1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, Happy New Year, friends and faithful listeners, 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: and welcome to the Bible Explained Podcast on this lovely January. First, 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: we're going to be in First Timothy, chapter six. We're 4 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: not going to finish out this chapter just yet, but 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: we have a really interesting topic today, actually a few 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 1: interesting topics. We're going to talk about slavery. We're going 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: to talk about people who twist the Bible for their 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: own selfish gain, and we're also going to talk about 9 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: the love of money. So we have a bunch of 10 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: stuff to discuss on today's episode. Stay tuned. So I 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: hope you guys have had a great New Year so far, 12 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: and I'm glad that you all are tuning in on 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: this lovely New Year's morning, and tell me what you 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: did last night. Did you watch the ball drop or 15 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 1: did you stay at home and do nothing. I'd love 16 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: to hear about all of that. Yesterday we had a blizzard, 17 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: so I didn't do anything. Last night. We actually did 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: have youth group. Interesting, my husband and I went to 19 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: the church just to see what kids would show up. 20 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: So that was our exciting New Year's Eve. But I'd 21 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: love to hear about what you do so you're gonna 22 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: find my contact information listed in the description of this 23 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: episode and contact me and tell me what you did 24 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: for New Year's Eve. I'd love to hear about it. 25 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: But let's delve into Fir Timothy six versus one through ten. 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: Like I said, there's a lot of topics we're going 27 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: to cover today, and I'll be getting into those in 28 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: one second, right after this word from one or two 29 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: of our sponsors. All right, so grab your Bibles and 30 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: your cups of coffee or cups of tea, and let's 31 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: read first Timothy six, one through ten. This morning. I'll 32 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: be reading, as I always do, from the World English 33 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: Bible or the Web. And by the way, for those 34 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: of you who don't know why I read from Web, 35 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: it is because it is a public domain version of Scripture, 36 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: and I like the Web a little bit better than 37 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: the KJV, which is another public domain version of Scripture. 38 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: So that's why I read from that version. But of 39 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: course I always encourage you guys to read from the 40 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,919 Speaker 1: version that you prefer, because I always encourage active Bible reading. 41 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: Don't just take my word for it, grab a Bible 42 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: and read it for yourself to make sure I'm not 43 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: making any mistakes. So let's go ahead and dive in 44 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: a scripture and read first Timothy six one through ten. 45 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 1: Let as many as our bond servants under the yoke 46 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the 47 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. Those 48 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: who have believing masters, Let them not despise them, because 49 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because 50 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 1: those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. 51 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: Teach and exhort these things. If anyone teaches a different 52 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: doctrine and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of 53 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is 54 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: according to Godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed 55 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, 56 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: evil suspicions, constant friction of people of corrupt minds and 57 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: destitute of the truth. Who suppose that godliness is a 58 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: means of gain with a draw yourself from such. But 59 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing 60 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out. 61 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 62 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,519 Speaker 1: But those who are determined to be rich fall into 63 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, 64 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: such as drowned men in ruin and destruction. For the 65 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 66 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: Some have been led astray from the faith in their 67 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: greed and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Considering 68 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: today is the new year, I really feel like this 69 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: episode is perfect for starting out the new year because 70 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: it's talking a lot about money, and I think that 71 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: one of the things that a lot of people do, 72 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: myself included, is when we make New Year's resolutions, we 73 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: think about how much money are we going to make 74 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: for the following year, and we almost want to like 75 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: make goals in that direction. So I think this is 76 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: a good topic to talk about, especially today. It says 77 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: in verse one, let as many as our bond servants 78 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: under the yoke count their own masters worthy of honor, 79 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. 