There was a man from Pennsylvania whose father owned some land and cattle. He found himself often watching the cows grazing the fields. He would watch one in particular. The man said, “One of the old cows gives good milk, but she sure can be dumb. She has a whole field to feed in yet, no grass seems quite as tasty as those patches outside her own pasture. He would often see her stretching her head through the fence, while right behind her is everything she needs - excellent grazing land, beautiful shade trees, a cool, refreshing stream of water, and even a big chunk of salt.”
What more could she want? Many of us are like this old cow. They think the “grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” They are constantly seeking to obtain what does not belong to them. This discontentment is foolish.
False teaching doesn’t merely corrupt what a person believes; it eventually corrupts how a person lives.
A Different Doctrine - anything that differs from the core teachings / scriptures. Sound words - Hygianaino - without error / perfect.
And the teaching that accords with godliness.
1 Timothy 4:6-7
We should note the intentions of Paul here. The progressions he builds for the believers' life.
1. Read the core scriptures
2. Listen to the perfect words of Jesus
3. Act/Walk out Godliness
But … If anyone differs from this ; he is a fool. Not only a fool, but a conceited fool.
Does not agree - Not only to come against/to oppose, even to have any disagreements at all. This is what we refer to as primary issues.
Conceited - Pride that blinds from truth.
Puffed up = Clouded, blurry.
A pufferfish looks bigger than it really is when it feels threatened. It fills itself up and expands, making itself appear larger and more intimidating than it actually is. That’s a picture of pride. Paul says the false teacher is “puffed up with conceit.” He has inflated his view of himself. He thinks he knows more than he really knows—Paul immediately says he “understands nothing.” Pride makes a man look big in his own eyes while revealing how small his understanding really is.
The pufferfish is full of air, and so is the prideful teacher—he has increased in size without increasing in substance.”
Pride can make you bigger without making you better. The second part is of course the natural response of teaching outside of the Bible and being prideful while doing so.
This causes a normalcy of quarrels and controversy. Try to stay with me on this. These people will focus more on what they can gain vs. what God will gain.
The motive is only out of conceit. We know with the controversy comes eyes on them, that might gain popularity. Which is why they love it.
They continue to focus on the extremities of religion vs. the truth of the gospel. Remember one of the main points of Ephesus is false teaching within the church.
More focused on the people and not God himself. The people who follow such corruption might fall into this for a few reasons.
1. Builds ego / self - image
2. Motivate our sin / excuse
3. Shows achievements in this life
But… they lack one major thing. Looking back at verse 3, The sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They become prideful, thinking more highly of their own understanding than they should. That pride gives them an unhealthy craving for controversy, because they want to prove themselves right, display their knowledge, or win arguments. Constant controversy then creates envy, because people begin comparing influence, recognition, and who seems more respected or knowledgeable. Envy turns into division and strife, because people stop working together and start competing against one another. That division leads to slander, because once disagreement becomes personal, people begin attacking each other instead of simply addressing the issue. Slander then breeds evil suspicion, where people start assuming the worst about one another’s motives. And once everyone is suspicious, defensive, and hostile toward each other, it produces constant conflict.
So you could say it almost like a downward spiral:
Pride makes them want to argue. Arguing creates rivalry. Rivalry creates division. Division makes the disagreement personal. Personal attacks create suspicion. Suspicion keeps the conflict alive.
“Constant friction” means the arguing and tension have become ongoing, not occasional. The idea is repeated irritation, conflict, and rubbing against one another. Paul is not
condemning every disagreement; he is describing people whose pattern is continual contention. The controversy of verse 4 has now become an environment of persistent conflict.
“Among people who are depraved in mind” means their thinking has become corrupted. The Greek word (diaphtheírō, dee-af-thi’-ro; to rot thoroughly, i.e. (by implication) to ruin (passively, decay utterly, figuratively, pervert):—corrupt, destroy, perish.) The idea of something being spoiled or ruined. Paul is saying the problem goes deeper than bad communication or a difficult personality—their judgment and way of thinking have been morally and spiritually distorted.
“And deprived of the truth” means they have become separated from, or dispossessed of, the truth. This connects back to verse 3: they are no longer holding to “the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ” and the teaching that produces godliness. Their corrupted thinking and their departure from truth go together.
Then Paul exposes the motive:
The final portion of this section, they believe in God for what they might gain, not even in Christ. They know that to make themselves better and more profitable is religion.
Committing their lives to religion to benefit humanity. Some are more sinister than others doing ministry just as an occupation and for financial gain. Maybe still caring about the welfare of people, but only viewing it as a commendable profession.
They see religion as something that can benefit them personally. “Gain” here has the sense of profit or advantage. Instead of pursuing godliness because God is worthy and truth matters, they treat godliness as a tool for getting something—money, influence, status, recognition, or some other advantage.
This reminded Brayden of the Roman Catholic Church. The church became a major world power in Rome. They weren’t just a religious group but also the political one. The had gained so much authority even so much as withholding education to keep people
ignorant to continue to hold authoritative power. This organization didn’t preach the one true gospel, they killed the savior of this gospel. Anything to hold control of this power they had amassed.
