God or Gold?

Five Dangers of Greed

During the fourth century, John Chrysostom emerged as one of the early church’s most impactful preachers. He eventually served as bishop of Constantinople, a city defined by immense wealth, political sway, and social disparity. Chrysostom frequently preached to wealthy Christians. He warned them about the danger of letting possessions control their lives. He also challenged the idea that having more money automatically makes someone wealthy.

He once made a striking observation: a person isn’t truly rich simply because he possesses many things; a person is rich when he doesn’t need many things. Conversely, someone can possess enormous wealth and still be desperately poor if he is always craving more.  

Chrysostom compared the greedy person to someone who is constantly thirsty. Imagine a man lying beside a river with water everywhere around him, yet he remains thirsty because he cannot stop drinking. The problem isn’t that he doesn’t have enough water. The problem is that his desire can never be satisfied. That’s exactly what greed does.

You can have a full bank account yet still feel broke. You can have a closet full of clothes yet still feel like you have nothing to wear. You can have a beautiful home yet still long for a bigger one. You can have plenty of food yet still crave something else. Greed keeps moving the finish line.

And Chrysostom connected this directly to Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 6. When preaching on this passage, he explained that Paul wasn’t condemning everyone who possesses money. Rather, Paul was addressing those who desire to become rich and who allow their desire for wealth to control them. Chrysostom then pointed his hearers toward the better treasure: godliness with contentment.

Let’s look at an overview of the passage. False teachers in Ephesus were driven by greed and materialism (vv. 3-5), but Paul exhorts Timothy to seek contentment (vv. 6-8), because greediness leads away from the faith and towards many dangers (vv. 9-10).

Driven by Greed (vv.3-5)

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (vv. 3-5)

Explanation of the Text

The false teachers at Ephesus were driven by greed and materialism, which led them to promote “a different doctrine” (v.5). The city of Ephesus was a bustling metropolis in the ancient world. At the mouth of the Cayster River, it served as a strategic shipping port on the Aegean Sea.[1] Riches flowed in and out of the city. Ephesus’s wealthy, cosmopolitan character created an environment where financial ambition could flourish and be justified. The city’s strategic harbor made it a wealthy metropolis filled with “lovers of themselves, lovers of money” and “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Tim. 3:2,4).”[2]

Not only was Ephesus a center of commerce, but it was also a religious center with the Temple of Artemis, which was also a source of income for the city. In Acts 19:23-41, we see a riot after Paul preaches the Gospel here. It began when Demetrius, a silversmith who profited from making silver shrines of Artemis, gathered fellow craftsmen and warned them that Paul’s preaching was turning people away from idolatry. He expressed concern that both their business and the goddess’s reputation were at risk. Therefore, people in Ephesus had already possessed a deeply embedded connection between religion and financial gain in their culture. This culture was pressing in on the church through false teachers.

Paul had “urged” (Gr. parekalesa, ‘exhort; beg; plead’) Timothy to stay at Ephesus, so that he could “instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines” (Gr. heterodidaskaleō, ‘teach a different doctrine’) (1 Tim. 1:3). This term is closely connected to the Greek word meaning “advocates a different doctrine” (Gr. heterodidaskalei) (v.3). Therefore, Paul is circling back to Timothy’s original mission in 6:3. It is safe to assume Paul has the same “certain men” (1:3) in mind when he is writing this section of his letter.

These false teachers deviate from the healthy teaching (or “sound words”) of Jesus Christ, which leads to holiness (v. 3). Paul explains the aim of the true doctrine of Jesus when he writes, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1:5). Real godliness is the fruit of the true doctrine of Christianity. This godliness radiates from within the believer because of the working of the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. However, the outworking of this “different doctrine” is synonymous with the deeds of the flesh and not the fruit of the Spirit (v. 4-5; Gal. 5:19-22). Their message came from their cultural understanding more than from the gospel. They were driven by greed, “supposing that godliness is a means of gain” (v.5).

Where does their greed come from? Let’s follow Paul’s thought process to learn the source. Paul states, “he is conceited” (Gr. tetyphōtai, the root of this word is typhoō meaning ‘to be puffed up’). When Paul writes this word, he means the person is mistaken about their true nature, particularly regarding their intelligence or sense of superiority. A haze or cloud of self-importance surrounds this person. In short, this person is full of pride. Their pride leads to self-importance, which leads to an insatiable desire for gain. Their religion is transactional. If they do, they expect to get. This transactional perspective comes from the world around them (i.e., the culture of Ephesus), not from the gospel.

Application of the Text

How can we fall prey to this same dilemma of cultural influence as the Ephesians? We must guard ourselves against the pull of greed and materialism in our culture. This transactional view of the gospel is rampant in the church. It’s called the prosperity gospel. American culture presses in on us much like those in Timothy’s lifetime, saying, “More! More! More!” and “Bigger is better!”

In a documentary called, American Gospel: Christ Alone, filmmakers expose how easily the Christian faith can become distorted when we see God primarily as a means to obtain health, wealth, success, and comfort. The documentary examines the prosperity gospel, which often teaches that strong faith will result in material blessing and that suffering or hardship may indicate a lack of faith. Through the stories of pastors, theologians, and people who have experienced these teachings, the film challenges the idea that following Christ is a pathway to an easier or more prosperous life.

