The Purity of Heart (1 Timothy 6:6-19)
Gary McManus, 10/01/0223Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
October 1, 2023 1 Timothy 6:6-19
We began a few weeks ago talking about blessings.
Many American Christians usually see blessings
in material things. Odd, isn’t it?
Fast forward 2,000 years. We noticed here that the WAY
Americans Christians practice our faith does not even help
our mental health.(or physical health? or financial health?)
We learned here that plenty of American Christians are afraid
and they are afraid of the wrong things. More and more American
Christians today are more interested in mamon than they are
interested in the mother church.
Last week we looked at something that American Christians
SHOULD be afraid of. . .greed.
Greed is one of the seven deadly sins!
The Pastors that Pastor Gary mentioned believed that they
were being blessed with money.
So, we come to the root of the problem of greed. . .desire.
It is today’s topic, desire. Check these two Bible verses:
Psalm 37:4 and Jeremiah 17:9.
Now THERE is a dilemma. . .a problem. Yes? Yes.
You know Pastor Gary’s early life desires/plans. . .
How is he doing?
Psychologist Carl Jung wrote about the self and a
greater Self (capital “S”).
Here is an example from Pastor Gary’s life. . .
Do you see the meaning of the dream?
Gary sought to elevate himself—it led nowhere—
no vehicle and threatened.
See The Amplified Bible for Jeremiah 17:9.
Why did Pastor’s smaller self feel a need to elevate himself?
Could Pastor not pray and wait for the Lord to elevate him?
Pastor’s little desires were too small. The Lord wanted better
things and more for Pastor; rich—but not in things or money.
Perhaps a simpler example than Pastor’s life
for the smaller self’s desires and the larger Self’s desires
are any addict whatever the addiction.
That craving for more is from the smaller self,
not the greater Self. Our God cannot answer that prayer for more.
Pastor learned in college . . .(addicted) rats will starve to death
rather than go without drugs.
For some people, the drugs become irresistible.
Chances to “hit it and quit it” on one’s own? ZERO!
So, what can we do about desire? Especially reading
1 Timothy 6:10: Surely the televangelists I spoke of
last time KNEW these verses?!
Interestingly, the Greek word for “love of money”
is one word, not two words. The word means avarice or
covetousness –wanting that which we do NOT have;
even desiring that which is not appropriate for ME to
want or desire. “Desire not thy neighbor’s wife.”
(Deuteronomy 5:21)
Remember Psalm 127:1
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor
in vain.. . .” And so, unless the Lord wants anyone to have
more of something, they desire more in vain.
So how about the word is “pure desire”?
Except it is not in the Bible either.
The idea is in 2 Timothy 2:22 (easy to remember verse!)
“. . .those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
James’ letter, chapter four, has more comments. . .
James 4:2-8 on “desire”.
Today it is very fashionable to talk about our
passions or what our passion is. Pastors resumes say:
“a passion for reaching people for Jesus.” Great,
except it is not a Bible word. Titus 2 (our Affirmation
of Faith) contrasts “worldly passions” with “godly lives.”
James 4:8: “purify your hearts. . .”
“Pure heart” a better term than “pure desire”?
Our Lord Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount,
Matthew 5:8: “. . .the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Remember 1 Timothy 1:5:
“. . . the aim of our charge is love that issues from
a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith.”
Amen.
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