Furthering this point, to the extreme, Some just hope for as much Financial Gain as possible. Their job is a business investing in only themselves. Excluding God and his people, only dithering themselves, which we will talk about later.
In all these false teacher examples it is important to note something, Self-help and motivation are important, but it doesn’t belong behind the pulpit. The pulpit is to share the sound words of the Lord. His sacrifice, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Godliness becomes great gain when our satisfaction is found in God rather than what God can give us.
This begins with But… he’s changing the direction, this cannot be missed. The false teachers gave a false understanding of godliness. They used it falsely BUT … true godliness does produce great gain.
Godliness - well worship / reverence or awe that is well directed. It is not talking godly but living godly. Godliness is the inner attitude or reverence which seems to please God. Please Him in every thought, word, or deed.
Contentment - to be completely sufficient, to need absolutely nothing.
● If God never gave me anything else, would I still believe He has given me enough?
● Am I content with God, or am I only content with God when He gives me what I want?
● If the thing I’m praying for never comes, will God still be enough for me? ● What do I currently think I need in order to be happy?
● Has wanting more ever kept me from being thankful for what God has already given me?
● Do I spend more time thanking God for what I have or asking Him for what I don’t have?
● When I see someone who has more than me, does it produce gratitude, jealousy, or discontentment in my heart?
● Does my joy change when my circumstances change?
● Could I lose something valuable to me and still say, “Christ is enough”? ● Am I using God to get something else, or is God Himself what I truly want? ● Do I view godliness as a way of getting more from God, or as the privilege of knowing and becoming like Him?
● What would change in my life if I genuinely believed I already have everything I ultimately need in Christ?
● What possession, relationship, achievement, or opportunity would be hardest for me to surrender to God? Why?
● Is there anything in my life that I would struggle to obey God without? ● When God says “no,” can I still worship Him?
● When God makes me wait, can I still trust Him?
When the storm rages on around me can I be content in saying it is well with my soul ? Will you
The opportunities and the money that surrounds me. The multitude of places I could go and make much more financial gain. I could achieve more. I can see the next thing I wanted for so long. I can reach out for those things for ease.
The positions that have been brought to me within the church and other churches that I don’t speak about because why? I would have gained much more popularity, much more authority, much more respect, and yet I have not. Why?
Contentment is the product of godliness. Did you expect a larger, more expanded answer? So wise in all its glory. Well it was, you just missed it. Read the verse again. We are content because he has provided everything we need. God is the author of contentment. Have you found yourself forsaking the author?
The savior puts on flesh as a carpenter. He could have anything he desired. The savior washes the feet of sinners. He could have anything he desired. He ate and fellowshipped with the gentiles. He could have anything he desired. He went to the cross broken and bruised, defeated and disdained. He could have anything he desired. Died for the sins of the world because that was what he desired.
If you don’t get anything else today, get this. He desired for Man to be content with what he has given to them. Is your salvation enough for you to be content? He is enough.
Since we brought nothing into this world and can carry nothing out, we should learn to be satisfied with God’s daily provision.
Everything we have is from Him. He gave you shelter, clothes, food, water, finance, love, grace, forgiveness, and we have brought nothing. Let me ask you all a question. Did you birth yourself? So you didn’t even bring yourself into the world. Do you bring your breath every morning? No, it is provided already.
The same way you brought nothing in, you will not take anything out. One of God's most faithful men, Job, commented,”Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Also we cannot forget the old common saying that goes,” I've never seen a U-Haul trailer following a hearse.”
I don’t have to convince you of this. Even the unbeliever knows this! Everything is temporary.
We have spoken of this time and time again. Solomon spent his entire life reaching for the next big thing. His conclusion, “Vanity is Vanity, all is vanity says the preacher.”
Therefore, recognize how little is actually necessary for contentment. Paul strips life down to its foundation:
If God has supplied what you genuinely need, you already possess grounds for contentment.
That doesn’t mean owning a house, having savings, enjoying good food, advancing in your career, or purchasing nice things is sinful.
The issue is whether your heart says:
Paul is attacking the idea that contentment exists one possession away. When I make more money…
When I get the house…
When I get the better vehicle…
When I reach this level…
When I finally have everything I want…
Then I’ll be content.
Paul essentially reverses that:
Verse 7 teaches us that everything we accumulate is temporary; verse 8 teaches us that because it’s temporary, contentment shouldn’t be built on how much we accumulate in the first place.
You came into this life with absolutely nothing, and when your life is over, you’re taking absolutely nothing with you. So don’t spend the short time God's given us in life believing that more possessions will finally satisfy you. If God has given you what you need for today—even something as ordinary as food and clothing—learn to recognize that as enough and receive it with contentment. Sometimes obedience and submission is learning to take it a day at a time even when tomorrow is all you worry about.
How much of our dissatisfaction comes from actual need, and how much comes from comparison?
What are things in life that convince us to not be content (and in a sense grateful) for what Gods already given us?