80 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: So this is one of those verses again where Paul 81 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: actually commands slaves to obey their earthly masters. In the 82 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: Roman world, half of the people you would meet were slaves. 83 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: And so Paul never started like a revolution against slavery, 84 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: but he somewhat started a spiritual revolution against slavery because 85 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: think about it. You know, back in One Timothy three, 86 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: we talked about the qualifications of an elder. You know, 87 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: the elder has to be the husband of one wife, 88 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: he has to not be greedy with money. He's got to, 89 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: you know, fulfill all of these different qualifications in order 90 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: to become an elder. But notice the one thing Paul 91 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: does not say in that list of qualifications. He doesn't 92 00:04:55,000 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: talk anything about somebody's finances, how rich somebody is. He 93 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: doesn't talk about their social standing. He doesn't talk about 94 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: whether they are a slave or a freeman. So that 95 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,799 Speaker 1: means that an elder in the church could potentially be 96 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: a slave, especially since there were a lot of slaves 97 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: in Paul's day. This means that if a slave became 98 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: a Christian and the slave's master also became a Christian, 99 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: those two men would start going to church together. And 100 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: let's say the slave meets all of those qualifications for 101 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: the elder and the slave ends up becoming an elder 102 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: in that church. That means that spiritually that slave is 103 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: above the master when they're at church together. And that 104 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: right there shows that Christianity completely dismantles slavery. It dismantles it. 105 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: And that is why Christianity historically was the institution that 106 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: completely destroyed slavery across the entire world was because of 107 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: stuff like this. And this is why Paul says there 108 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: is no longer slave or free male or female, Jew 109 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: or gentile, because under God we are all unified. There 110 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: is not one person better than another person in the 111 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: eyes of Jesus. And so when people get so angry 112 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: in the Old and New Testament, when we see stories 113 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: of slavery, or even right here where Paul's like, all 114 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: of you bond servants under your yoke must count your 115 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: masters worthy of honor, people get upset about that because 116 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: they're like, why doesn't Scripture completely forbid slavery if it's 117 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: such an evil thing. Spiritually, slavery actually is forbidden. There 118 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: is no person above another person in the eyes of God. 119 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: But that wasn't the case according to Rome, where half 120 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 1: the people that you met were slaves, which is why 121 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: Paul has to address this. He says, let as many 122 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: as our bond servants under the yoke count their own 123 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God 124 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: and the doctrine not be blasphemed. So there's a few 125 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 1: reasons for this why slaves need to honor their masters. 126 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: The first reason is that if this slave is a Christian, 127 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: he needs to spread the message of Christianity as much 128 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: as he can in his personal life and say that 129 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: master is not believing that master might look at the 130 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: slave and be like, what changed about my slave? What 131 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: makes him different? And wonder about Christianity when he sees 132 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: the attitude of his slave actually getting better. It was 133 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: for God to be glorified. That's what it says right 134 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: here that the name of God and the doctrine not 135 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: be blasphemed. So if a Christian slave, let's say he 136 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: gets worse after he becomes a Christian and isn't honoring 137 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: his master, is angry at the institution of slavery because 138 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: you know, Paul has taught that all people are equal 139 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: under God, and say this slave just gets worse and 140 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: worse and more disrespectful to his master as the days 141 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: go on. That's actually going to dishonor and blaspheme the 142 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: doctrine of God. And then Paul says, those who have 143 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: believing masters, let the slaves not despise them because they 144 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: are brothers, but rather let them serve them because those 145 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. So 146 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: Paul goes into it even deeper. He's like, look, you slaves, 147 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: if you have a believing master, like he is also 148 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: a Christian, you must keep doing the good work that 149 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: you are doing because these men are actually your brothers. 