ECWA Free DAily Devotion for the Year 2023

TUESDAY, 10 JANUARY 2023

TEXT: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

3. Anyone who teaches something different disagrees with the correct and godly teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Those people who disagree are proud of themselves, but they don’t really know a thing. Their minds are sick, and they like to argue over words. They cause jealousy, disagreements, unkind words, evil suspicions,

5. and nasty quarrels. They have wicked minds and have missed out on the truth. These people thing religion is supposed to make you rich.

6. And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have.

7. We didn’t bring anything into this world, and we won’t take anything with us when we leave.

8. So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.

9. People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them.

10. The love of money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.

(Contemporary English Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: DON’T EXPLOIT THE GOSPEL FOR FINANCIAL GAIN

Again, Paul warns Timothy against those who peddle false doctrines for financial gain. Of course, this has become common in many churches today. Doctrines like seed sowing to avert disaster or death, seed sowing to become multi-millionaires in the shortest possible time, etc, are on the rise. Godliness should not be a means to financial gain.

Paul told Timothy that food and clothing are the essential physical needs of a believer. Of course, as we live in obedience of His will, God will bless us beyond these essential needs, as He freely determines, so that we would be able to, among other things, help others and show them the love of Christ, fund the gospel work and invest in other godly ventures.

However, getting rich at all costs should not be the attitude of a Christian. If we love money and such becomes our attitude, then we would not be able to escape the sorrows we have been warned against – including ruin and destruction. We should first seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and all other things would be added to us (Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. NIV).

QUESTION: Are you free from false doctrines and the love of money?

PRAYER: Oh God, protect me from false doctrines and the love of money, in Jesus name, Amen.