第六章

⁶ 其實敬虔而又知足，就是得大利的途徑， ⁷ 因為我們沒有帶甚麼到世上來，也不能帶甚麼去。⁸ 只要有衣有食，就應當知足。⁹ 但那些想要發財的人，就落在試探中和陷阱裡；又落在許多無知而有害的私慾裡，使人沉淪在敗壞和滅亡中； ¹⁰ 因為貪財是萬惡之根。有人貪愛錢財，就被引誘離開真道，用許多痛苦把自己刺透了。

¹¹ 但你這屬神的人啊，應該逃避這些事，要追求公義、敬虔、信心、愛心、忍耐和溫柔。

 

默想：

1. 第10節常常被人誤用為「金錢是萬惡之根」；其實，保羅警告的是「貪財」，因為貪愛錢財會使人作出許多惡事。而且一個人一心想要致富，至終會「用許多痛苦把自己刺透」。對我們很多人來講，金錢是很大的偶像，甚至已經取代了神在我們生命中的地位。
2. 保羅告訴提摩太要逃避那些會拖垮一個人的事情，然後還要盡一切的努力去追求屬神的德行；不去貪愛錢財，反而去熱愛並「追求公義、敬虔、信心、愛心、忍耐和溫柔」。
3. 祈求聖靈向我顯明，在我心中是否有任何因為貪愛錢財，而不顧別人、不顧更重要的品德價值？當我面對困境時，「錢財」是否是我做決定的主要關鍵？
4. 再慢慢重讀這段經文，聆聽神對我的說話，並與神對話。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

CHAPTER 6

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

¹¹But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

 

MEDITATION:

1. The common misquote of v 10 says “Money is the root of all evil.”  In fact, what Paul warned against is a love for money, for that passion for wealth can motivate a person to any and every sort of evil deed.  A person whose goal is to get rich is sure to be betrayed by that passion.  For many of us, money is a powerful idol that has taken the place of God in our lives.
2. Instead of a desire for money, Paul said flee this and then listed values to hold in money’s place.  What are we to love and pursue if we don’t love and pursue money?  Why, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me if there is any love for money in me that is pushing out consideration of other, more important values?  In facing a situation, is “eagerness for money” a key value to make my decision?
4. Read over this passage again and talk to God about what is revealed to me.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.