Discussion Questions
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Why did Paul teach against asceticism? What danger(s) did he see in it?
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17 Replies
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Paul taught against ascetiscism because then we, humans, would boast in ourselves—the “look at me and what I’ve done” instead of having a true relationship with the living God and acknowledging Him as Creator and Lord.
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I am not sure what the question is asking but I do know some religions are against their members eating pork. This is supposed to be a certain type of discipline but in reality, it is false religion claiming to do the work of the true God. So, God felt it was necessary to include His views on what is good to eat and what is not good to eat.
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Please note when you are claiming to take something from the scriptures. Where is this in scripture?
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Paul taught against asceticism, a practice which encourages against denying oneself of some demand of bodily pleasure to attain certain spirituality, because it is not foundational to faith. Moreover, it can mislead into certain erroneous teaching. Gnosticism teaches that body is evil because it is made of matter. They postulated that body must be subjected to a kind of torture to be free from its influence and power. Teaching people to abstain from marriage and some things that can nurture body is identifying with this erroneous teaching.
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The dangers would be to not to be enticed by the evils of money and be content with wat God gives you. To maintain a relationship with God and other Christians; to not be enticed with wealth to the degree to being tempted with what comes with those things that can be bought with money but are not good (beneficial) for the Christain living. Furthermore, can allow your relationship with God to be severely comprised.
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First Timothy 6:10 contains the often misquoted verse about money. In your opinion, what is Paul teaching in 1 Timothy 6:3-10? How can you apply this teaching in your life today?
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19 Replies
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Use money for good and not evil. Be content with what you have. God is Jehovah-jireh; He provides.
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The scripture says ask and you shall receive all that is needed to carry out God’s will. Just ask in Jesus’ name. Do not turn this privilege into a debauchery of wicked and selfish gain. But learn to be satisfied with the Lord’s blessings, He knows what is best for you. (John 14: 13-14)
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Money is not the root of evil, but its love is. The love of money is not only the root of evil, but the root of all form of evil. When what am I going to get from it override what service we suppose to render for God, Life’s purpose is defeated. Our love must be for God, because we are expected to love him with the whole of our heart, and everything in our lives.
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The context of Paul’s teaching is in the key statement that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6). The main point is to learn to be content with what God has enabled us to earn and enjoy, therefore not to be greedy for more to the extent of making money an idol. Only in this state of mind can one grow in godliness and gain the riches of heaven.
Therefore Paul cautions against the love of money (1 Tim 6:10), but says nothing negative about money itself. On the contrary, elsewhere in Scripture, Paul implies that God will bless us with abundance. In 2 Cor chapter 9, where he encourages the Corinthians to give as cheerfully and generously as the Macedonians, he says that God will supply and increase their store of seed, and make them rich in every way (1 Cor 9:10-11). This is because the person who does not love money is willing to give it away to bless others. God is so pleased with his generosity that He may give him more to give away so as to bless more people.
I have been giving to the missions fund, even though I have not gotten a job for a few years, because I live simply and have enough to spare. I can continue to do so next year, whether I find a job or not.
#Timothy
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Our focus is to be on the eternal not the temporal.