Daily Bible Studywith SEEDS OF THE KINGDOM
Updated: Wednesday, 3 December 2008, 9:09 (GMT)
25 September 2008 | 1 Timothy 6:3-5
Anyone who has a different teaching does not agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that shows the true way to serve God. This person is full of pride and understands nothing, but is sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. This brings jealousy, fighting, speaking against others, evil mistrust, and constant quarrels from those who have evil minds and have lost the truth. They think that serving God is a way to get rich.Notes
You could call this passage 'beware nutters'. Paul is warning Timothy that there will be false teachers around who teach things not found in the Bible and who will cause all sorts of silly arguments about things that don't really matter.The problem is that distracting nutters don't have a big badge that says 'watch out' so we can tell who they are. Sometimes they really do seem to be gifted and talented people with a real passion for what they are saying. So how do you tell?
Well firstly a good check is to see if they are basing what they say on the Bible or on their own made up ideas. However that is not always as easy as it sounds - sometimes people will make a really big deal out of one story or couple of verses, but not look at the big picture. That way they sound like they are being based on the Bible, but really they are using the Bible to make their own point without being balanced. Secondly you can ask yourself whether this person is really pointing to Jesus or are they spending most of their time taking about what has happened to them. If someone spends more time talking about their life and experience, and seems to be showing off about how special they are, or how close they are to God, then that is a warning sign. Thirdly ask yourself how they speak about other people and churches. Do they speak with love and respect (even when they have a different opinion), or are they angry, cross, or condemning? If they think they are the only people who have the truth and rubbish other people's ideas be very wary. If you can tell they love and respect people they disagree with they are worth listening to.
Prayer
Lord please help me know who to listen to. Please help me not to get carried away with silly arguments, but let me be a person who loves with your love. Help me love those people who I disagree with, even when they hurt me. AmenToday's Writer
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Bible Study Archive
- 3 December 2008 | The God who answers prayer
- 2 December 2008 | Wonderfully made
- 1 December 2008 | More precious than gold
- 30 November 2008 | Total Security
- 29 November 2008 | Barriers to Worship
- 28 November 2008 | His Way is in the Whirlwind
- 27 November 2008 | Reality Check
- 26 November 2008 | Wife of Noble character
- 25 November 2008 | When everything goes wrong
- 24 November 2008 | Walking in the light
- 23 November 2008 | The Eternal Riddle!
- 22 November 2008 | Overcoming evil with good
- 21 November 2008 | Under His Shadow
- 20 November 2008 | A plumb line not a pendulum
- 19 November 2008 | Keys to discovering and fulfilling your purpose and destiny (3)
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