Participants 3
Discussion Questions
-
Why did Paul teach against asceticism? What danger(s) did he see in it?
-
5 Replies
-
He taught against asceticism because the false teaching could lead people astray from true spiritual behavior.
-
Evidently there were people who were probably influenced by Greek philosophy that were teaching that to deny our fleshly desires, whether they were food, sex ot anything else, would make us more spiritual. Paul teaches that that is wrong because it can make some people think that if they can do that they are better than others.
-
But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and3 we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
-
Simply denying the body normal bodily appetites may, at times, promote a certain kind of spirituality, or at least the perception of such, but is not in and of itself anything foundational or crucial to the Christian faith, and can actually lead people astray from true spiritual behavior.
-
Because we must fix our eyes on God and not earthly things that please us for the moment. When we focus on the earthly things and not seeing it as a blessing from God we loose sight on what we are doing.
-
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?
-
4 Replies
-
I believe Paul is teaching talking about loving money is the root of all kinds of evil since it will divert us from truly loving God. Jesus clearly said no one can serve two masters. In my life, I understand the I need money to live but I should not live for money.
-
The key to that verse is actually idolatry in the form of the“love” of money. As we know from other Scriptures, we are not to make anything an idol that we worship over God.
-
But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and3 we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
-
This is talking about the greed that some people have and how it can destroy a persons life. We must be reminded and act in the character of the Lord and how we are not to idealize earthly things.