Jump Start # 1516

1 Timothy 6:9 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

  It was announced today that there were three Powerball winners who will split the record 1.5 billion dollar prize. We talked about all of this in our class last evening. It was a healthy discussion. Many have never really given much thought to the Biblical side of things such as gambling. On the way home, I was listening to a national talk show and the host was talking about what he would do if he won the Powerball. First on his list was to buy every model of Corvette ever made. His co-host replied, “So you would have a shed with all of these old cars just to look at. That doesn’t sound very exciting.” She explained her desire to travel in style—first class all the way. The audience was being encouraged to call in with their number one thing they would buy if the won the Powerball. I turned the radio off.

Many have heard of the “love of money” verse. It follows our passage today. Our verse, reminds me of the flashing lights at a railroad crossing. The lights are flashing, the safety arms are lowered, the train’s whistle is blowing, and still, there are those who want to drive around all those things and go on their journey. Our verse is full of warnings. Stopping, listening and paying attention will keep us alive, especially spiritually. Ignoring them will probably lead to an ugly crash.

Let’s walk through some of these words and expressions:

Those who want to get rich: they are not rich. They may never be rich. They just have the “want to’s.” They want to get rich. They dream of all the things money will do for them. They see luxury, fun, buying and power. There is no question that those who have money can do things that those who don’t can’t. Good seats at ballgames and concerts are expensive. Once in a while, usually through a friend, I’ve sat in good seats. Most times, I’ve been in the cheap seats. Money moves you up. Luxury cars have a lot more buttons and gadgets than cheaper cars. Money buys a larger house. Money buys finer food. There is a desire for those things and they can only be had if one has money. The desire to get rich is fueled by selfish greed. It can make one feel as if they are better than others.

Fall into temptation and a snare: For the child of God, we are trying to flee temptation, not invite more into our lives. We have enough temptation without asking for more. This statement alone, answers the question about gambling. A snare is a trap. It’s a word used by hunters to bait things and then catch an animal. Here, it is us who are being caught. We are being caught by Satan. The bait he used was the desire to get rich. The snared or caught Christian is not pleasing the Lord. He’s slipped up. He’s messed up. His thinking has been affected and now his choices are not right. This all started with the desire to get rich.

Many foolish and harmful desires: If it wasn’t enough just to say that one falls into temptation and is snared, now there is more. There is more trouble than just that. Now, his desire to get rich has led him into foolish and harmful desires. These may be things that he could never get into before because the doors were closed. But now, with money, he could do anything. The book of Proverbs has much to say about the fool. It is not good. The fool doesn’t listen. The fool thinks he knows. The fool rejects warnings. The fool gets into trouble. Harmful comes with many colors. It may include things that are harmful to one’s health. It may involve things harmful for the family. The greatest would be those things which are harmful to the soul. There are choices that can ruin our soul. Again, all of this started from “those who want to get rich.”

Which plunge men into ruin and destruction. The declining picture here continues to grow worse. Temptation has been surpassed by harmful desires. That has now been passed up by ruin and destruction. So the man gets what he wanted, wealth. He is rich. The cost he had to pay has now ruined him and destroyed him internally. Money may well have become his god. His soul is lost. He is ruined.

Now, are we saying that all rich people are ruined? No. We know that’s not true Biblically. Abraham was wealthy and was considered God’s friend. Job sat high in God’s trophy case. Job had a lot. Even today, there are many brethren who have done well financially and their wealth has not changed them nor ruined them.

Remember, we are not necessarily talking about a wealthy person here. The discussion flows around “one who wants to be rich.” He may be sleeping in a tent on the street. He may live in an apartment. He may be me or you. It’s his dream to be rich. It’s what he wants. These warnings are fitting to a person whose mind is filled with riches and not God. He sees riches as his ticket to happiness, peace and security. He is wrong about all three. It is this thirst to “get rich” that drives the Powerball. Dreams of unlimited buying dances through the heads of those who bought Powerball tickets this week.

Hard work, savvy investing, keeping the right perspective in mind and soul, remaining generous will build wealth. The principles have been true. Many wealthy people that I know did not start out “to get rich.” They fell in love with what they were doing. They were smart. They learned and developed themselves. Their hard work led to the benefits of wealth. Now, many of these people that I know, are using their wealth to be the financial backbones of congregations. They are helping the kingdom grow. They are generous, sharing and open with their wealth.

Money isn’t the answer to what plagues us. Jesus is. There is a old saying that remains true: Money will buy a house, but not a home. Money will buy food, but not an appetite. Money will buy medicine, but not health. Money will buy entertainment, but not happiness. Money does not buy eternal life.

I like the saying, “Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail.”

Those who want to get rich—that’s the problem. That’s where all of this started. That “want to” colors their choices. It fills their mind. It’s what they think about. It’s what they talk about. It becomes them. I was in a store a while back looking at watches. The salesman was dropping Italian and German names faster than I could understand them. I never heard of any of them. He thought I ought be impressed. I wasn’t. In fact, I was done. I couldn’t get the guy to hush up enough so I could politely leave. Another name. Then another name. My head was spinning with all those foreign names of watch makers. I finally said, “Do you have a “Ro-jay?” I was putting a little French into my name, Roger. It stunned him. He had never heard of that watch maker. That was my ticket out and I took it.

The problem is greater than “those who want to get rich.” What’s missing is any spiritual life. They are dead spiritually. They forget the soul. They have fed their carnal and secular passions but they have allowed their soul to die. Rather, it ought to be, “Those who want to go to Heaven…” Now that says something. Those who want to go to Heaven, that thought fills their mind. It colors their choices. It’s what they talk about. It shapes them and defines them. That’s what we need to be interested in. That’s what we ought to really want. That’s what catches the attention of God.

I think we are wired to want something. It’s a matter of wanting the right thing.

I hope those who won the Powerball do not let it destroy them. I’m glad the hype is over. People will settle down. Back to work. Back to paying bills. Maybe a lesson learned, but I doubt it.

What do you want?  The answer to that question reveals your character and your choices.

Roger