People with corrupt minds and destitute of truth say Godliness is a means of gain.

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1still_waters

Guest
#1
There is a religious, doctrine of man, denominational teaching, that isn't from the Holy Spirit, which teaches godliness is a way of gaining stuff financially.

The Bible says people who promote this stuff have corrupt minds and are destitute of the truth.

1 Timothy 6
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings[a] of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Stay away from such religious, doctrine of men, denominational teachings. They find their source in the cold, vile, corrupted heart of the worldly religious mind that isn't inhabited by the life giving Holy Spirit.

FLEE FROM IT!

Instead pursue this...

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain[c] we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Instructions to the Rich

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Guard the Faith

20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.
 
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pickles

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#2
Funny, I thought godliness is the gain we seek. :)

God bless
pickles
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#3
Funny, I thought godliness is the gain we seek. :)

God bless
pickles
We have a winner Alex!

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

 

pickles

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#4
Contentment, that is a whole nother thread! :)
It is when we are content in all circumstances that the desires of the heart are given.
This is where I see God's sence of humor shine brightly. :)

God bless
pickles
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#5
Hmm.. I've always glossed over this...

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare

For some reason my mind jumps to the part about the LOVE of money being evil. But that verse clearly says the DESIRE to be rich isn't a good thing also.
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#6
Hmm.. I've always glossed over this...

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare

For some reason my mind jumps to the part about the LOVE of money being evil. But that verse clearly says the DESIRE to be rich isn't a good thing also.
God just now removed some remaining weeds from that religious, worldly, denominational, tradition of men teaching that was stuck in my head. It's not just about NOT loving money, it's about getting rid of that desire to be rich also.

God's Spirit has breathed more life in to me.
 

pickles

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#7
Hmm.. I've always glossed over this...

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare

For some reason my mind jumps to the part about the LOVE of money being evil. But that verse clearly says the DESIRE to be rich isn't a good thing also.
The simple fact that the more one has, the more that owns them.
Having little leaves alot more room for Jesus. :)

God bless
pickles
 

pickles

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#8
What matters is what are the desires of the heart.
worldly?
or Jesus?
I like Jesus! :)

God bless
pickles
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#9
The simple fact that the more one has, the more that owns them.
Having little leaves alot more room for Jesus. :)

God bless
pickles
Sounds legit.
 
G

GreenNnice

Guest
#10
Like pickled said stilledwaters and you, of contentedness coming from when we choose Jesus FIRST for our 'desire,' as He's shown me in my life, with great dividends from Him, material and spiritual. Whenever things seem/seemed their worst for me I turn everything over to JESUS, songs like Underwood's 'Jesus Take The Wheel,' and Winans' 'I Surrender All' are but a couple that help me , through Him leading me. And, it is truly amazing when you do be content with The Cross' covering all and your life handed to Jesus and you just go forth.

When I get the most riches, material and spiritual, are from having just let go of what I THOUGHT was going to he the way it was going to be and let Him lead the way He wants, and, in that way DOES come suffering, but their has always been peace and much joy, too, from that 'following.'

It is a constant desire of mine to have my riches be thought of in terms of getting for doing kingdom things, money to build churches, give to orgs, exhort others to serve Him and my life wrapped around wholeheartedly seeking His plans for my life, church building, church planting, city preaching, family/friends witnessing/light shining.

I pray through all I day and do that my motives for doing things are to be able to show God's glory in what I do so others can see Him reflected in me--as 'wonderland,' c.c. username, aptly put in my 'glory' thread Spirit-led. Scripture says too we are to reflect the Son in what He gives us, being a light, marvelous 'thought!'

But, yes, not just our love of money is bad, greed, one of the 7 deadly sins, too, but desire to be rich, too, which would be 'gluttony,' another 7ds.

Well said , 'rich' thought, stilled, we are to use His riches given for working toward His gains of glory for Himself , which He works through us through His will and good pleasure. we are of Christ once we become crucified with Him ( it's no longer I who lives but Christ who lives within me, gal. 2:20) and using His gift of Him in us to give us power to not sin (1 John 3:6) , covering us, forgiving us, having redeemed us, is to be for His gain unto us , which will be things earthly and , not to forget, 'things heavenly' as Eph. 1 states. And, all these 'things' will come by our faithfully obeying as He leads us through Scripture to all His 'riches' for us which will embody His Truth and personal direction sought for our lives. :)
 
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G

GreenNnice

Guest
#11
Godliness is gained by putting our 'measure of faith to 'good' use, His good use , and, therefore wherefrom we go is by understanding of His grace given through faith. :)
 
A

Abiding

Guest
#12
food and clothes and a cave (with central vac, and a dehumidifier) and ill be content :)
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,267
6,553
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#13
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#14
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Filthy lucre. That sounds so devious, and right on!
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#15
Also, be very watchful of these depraved minded people. They find slick little ways to slip in their depraved teaching. They have a way of candy coating it so it sounds VERY spiritual and God centered. They're VERY good at sleight of hands.