150 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: It's what Paul says. So again Paul is showing that 151 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: equality between slaves and masters. But he tells the slaves, 152 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: because your masters are brothers with you, brothers of Christ, 153 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: you should actually want to serve them all the more 154 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: because you are helping another brother of Christ. You are 155 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: benefiting another believer, and that is biblical. That is something 156 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: you should be doing. So it is no excuse for 157 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: you to become lazy once you find out that your 158 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: master has become saved. In fact, you should be working 159 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 1: for him even harder, even better, is what Paul says. 160 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: Then he tells Timothy, teach and exhort these things. So 161 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: these right here at commands. You know, thank God, there 162 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: is no slavery in today's modern age, but there certainly 163 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: is employees and employers, and this definitely is a message 164 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: to all Christian employees across the world. Because you are 165 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 1: a Christian, you need to spread Christianity with every single 166 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: thing that you do. That's what Paul says. Whether you 167 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all 168 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: for the glory of God. And then elsewhere he says, 169 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: don't work hard for the praise of other people, but 170 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: work hard for the praise of God, not as men pleasers. 171 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: So everything we do as employees, it's to be done 172 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: as if we are spreading the Gospel message without saying 173 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: a word, because people are going to view our lives. 174 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: We are lights, is what Jesus said. We are the 175 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: lights up on the hill where people are viewing everything 176 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: we do. It actually says that people will view our 177 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: good works and glory the Father in heaven. Notice that 178 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: people aren't viewing the bad works that we do in 179 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 1: glorifying God. They're viewing the good works that we do. 180 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: So we have to do good work when we are 181 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: at work so that God can be glorified when other 182 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: people see our lives. And the same thing applies even 183 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: if you have a boss that is a Christian, you 184 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 1: should not despise that boss because he or she still 185 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: expects you to work. You should work even harder for 186 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: that boss because that boss is a brother in Christ 187 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 1: and you are benefiting them through your hard work. And 188 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: that's a biblical thing to do. We are to benefit 189 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: our brothers and sisters in Christ, and one of the 190 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: best ways you can do that is by doing good 191 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: work for those brothers and sisters. So moving on to 192 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: verse three through five, Paul starts wrapping up his letter 193 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: to Timothy. So he says, if anyone teaches a different 194 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: doctrine and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of 195 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is 196 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: according to Godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing. So it's 197 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: pretty blunt, pretty matter of fact. But this is a problem. 198 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: No matter what church you go to, there are going 199 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: to be people at the church that teach different doctrines 200 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: and don't consent to sound words. And you might be like, well, 201 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 1: my church, my pastor doesn't teach a different doctrine. Well, 202 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 1: Paul's actually not talking about just the elders here or 203 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: just pastors he's talking about anybody, any single person that 204 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: teaches a different doctrine and doesn't consent to sound words. 205 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 1: So that could be your average Joe in the audience, 206 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: if he's going around disputing every single thing that the 207 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: pastor is saying, or disputing what scripture says to promote 208 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: his own agenda or to twist scripture in some way. 209 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 1: Paul actually says that that person is conceited and knows 210 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 1: nothing and is obsessed with arguments, disputes and word battles. 211 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 1: That's pretty strong language, but it's definitely the truth, because 212 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 1: if somebody is twisting scripture to promote their own ideas, 213 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 1: whatever their ideas might be, that person truly is conceded 214 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: because they are saying, my ideas are better than what's 215 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: here in the Bible. I just recently saw a YouTube short, 216 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: I think it was Mike Winger showing this like girl 217 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: that said she's a Christian but doesn't agree with like 218 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: any principles of the Bible when it comes to parenting. 