Christian, Have You Wandered Away From Faith For Riches?

In our day many are going to seminary so they can build a big church and get rich. I recently heard a young pastor say that all of the graduates in his recent class, planned on a big church and getting wealthy. That is being taught now. We see many, many deceivers have gone out into the world. Just turn on a TV.

• 1Dear friends, stop believinga every spirit. Instead, test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4 ISV

In verse 12, below, Paul gives an extremely serious warning. It should shake us. He tells Timothy to "keep holding on to eternal life". Brothers and sisters, would he say such a thing if it is not possible to let go of eternal life? Of course not! In verse 21, Paul talks of those who "have abandoned the faith". Do not trust man. Satan has had 2,000, years to pervert the gospel. You can trust what God had written and has preserved until this very day!

1 Timothy 6 ISV

3If anyone teaches false doctrine and refuses to agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,d and godly teaching, 4he is a conceited person and does not understand anything. He has an unhealthy craving for arguments and debates. 

This produces jealousy, rivalry, slander, evil suspicions, 5and incessant conflict between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth. They think that godliness is a way to make a profit.e 6Of course, godliness with contentment does bring a great profit.

7Nothing to this world we bring;

from it take we nothing.

8With food to eat and clothes to wear;

content we are in everything.

9But people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and causedf themselves a lot of pain.

11But you, man of God, must flee from all these things.

Instead, you must pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness,g

love, endurance, and gentleness.

12Fight the good fight for the faith.

Keep holding on to eternal life, to which you were called

and about which you gave a good testimony

in front of many witnesses.

13Since you areh in the presence of God, who gives life to everything, and in the presence of the Messiahi Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, I solemnly charge you 14to keep these commands stainlessly and blamelessly until the appearance of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.j 15At the right time, he will make him known.

Godk is the blessed and only Ruler,

the King of kings

and Lord of lords.

16He alone has endless life

and lives in inaccessible light.

No one has ever seen him,

nor can anyone see him.

Honor and eternal power belong to him!

Amen.

17Tell those who are rich in this age not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidencel in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good actions, to be generous, and to share. 19By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can keep their hold on the life that is real.

20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. 21Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you!

Hold On To Jesus

Bambelela song iThemba

(Hold On To Jesus)