They may do much talk of putting God first and then getting his "blessings" as a result. Or they may do all this lofty talk of using the "blessings" for kingdom purposes. But you NEED to listen to them very closely. Because somewhere in their presentation they slip their devious doctrine of man in there to deceive you.

They will coyly say that following God will make you rich. They do this slow swing from putting God first to GOD WILL MAKE YOU RICH. It's very easy to fall for if you're not paying attention.

These people in bondage to this religious tradition have learned how to present it, so it sounds so so godly. But it really isn't.

As it says in the Bible...


9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare


These people will use talk of putting God first, and using the "blessings" for kingdom work, as a way to fulfill their desire to be rich. It's such a tricky sleight of hand, and we MUST be aware of it.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,267
6,553
113
#16
Filthy lucre. That sounds so devious, and right on!
It is also written that we should never muzzle the ox while it is treading out the wheat. I believe Paul refers to this wonderful law regarding giving aid to ministers.

As for the lucre, it becomes filthy when gained under pretenses. I believe glass churches, limousines, wealthy pastors and poor assembly members point to this quite well.

Then there is the saying, "the love of money is the root of all evil," it is the word, love, that is pivotal here. Elsewhere it is written "money solves all problems." There is no inherent wrong in having money, unless it is idolized or coveted to the point of wanting to acquire it no matter how, then there is a terrible problem. It blinds the eyes to the glory that is in knowing our Lord, amen.
 
Oct 31, 2011
8,200
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#17
Deu_31:20 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I promised on oath to their ancestors, and they have eaten their fill and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant.

God means for us to have sufficient, God led his chosen people into a land of milk and honey. But we are to use it correctly, and put God and His ways first in our life. When God fills our heart and minds so it crowds out the desires for what God does not want for us, it helps the material things flow as well as the really priceless spiritual.
 
G

GreenNnice

Guest
#18
It is also written that we should never muzzle the ox while it is treading out the wheat. I believe Paul refers to this wonderful law regarding giving aid to ministers.

As for the lucre, it becomes filthy when gained under pretenses. I believe glass churches, limousines, wealthy pastors and poor assembly members point to this quite well.

Then there is the saying, "the love of money is the root of all evil," it is the word, love, that is pivotal here. Elsewhere it is written "money solves all problems." There is no inherent wrong in having money, unless it is idolized or coveted to the point of wanting to acquire it no matter how, then there is a terrible problem. It blinds the eyes to the glory that is in knowing our Lord, amen.
It's grossly understating too to think that all we have, money PLUS all the other material stuff, is from Him.

Store up your treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy.

Easier said than done, just ask the MANY DISCIPLES who were asking Jesus what they were to do to get to Him and Jesus said, in so many words, sell everything and follow Him. Many left Him at that point :(

Our whole lives need to be enrapt in God first, and, in COMPLETE understanding that in so doing, we are given great grace and mercy and understanding of His Love. This has nothing to do with works, there is NO guilt, NO shame, NO conviction of anything but good from God for His own, as they follow Him. It is only the Enemy that brings up the bad stuff of our past life, NOT God, it's gone, LIVE in His grace by His Spirit who leads you :)

Those that preach without this pretense are not from God. All 'wealth' for us comes from Him, from following Him :)
 
S

See_KING_Truth

Guest
#19
Most of those people entangled in the "prosperity doctrine" will be sadly disappointed when they don't get rich going to church every Sunday, the saddest part of that is that they will most likely blame God for their failed endeavors.

I have been guilty of chasing worldly wealth myself at times. It can become an obsession, a curse, if a person gets caught in the snare; it can turn a loving, charitable heart into one full of envy and greed. Just take a look at Proverbs where there are at least 70 proverbs about "rich" and "poor". Solomon was known to be wealthy, but he is known much more for his wisdom.
 
A

Abiding

Guest
#20
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by [smooth words and fair speeches] deceive the hearts of the simple.