219 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: And of course Mike Winger certainly had some words to 220 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: say about it. But I went to the comments section, 221 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: as I often do and should not do, and I 222 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: saw a bunch of people saying like, oh, Christianity is 223 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,319 Speaker 1: just a free for all. You know, people can claim 224 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: to be Christian and just say whatever they want about 225 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: the Bible. And that's why I don't believe in the Bible, 226 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: is because there's too many people that just make it 227 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: a free for all. And I'm sure you've thought that 228 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: before as well as have I. You know, in the past, 229 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: I used to think that man like people could just 230 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: make up whatever they want out of the Bible and 231 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: just claim it to be the truth. And you know, 232 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: that's the one thing I am very careful about when 233 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: I do this podcast. I pray about this quite often, 234 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: is I try my hardest not to insert my own 235 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: opinions into scripture as if they are fact. That's why 236 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: you're gonna hear me say this is my opinion or 237 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: this is what I think it is, because I never 238 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: want to say, oh, my idea, my opinion is definitely 239 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,319 Speaker 1: biblical fact. And I try to do that across the board. 240 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: And I hope, I desperately hope that I've always done 241 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: that and not, you know, inserted my own opinion. But 242 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: if you've ever thought that Christianity is a free for all, 243 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 1: you know, like people can just take what the Bible 244 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,679 Speaker 1: says and just make it their own and insert their 245 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: own agenda. Well, that's because of people like this people 246 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: right here that Paul is talking about. These people that 247 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: don't consent to sound words and teach a different doctrine. So, 248 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: in other words, they take principles of the Bible, but 249 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: they twist those principles to make them their own, or 250 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: they ignore certain parts of the Bible, or they completely 251 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: deny that parts of the Bible exist, or they say, oh, 252 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: that part of the Bible has been corrupted or something 253 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: along those lines. Those type of people, Paul says, are 254 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: conceited and they know nothing, and that is absolutely true. 255 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: Like I said, if anybody is taking scripture and twisting 256 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: it to their own thing, they are conceited, arrogant jerks, 257 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: because they're saying, my ideas, the stuff I want to 258 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: say is far more important than whatever this Bible has 259 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: to say. And that is why it is so important 260 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: for us to read the Scripture ourselves to see what 261 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: it actually does say. The Bible is not filled with 262 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: like puzzles and we just can't figure it out. The 263 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: Bible is easy enough for anybody to understand. I am 264 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: an example of that. I mean, look at me. I 265 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: am a thirty two year old girl. I have never 266 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: gone to seminary. I don't have a degree at all. 267 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: Actually I have zero college degree. I am not educated. 268 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: And yet I sit here and I research the Bible 269 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: and I talk about it with you guys. If I 270 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: can do it, anybody can do it. Anybody can sit 271 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: down and read and understand the Bible. You know why, 272 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: because we have the Holy Spirit helping us. The Holy 273 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: Spirit who actually wrote these words down, used people to 274 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: write these words down. He's here with us, and he's 275 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: going to help us understand his words because he understands 276 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: them fully. There's a verse in scripture that says, if 277 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: you need wisdom, go to God and ask him. He's 278 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: not going to be upset if you ask him for wisdom. 279 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: Go to God and ask him to help you understand 280 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: the Bible. Christianity is not free for all. There is 281 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: one gospel message, and that gospel message that is the truth. 282 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: And so Paul says to Timothy, avoid these people again. 283 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: They are conceited. They know nothing. They are obsessed with 284 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: our arguments, disputes and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, 285 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: evil suspicions, constant friction of people, of corrupt minds, and 286 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: destitute of truth. So there you go. These people are 287 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: destitute of the truth. They don't know what the truth is. 288 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: They have decided in their own minds what the truth is. 289 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: They don't really know what the truth is at all. 290 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: And they cause all of these problems as well. It 291 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: says they cause envy, they cause strife and insulting and 292 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: evil suspicions. So they're suspicions of everybody and everything. They 293 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: have constant friction with each other. And that's because they 294 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: suppose that godliness is a means of gain, is what 295 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: it says right here in verse five. So withdraw yourself 296 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: from such people. What does that mean? That godliness is 297 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 1: a means of gain? Paul is saying that these particular 298 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: people that twist the Bible or ignore the Bible, or 299 00:16:58,080 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: say the Bible is corrupted, or whatever they might do 300 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: the Bible to promote their own agenda. These people think 301 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: that godliness is going to gain them some sort of 302 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: physical thing, whether it's money or success or people noticing them, 303 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: whatever it might be. That's why these people are in 304 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: the church. That's why these people are claiming the name 305 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: of Jesus without truly believing what Jesus says, because they 306 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: think that godliness is going to gain them something. They 307 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: might even think that their religion is going to gain 308 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: them brownie points with God. They might be that delusional. 