we follow you wholeheartedly, completely, fully, committed completely to you. For your glory, we want to please you because we love you, knowing you first loved us. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Alright, stand if you can. Money is your king. Repent. Confess that sin to God. Make Him king. Amen? Of course, you can fill in blank if anything else is king in your heart and life. Repent. Make Jesus your king. Let's sing this. God is our gracious King, eternal noble King, God is the King. He reigns victorious, divine and glorious, Jesus reign over us, God is the King. God is our loving King, omniscient, holy King. God is the King. He saves eternally, His blood sets sinners free. Jesus, true royalty, God is the King. All hail King Jesus, all hail Emmanuel, King of kings, Lord of lords, bright morning star. And throughout eternity I'll sing His praises, And forevermore I will reign with Him. All hail King Jesus! All hail Emmanuel, King of kings, Lord of lords, bright morning star. And throughout eternity, I'll sing His praises. And forevermore I will reign with them. Say, All hail King Jesus! All hail King Jesus! My heart can sing when I pause to remember A heartache here is but a stepping stone Along the trail that's winding all ways upward But until then, my heart will go on singing Until then, with joy I'll carry on Until the day my eyes behold the city Her name God calls me home. The pains I've heard will never grow. they're borrowed for a while, and things are good that cause the heart to tremble. Remember then, the falling rain of sun, but until then, singing. Until then, with joy I'll carry on. Until the day my eyes behold the city. Until the day This weary world, we've always fought the struggle. May day is full of misery and strife. The soul of man is like a man. When it's raining for the sky. But until then, my heart will go on singing. Until then, with joy I'll carry on. Until that day my eyes meet hopelessly Until the day God calls me home. we have Oh, what peace we often crave! and we try We should never be despairin' If you don't know Him prayin' Can we find a friend so faithful all our sorrows share Jesus knows of every weakness He gave to the poor in prayer Are we weak and heavy laden? ♪ Gracious Savior still our refuge ♪ Take him to the Lord in praise ♪ Do thy friends despise forsake thee ♪ Take him to the Lord in praise we'll find A foundation, ye say, of the Lord is laid? In His excellent Word, what more can He say Than to you He hath said? To you, O refuge, to Jesus hath fled. Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand above all. My righteous omnipotent head With blue-eyed wonders I call Thee to gladness Eradicate thy troubles, give them to me, and sanctify to me thy deepest distress. The fire in trials thy pathway shall light, My praise of nations shall be thy supply, The flame shall not hurt thee, I only need thee, Thy cross to consume, and thy golden I will, I will not desert to His road. That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, insane.