The documentary reminds us that the gospel is not about what God can give us; it is about who God has given us in Jesus Christ. Scripture does not promise Christians a life free from suffering, but it promises Christ’s presence, grace, and eternal hope. When we make blessings the goal, we can lose sight of the One who is the greatest blessing—Christ Himself. This film reveals many in America, are “advocating a different doctrine” (v. 3).

On the other hand, the gospel message is “the doctrine conforming to godliness” (v. 3). True Christianity comes from a place of humility before God about our sinfulness and leads to a transformation from within toward “godliness” (Gr. eusebeia, ‘piety’), which must be paired with “contentment” (Gr. autarkeia, ‘contentment; self-sufficiency). However, before we discuss how to cultivate contentment, let’s highlight the dangers of being greedy.

Discussion Questions:

1. Where do you see the influence of our culture’s “more is better” mentality affecting your own desires, priorities, or view of success?
2. Have you ever viewed your relationship with God as a transaction? Do you focus more on what He can give you than on knowing and loving Him? What does this reveal about your heart?
3. In what area of your life do you need to choose the gospel over cultural values? What would that choice look like in practice this week?

Five Dangers of Greed (vv.9-10)

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (vv. 9-10)

Explanation of the Text

In vv. 9-10, Paul lists five dangers for those who are greedy and desire “to get rich” (Gr. ploutein, ‘to be wealthy or become characterized by having an abundance of money and possessions’). They are 1) temptation, 2) being snared, 3) foolish and harmful desires, 4) wandering away from the faith, 5) piercing themselves with many griefs. Let’s look at each one of these five dangers closely.

First, those who are greedy are in danger of falling, willingly or unwillingly, into “temptation” (Gr. peirasmon, ‘trial; test’) (v. 9). The idea behind the Greek is an examination with the express purpose of producing (or proving) a fault in the examinee. Greediness will place them in situations of compromise. In this context, if a preacher or teacher is in the ministry for money, then they are in danger of compromising. Greed was one reason Paul prohibited a materialistic person explicitly from church office (3:3, 8). Nonetheless, temptation, though perilous, is not sin itself but the slippery path leading to it.

Second, those who are greedy are in danger of being trapped. The word “snare” (Gr. pagida) is a quick-acting trap used for catching birds or small animals. Paul is warning that those teachers, or anyone else, can become ensnared by their lust for riches. Almost all have heard a story of a person who only borrowed a little of the company’s money, intending to pay it back, but quickly spiraled into a web of lies and deception. The covetous heart, left unchecked, will trap you.

Third, those who are greedy are in danger of falling prey to “many foolish (Gr. anoetous, ‘mindless’) and harmful (Gr. blaberas, ‘causing a change for the worse’) desires (Gr. epithymias, ‘craving – an intense desire for a particular thing). These “foolish and harmful desires” lead (or “plunge”) people into “ruin” (Gr. olethron, ‘worthlessness’) and “destruction” (Gr. apoleian, ‘the termination of something’). How many ministers and ministries have become worthless and even been terminated because of greed!

 An illustration of these “desires” is seen in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Gollom, once named Smeagol before the corrupting power of the One Ring, would do anything to keep the ring for himself. Even though the ring transformed him into a blabbering, unrecognizable creature. Likewise, a craving for wealth can result in unwise and damaging ambitions.

Fourth, those who are greedy are in danger of abandoning the teaching of Christ. Paul writes, “For the love of money (Gr. philargyria, ‘extreme greed for material wealth’) is a root (Gr. rhiza, ‘cause’)  of all sorts of evil (Gr. kakon, morally objectionable behavior’)” (v. 9a). MacArthur explains, “In the context, this sin applies to false teachers specifically, but the principle is true universally. Money itself is not evil since it is a gift from God (Dt. 8:18); Paul condemns only the love of it (Mt. 6:24), which is characteristic of false teachers.”[3]

Some teachers “by longing for” (Gr. oregomenoi, ‘to strive–to exert much effort or energy’)financial gain “have wandered away” (Gr. apeplanethesan, ‘to disbelieve gradually; conceive of as straying from a proper course’) “the faith” (the body of Christian truth). Gold has replaced God for these fasle teachers, who have turned away from pursuing the things of God in favor of money.[4] You cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24). This turning away leads to the fifth and final danger.

Fifth, those who follow the path of greed have “pierced (Gr. periepeiran, ‘impale’) themselves with many griefs (Gr. odynais, ‘suffering -feelings of mental or physical pain). Riches are deceitful and will leave you broken. Warren Wiersbe explains this condition, when he writes, “A person who depends on material things for peace and assurance will never be satisfied, for material things have a way of losing their appeal. It is the wealthy people, not the poor people, who go to psychiatrists and who are more apt to try to commit suicide.”[5]

With our cultural pushing materialism on us from every angle imaginable, to avoid this tragic fate, we must follow Paul’s prescription of “godliness with contentment” found in vv. 6-8. We should revisit this section to discover the solution to greed.