309 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: So these people have the wrong motives. They're only doing 310 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 1: it for themselves. That's the only reason they are in 311 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,919 Speaker 1: the church to begin with. Only reason why they're spreading 312 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: all of this crap around is because they think it's 313 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: going to gain them something. They are selfish people. But 314 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 1: then in verse six, here's what Paul says. He's like, actually, 315 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing 316 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out. 317 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: So Paul kind of clarify what he means here. He's like, No, 318 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 1: godliness with contentment actually is a great gain. But that's 319 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: not what these people are doing. These people think that 320 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 1: if they go to church and they pretend to be godly, 321 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: and they pretend to be very wise in the scriptures, 322 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: that that's going to gain them some sort of physical 323 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,719 Speaker 1: thing for themselves. And that's the wrong motive. But godliness 324 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 1: with contentment is truly great spiritual gain. And then Paul says, 325 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 1: we brought nothing into the world. We certainly can't carry 326 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: anything out, but having food and clothing, we will be 327 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: content with that. So contentment and godliness actually go hand 328 00:18:34,640 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 1: in hand. That's when you truly stop looking at yourself 329 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: and being selfish and looking out towards other people, because 330 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: you're content and thankful for what you've been given, knowing 331 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: that you're not going to be able to take it 332 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: with you when you die. No matter what you gain 333 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: here on earth, you're not going to be able to 334 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: take it with you. Even if you're famous. You know, 335 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: people might remember you for a little while, but you're 336 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: eventually and get lost to history. You can't take these 337 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,920 Speaker 1: things with you. That's why it's good to be content 338 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 1: and thankful for what God has given us. Now we 339 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: can't take it with us. But those who are determined 340 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and 341 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drowned men in 342 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,959 Speaker 1: ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a 343 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led 344 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: astray from the faith in their greed and have pierced 345 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 1: themselves through with many sorrows. Because if you love money, 346 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 1: you're willing to do anything to get the money. You're 347 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: willing to do any kind of evil thing in order 348 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: to gain money. I mean, just look at all of 349 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: the corruption that comes because people are greedy for money. 350 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: Like even in today's world, murder and prostitution and mistreatment 351 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: of other people and slavery, all of these things happened 352 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: because people were greedy for money. It says that some 353 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: people have been led astray from the faith because of 354 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 1: their greed. So that's another thing. Church members who might 355 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: become greedy for money are willing to compromise on their 356 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: faith in order to gain that money. So the love 357 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: of money certainly is a root of all evil. But 358 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: that being said, notice here that Paul says for the 359 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, 360 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: so not the root. A lot of people actually misquote 361 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: this verse and they say the love of money is 362 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: the root of all evil, But that's actually not what 363 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: this verse is saying. It's a root of all kinds 364 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,199 Speaker 1: of evil, and money in and of itself is not 365 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: a moral evil. You know, you can own money without 366 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: being greedy That's why the love of money is a 367 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 1: root of all evil because loving money, wanting more, not 368 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: having that contentment that Paul is talking about, that is 369 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: when people start to go astray because they need more 370 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: and more and more. And anybody, any single person on 371 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,360 Speaker 1: the planet, can have a love for money, whether they're 372 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 1: the richest person on the planet and have all the 373 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: money in the world, or the poorest person on the 374 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: planet they don't have a penny. It doesn't make a 375 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: difference who you are if you love money, that is 376 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: where all of these problems start coming in. That's why 377 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: godliness with contentment is great gain. So we have to 378 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 1: have a healthy balance when looking at money and looking 379 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,120 Speaker 1: at our finances. Are we becoming too greedy that we're 380 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: willing to compromise on our faith because we want more money. 