{"id":3751,"date":"2015-10-21T00:02:29","date_gmt":"2015-10-21T07:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3751"},"modified":"2015-10-20T21:29:23","modified_gmt":"2015-10-21T04:29:23","slug":"1021-where-is-your-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/21\/1021-where-is-your-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"10\/21: Where is Your Hope? (\u8bd7119:73-80 \u63d0\u524d6:3-21 \u803646:1\u201347:7)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u8bd7119:73-80 \u63d0\u524d6:3-21 \u803646:1\u201347:7<\/h2>\n

Where is Your Hope?<\/h2>\n
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Her hands were full of rings, bracelets, necklaces, chains and other treasures. Torrents of lava were erupting and pouring down from Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. As she fled, this woman was not prepared to leave behind her valuable jewels. Encumbered by her treasures, she was overwhelmed by the rain of ashes from the volcano and was buried under it.<\/p>\n

During the course of modern building operations, her petrified body was found outside the area of the buried city of Pompeii, an ancient Roman port. Her body was unearthed in a sea of jewels. She lost her life in an attempt to save her treasures.<\/p>\n

Jesus warned us that ultimately you have to choose between money and God (Matthew 6:24). In the New Testament, there is no ban on private property or making money, or even enjoying the good things in life. The command to the rich, however, is that they do not \u2018put their hope <\/em>in wealth\u2019 (1 Timothy 6:17). A selfish accumulation of wealth and an unhealthy obsession with material things leads us away from God. What promises security leads to perpetual insecurity.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, security only comes from putting your hope in God. The promise of God\u2019s word is that those who \u2018put their hope in God\u2019 (v.17) find \u2018a firm foundation\u2019 and \u2018take hold of the life that is truly life\u2019 (v.19).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Hope in God\u2019s word and invest your time in it<\/h2>\n

Psalm 119:73-80<\/a>Time is your most valuable possession. You can make more money but you cannot create more time. How you spend your time is evidence of where your hope lies. If your hope is in God and his word then you will invest time in them.<\/p>\n

The psalmist places his hope firmly in God\u2019s word. \u2018For I have put my hope in your word<\/em>\u2019 (v.74b). What does this mean in practice?<\/p>\n

Spend time seeking to understand God\u2019s word (vv.73,79), meditate on it (v.78), delight in it (v.77) and learn it off by heart (v.73).<\/p>\n

When you are going through difficult times continue to trust God\u2019s word: \u2018Your testing has taught me what\u2019s true and right\u2019 (v.75, MSG). Trust in God\u2019s faithfulness, \u2018unfailing love\u2019 (v.76) and \u2018compassion\u2019 (v.77).<\/p>\n

Spending time with God is the way in which God breathes his wisdom into you (v.73, MSG). He comforts you so that you can live, \u2018really live\u2026 live whole and holy, soul and body\u2019 (vv.77,80a, MSG), and always walk with your \u2018head held high\u2019 (v.80b, MSG).<\/p>\n

If you live like this, it will encourage others to do the same: \u2018May those who fear you rejoice when they see me\u2019 (v.74a). Likewise, it is encouraging for us to see other people who are hoping in God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n

Lord, as I put my hope in your word today, may I be an encouragement to others: \u2018May those who fear you rejoice when they see me\u2019 (v.74a).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Hope in God and not in wealth<\/h2>\n

1 Timothy 6:3-21<\/a>The apostle Paul begins this passage by warning against those who teach false doctrines \u2013 rejecting godly teaching and the \u2018sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ\u2019 (v.3). These people have an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes (v.4).<\/p>\n

These false teachers cause \u2018constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain\u2019 (v.5).<\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s words about wealth in this passage apply to everyone \u2013 especially to those of us who live in the West, where we are rich in comparison to so much of the world. Paul writes, \u2018Command those who are rich in the present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth<\/em>, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God<\/em>, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment\u2019 (v.17).<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be tempted to think that you would be more content if you had more money (provided that you have food and clothing, v.8). Be content with what you have materially: \u2018Godliness withcontentment <\/em>is great gain\u2019 (v.6).<\/p>\n

Contentment is worth more than all the wealth you could possibly accumulate. People who want to get rich \u2018fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction\u2019 (v.9).<\/p>\n

Paul is often misquoted as saying, \u2018Money is the root of all evil.\u2019 What he actually says is, \u2018Thelove of<\/em> money is a root of all kinds of evil\u2019 (v.10a). Money can do a lot of good. But the love of<\/em>money is extremely dangerous. \u2018Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after\u2019 (v.10, MSG).<\/p>\n

Whether you are very wealthy or have scarcely any money, the danger is the same \u2013 to love money. The temptation is there, whether it is to love money you already have, or money you would dearly love to have.<\/p>\n

Instead of loving and pursuing money, Paul lists some of the things you should love and pursue: \u2018a righteous life \u2013 a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy\u2019 (v.11, MSG). He urges Timothy to \u2018fight the good fight of the faith\u2019 (v.12a). The \u2018fight\u2019 starts with our hearts and minds focused on Jesus (vv.13\u201314).<\/p>\n

He does not command them to give all their money away. But he tells them not to put their hope in it. If you get your attitude towards money sorted out, it will help sort out almost every other area of your life. Paul gives five ways to sort out our attitude to money (vv.17\u201318):<\/p>\n