Bootstrap
John Newton

People who long to be rich

1 Timothy 6:9-10; Matthew 6:24
John Newton • May, 9 2013 • Audio
0 Comments
Choice Puritan Devotional

In John Newton's sermon titled "People Who Long to Be Rich," the central theological topic addressed is the incompatibility of love for worldly riches with true devotion to God. Newton builds his argument by highlighting the dangers of both covetousness and extravagant spending, identifying them as manifestations of a worldly spirit that can lead believers away from their faith, as exemplified by figures like Judas and Demas (2 Timothy 4:10). He presents Scripture references such as 1 Timothy 6:9-10, which warns that the desire for wealth can lead to temptations and spiritual ruin, underscoring the significance of mortifying the desire for worldly gain through the doctrine of the cross. The practical implications revolve around a believer's heart inclination, advocating for a frugal lifestyle that promotes the spread of the Gospel and assists fellow believers, rather than indulging in excessive materialism or hoarding wealth for oneself.

Key Quotes

“An inordinate desire and attachment to the things of this present world is a prevailing cause of a spiritual declension.”

“Those who love the Lord and whose spirits are lively in His service will avoid both stinginess and selfish extravagance.”

“A simple desire of pleasing God and adorning the gospel will solve most cases of how a believer should spend his money.”

“In whatever degree the love of the world prevails, the health of the soul will proportionately decline.”

What does the Bible say about the love of money?

The Bible warns that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).

The Scriptures highlight that an excessive desire for wealth can lead to significant spiritual decline. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Paul cautions that those who long to be rich fall into temptation and can experience ruin and destruction. This underscores the importance of prioritizing one's love for God above worldly possessions, as covetousness ultimately distracts from a genuine relationship with Him.

1 Timothy 6:9-10, 2 Timothy 4:10

How do we know the dangers of covetousness are true?

Historical examples, like Judas and Demas, illustrate the dangers of covetousness (2 Timothy 4:10).

The dangers of covetousness are well illustrated through biblical narratives. For example, Judas Iscariot's love for money ultimately led to his betrayal of Christ, while Demas, who once had commendable faith, forsook Paul because he loved the present world. These testimonies reveal that such attachments can corrupt one's spiritual integrity and lead to devastating outcomes. Thus, the warnings in Scripture are rooted in real experiences of faith and failure.

2 Timothy 4:10

Why is being frugal important for Christians?

Frugality allows Christians to use their resources to promote God's cause and help others.

For Christians, frugality is rooted in the principle of stewardship. A Christian's desire should be to please God and adorn the gospel, which often translates to careful management of financial resources. By avoiding stinginess and extravagant spending, believers can better serve the needs of others and contribute to God's work. A heart inclined towards generosity and moderation helps in maintaining a healthy spiritual condition, reflecting the priorities of God's Kingdom over worldly interests.
What happens to those who allow the love of the world to prevail?

A prevailing love for the world leads to spiritual decline and weakening of godliness.

When individuals allow the love of the world to take root, their spiritual health inevitably declines. The sermon warns that indulging in extravagant desires may result in compliance with worldly values, thereby suppressing vital godliness. This spiritual erosion can lead to a hollowed-out faith where the pursuit of worldly pleasures takes center stage, diminishing one’s commitment to God and His Kingdom. Consequently, the individual experiences a perilous path away from true Christian vitality.

Sermon Transcript

Auto-generated transcript • May contain errors

100%
. People who long to be rich. Letters by John Newton.

An inordinate desire and attachment to the things of this present world is a prevailing cause of a spiritual declension. Unless this evil principle is mortified in its root by the doctrine of the cross, it will in time prevail over the most splendid profession.

That love of the world, which is inconsistent with a true love of God, manifests itself in two different ways, as men by temper and habit are differently inclined. The first is covetousness, or greediness for gain. This was the ruin of Judas, and probably the cause of the defection of Demas. By the honourable mention made of him in some of Paul's epistles, Demas seems to have had much of Paul's confidence and esteem for a season. Yet at length his covetous passion prevailed, and the last account we have of him from the Apostle is, Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world. â€"2 Timothy 4.10.

Again, there are people not chargeable with the love of money for its own sake, for they rather squander it than hoard it, yet they are equally under the influence of a worldly spirit. They manifest their worldly hearts by an expensive taste in the articles of dress, furniture, and feasting, which are always unsuitable to a Christian profession.

It is not easy to exactly mark out the precise line of Christian conduct in these respects, which befits the different situations in which the providence of God has placed us, nor is it necessary to those who are poor in spirit and upright in heart. A simple desire of pleasing God and adorning the gospel will solve most cases of how a believer should spend his money, which occupy little and trifling minds.

The inclination of our heart will always direct and regulate our voluntary expenses Those who love the Lord and whose spirits are lively in His service will avoid both stinginess and selfish extravagance. They will rather lean to the frugal side in how they spend their money on themselves, that they may be better able to promote God's cause and to relieve the necessities of His people.

Misers who can be content with a mere form of religion will hoard all they can save in order to gratify their avarice. Others will spend all they can spare to gratify their vanity or their worldly appetites. It is not easy to determine which of these evils is the greatest, Perhaps of the two, the miser is least accessible to conviction, and consequently the most difficult to be reclaimed.

But a desire for extravagance and indulgence, if persisted in, will gradually lead to such compliances with the spirit and maxims of the world, as will certainly weaken, if not wholly suppress, the exercise of vital godliness. In whatever degree the love of the world prevails, the health of the soul will proportionately decline.

People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil, and some people craving money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6, 9, 10
John Newton
About John Newton
John Newton (1725-1807) was an English Anglican clergyman, staunch Calvinist, and abolitionist, most widely known for authoring the hymn Amazing Grace.
Broadcaster:

Comments

0 / 2000 characters
Comments are moderated before appearing.

Be the first to comment!

Joshua

Joshua

Shall we play a game? Ask me about articles, sermons, or theology from our library. I can also help you navigate the site.

0:00 0:00