381 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 1: We have to look at stuff like that in our 382 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: own lives and make sure that money is not becoming 383 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 1: an idol, but that we're content with whatever God gives us. 384 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: So that's why I think this portion of scripture is 385 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: actually really good going into the new year, because I'm 386 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: not saying that it's wrong to have, you know, financial 387 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: goals or anything along those lines. I mean Paul did 388 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: say in the last chapter that the worker is worthy 389 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,919 Speaker 1: of his wages, So I mean, yes, we are to 390 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 1: be paid, and there's nothing wrong with getting paid. Money 391 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: can help people, money can help our families, money can 392 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 1: help widows in the church. So money in and of 393 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,880 Speaker 1: itself is not wrong. And you know, wanting to make 394 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: money is obviously not wrong because you need to survive. 395 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: But we also have to balance that with contentment and 396 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: just be thankful God, thank you for the job you 397 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: gave me. God, thank you for the finances you gave me. God, 398 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 1: thank you for the family you gave me that I 399 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 1: get to support and provide for. So working towards contentment 400 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: is a far greater benefit to us than working to 401 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 1: become rich. So we talked about a lot of things today. 402 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: We talked about money. We talked about bond servants being 403 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: respectful of their masters, whether the masters are Christians or not. 404 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 1: And we also talked about avoiding people who spread different 405 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: doctrines and twist scripture, regardless of who they are, even 406 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: if they're just an average Joe or an average Jane 407 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: that goes to your church. If they're spreading different doctrines 408 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: and leading people astray, they should be avoided completely. So 409 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: we definitely covered a lot of topics and I hope 410 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: you guys enjoyed the episode. But before I finish out 411 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 1: the episode four today, please take a quick listen from 412 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:16,639 Speaker 1: one of our sponsors. Okay, So on Tuesday, I suspect 413 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 1: we'll be finishing up First Timothy. Six. We will be 414 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,400 Speaker 1: done with the Book of First Timothy. So that's really 415 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: exciting for anybody who's been with me since the Book 416 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 1: of Matthew because that means you will have listened to 417 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:31,239 Speaker 1: fifteen books of the New Testament. On Tuesday, when we 418 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: finish up First Timothy, pat yourselves on the back. That's 419 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: a lot of books of the Bible that you have 420 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: gone through. But Faithul listeners don't forget that on Monday, 421 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 1: we will be having an episode from the Old Testament, 422 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: because on Mondays and Wednesdays I do an Old Testament episode. 423 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: Tuesdays and Thursdays are the New Testament episodes. So on 424 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: Monday there's going to be an episode in Second Chronicles, 425 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: and I hope to see all of you guys there now. 426 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 1: Of course, tomorrow is for the members. That's where I 427 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: do a separate podcast on Fridays, it's called the Bible 428 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 1: Explained on Fridays, and it's very similar to the normal podcast, 429 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: except we are going through the Book of Psalms. And 430 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: also it is completely ad free, and so if any 431 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 1: of you would like to become a member, you have 432 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: to click on the link that says Koffee in my 433 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:16,439 Speaker 1: description and become a Coffee Tier member and that is 434 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: how you're going to gain access to the Friday ad 435 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 1: free podcast through the Book of Psalms. So, faithful listeners, 436 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 1: I hope that you become faithful members and tune into 437 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:27,880 Speaker 1: tomorrow's podcast, but if you don't, that's totally okay because 438 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: I will see all of you guys on Monday as 439 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: well for an episode from Second to Chronicles. Until then, 440 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: happy listening, Happy New Year, and God bless. I just 441 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 1: want to take a second to thank the team at 442 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: Life Audio for their partnership with me on the Bible 443 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: Explain podcast. In fact, if you go to lifeaudio dot 444 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: com you will find dozens of other faith centered podcasts 445 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 1: in their network. They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, 446 00:24:59,119 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: and more.