1 Timothy 6:3-5 - When Truth Is Replaced by Pride

From Pastor Mike Impact Ministries · 00:05:33

Show by Michael L Grooms

Welcome to Pastor’sChat. One of the greatest dangers facing the church is not always oppositionfrom the outside. Sometimes the greatest danger comes from those within thechurch who begin to substitute their own ideas for the truth of God's Word. Aswe continue in 1 Timothy chapter 6, Paul returns to a subject that he hasaddressed repeatedly throughout this letter: the danger of false teaching. In verse 3, Paul describes those who teach something contrary to the sound words ofour Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine that produces godliness. Notice thatexpression: the doctrine that accords with godliness. Paul is reminding Timothythat sound doctrine and godly living belong together. The purpose of biblicalteaching is not simply to increase our knowledge. It is to transform our lives.A person may know a great deal about theology, understand biblical languages,and be able to debate difficult passages of Scripture. But if that knowledgedoes not produce humility, holiness, and love, something is terribly wrong. TheBible was never intended merely to make us smarter. God gave us His Word tomake us more like His Son. Then Paul identifiesthe attitude that often accompanies false teaching. In verse 4, he says that such a person is proud, yet knowsnothing. What a striking contrast! Here is someone who thinks he knowseverything, but in reality he has missed the most important truth. Pride has away of blinding us to our own spiritual condition. Proverbs 16:18 reminds usthat pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Paulcontinues by describing an unhealthy obsession with disputes and arguments overwords. Now, there iscertainly a proper place for defending biblical truth. In fact, Paul hasinstructed Timothy to do exactly that. But there is a tremendous differencebetween defending the faith and simply enjoying an argument. Some people seemmore interested in winning a debate than winning a soul. Others become soconsumed with minor controversies that they neglect the great truths ofScripture. And notice the results Paul identifies: envy, strife, reviling, evilsuspicions, and constant friction. Instead of producing spiritual maturity,this kind of teaching produces division and confusion. That should remind usof something important. We must not judge a ministry merely by how impressiveits teacher appears or how many people are attracted to it. We must ask whetherits teaching is faithful to Scripture and whether it encourages genuinegodliness. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 that we would recognize false prophets bytheir fruits. Then in verse 5, Paul describes people whose minds have become corrupted and who aredestitute of the truth. And he identifies another troubling characteristic. Theysuppose that godliness is a means of financial gain. In other words, they viewreligion as an opportunity for personal profit. How tragic when someone takesthe sacred truths of God's Word and uses them primarily as a means of enrichinghimself! Now, Scripture certainly teaches that those who labor faithfully inministry may receive financial support. Paul has already addressed that inchapter 5. But there is a vastdifference between receiving legitimate support for ministry and exploitingspiritual things for personal gain. The ministry must never become a businessin which the Gospel is treated as merchandise. And here is a question every oneof us should consider. Am I more concerned about being recognized as right, orabout actually walking in the truth? We should study the Scriptures diligently.We should be willing to defend sound doctrine. And we should never compromisethe truth of God's Word. But we must always do so with humility, love, and asincere desire to honor the Lord Jesus Christ.

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