Issues Facing Society Sunday School Lesson #2: Money 1 Timothy 6:6 - 12; 17 - 19 Josh Hunt www.joshhunt.com

1 Timothy 6:6 - 12; 17 - 19⁽¹⁾

OPEN

• If you were given $10,000 on the stipulation that you had to spend it within 48 hours, what would you buy?

DIG

1. As we read this passage, let's look four things that Paul valued. What was important to Paul?
2. Verse 9 says that people who want to get rich fall into all sorts of temptations. What kinds of temptations do they fall into?
3. True or false: Money is the root of all kinds of evil.⁽²⁾
4. Verse 11 says to flee. Isn't it cowardly to flee?⁽³⁾
5. What are we supposed to pursue?
6. What kind of word picture does the word pursue conjure up in your mind?
7. Let's talk about that last one in the list. Is it a Christian duty to be gentile?
8. What does it mean to be gentle?
9. Why is it important to be gentle?
10. What kind of grade would you give yourself for gentleness?
11. Do you like people who are gentle?
12. How do you develop gentleness?
13. What exactly does it mean to fight the good fight of the faith? Be specific.
14. What are the rich commanded to do?
15. How rich is rich? Do you think we are rich?
16. What is the benefit to the rich for doing this?
17. Does being good always benefit the person who is good?⁽⁴⁾
18. Let's summarize: What does this passage teach about money?
19. Which statement is true?: 1) It is easier to be happy with more money than less. 2) It is easier to be happy with less money than more. 3) Money has no bearing whatsoever on our happiness. Or, 4) Happiness is not important, and should not be a goal.⁽⁵⁾
20. Is it wrong for a person to set a financial goal to make more money than they make?⁽⁶⁾
21. What is it about money that enables it to get under our skin and affect us so? What is it about money that is so addictive?
22. Could anyone tell a story of a time in your life when your love for money got out of hand?
23. What advice would you give to someone whose love for money had gotten out of control?
24. Would anyone here be candid enough to say, "Pray for me, I am tempted by a love for money that is unhealthy?"
25. Let's close in prayer, committing ourselves to repent of a love of money and committing ourselves to love God and others and not love money.

1. 1 Tim. 6:6 - 12; 17 - 19 [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. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

[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.

2. False. It is the love of money that is the problem, not money itself. Many of the saints of the Bible, in fact, were very rich.

3. No. The easiest way to avoid the sin is to avoid the temptation.

4. Absolutely. We often think good is what we ought to do, but bad is what is really fun. Being good is ultimately what is good for us.

5. I mean this to be a classic jump ball question that stimulates a life changing conversation. I hope the group will avoid the pious notion that money is not important, or that money does not matter. It does. It is not the most important thing, but it is important. All things being equal, I think it is easier to be happy with more than less. But, at what price? Will we work 70 hours a week and give up our family life for money? If we do, we have chosen poorly.

6. It depends. Again, at what price? I don't think it is wrong to set this goal, along with a goal to have a good relationship with God, with the wife and kids and have ministry goals and health goals and so on. What is destructive is when money becomes all consuming. Money can have a kind of drug effect. It can be addictive, and it can be dangerous.