Discussion Questions:

1. Greed presents five main dangers: temptation, being ensnared, foolish and harmful desires, wandering from the faith, and experiencing many griefs. Which of these do you find easiest to overlook, and why?
2. Could your desire for money, possessions, success, comfort, or status become a trap? What steps can you take now to prevent these desires from controlling you?
3. How might the pursuit of “more” compete with your pursuit of Christ? What warning signs indicate that gold is replacing God in your heart?

Safeguarding of Godliness with Contentment (vv. 6-8)

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. (vv. 6-8)

Explanation of the Text

In v.6, Paul doesn’t deny the benefit of living a godly life. The false teachers operate from a premise Paul actually accepts (godliness yields benefit), but they’ve corrupted it by removing the essential qualifier, “contentment” (Gr. autarkeia). John MacArthur writes, “This Gr. word means ‘self-sufficiency,’ and was used by Stoic philosophers to describe a person who was unflappable and unmoved by external circumstances.”[6] By mentioning “contentment” in v. 6, Paul defines what authentic spiritual gain looks like. It’s not accumulation divorced from gratitude, but rather the internal richness that comes from valuing what you have in Christ rather than constantly craving more. Wiersbe says it best when he writes, “True contentment comes from godliness of heart, not wealth in the hand.”[7]

In the syndicated cartoon “Mister Boffo” Joe Martin pictures a middle-aged man lying on a psychologist’s couch. The psychologist sits on a chair next to him, listens intently, and writes in a notebook. The man on the couch has a problem. “I drive a Mercedes,” he says, “I have a beachhouse in Bermuda, a 12-room penthouse, a 90-foot yacht. My clothes are made by the finest tailors in London. I have a world-class wine cellar. And yet I’m still not happy.”

The psychologist asks, “Do you have a Rolex?”

Abruptly the troubled man raises his head from the couch, points his finger in the air, and declares, “Why no, I don’t!”

Such is the folly of those who pursue happiness in material possessions. They will always be one purchase away from a happy life.^[8]

True contentment can only come through Christ. This is how Paul says not to be held by the temporal things of this life (v. 7) and to be satisfied with necessities of life (v.8). He does not denounce possessing belongings, so long as God generously supplies them (v.17). His argument is not to let any material possession compete with Christ’s rightful place in your life (see Matt. 6:33). This posture of contentment is counter cultural.

Application of the Text

Believers must let Christ be their source of satisfaction. This is a learned behavior. We should find encouragement in knowing that the Apostle Paul also had to learn how to be content. Let’s look at Philippians 4:10-20, where Paul is under house arrest. He writes,

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Php. 4:10-20)

How can we learn contentment? Believers can cultivate contentment through the following three spiritual practices: gratitude, meditation on Scripture, and self-reflection. Let’s look at each one closely.

First, we must practice gratitude. Believers are to give thanks in every situation (1 Thess. 5:18). A posture of gratitude is the will of God for each believer. Frequently thanking God for His blessings, whether large or small, helps reorient the heart towards appreciating what He has supplied rather than dwelling on what’s absent.

Second, we must meditate on Scripture constantly (Psa. 1). We must renew our minds (Rom. 12:1-2) and take every thought captive (2 Cor 10:5). Daily engagement with scriptures about God’s provision grounds the mind in His faithfulness and prevents the urge to chase after every new distraction (or shiny-new-object syndrome).

Third, we must always examine our motives. Before acting on desires or spending money, question: “Am I seeking God’s will or simply satisfying my own longing?” This slows the heart’s impulse toward “more” and redirects it toward Christ.

Here is a practical plan to incorporate these habits into your life. Morning: Pray for the day’s needs rather than worrying about the future. Evening: Review your day with gratitude, acknowledging God’s faithfulness. Weekly: Meditate on a passage about contentment (e.g., Philippians 4:11–13) and journal your reflections. Ongoing: Practice generosity and service to shift your focus from lack toward the abundance of God’s care.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are three things God has already provided for which you can genuinely thank Him today? How might practicing gratitude change your perspective on what you still think you need?
2. Where do you usually look for satisfaction when you feel discontented? How can Scripture help you find your satisfaction in Christ instead?
3. Can you identify one practical step to take this week, such as practicing gratitude, meditating on Scripture, showing generosity, praying, or assessing your motives, that would support your progress in becoming more content?

Conclusion

Paul offers us a choice that transcends mere money. It is a choice regarding what we believe will truly fulfill us. The world insists, “If you just had a little more, you would be happy.” More money. More possessions. More success. More recognition. More comfort. Yet the problem with “more” is that it is never enough.

Greed promises satisfaction but breeds temptation. It promises freedom but becomes a snare. It promises pleasure but creates harmful desires. It promises security but causes us to wander from the faith. And ultimately, it promises happiness while leaving people pierced with many griefs.

Paul gives us a better way. “Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment” (6:6). The answer to greed isn’t simply trying harder not to want things. The answer is learning to treasure something greater. The answer is Christ

When Christ is our treasure, we don’t have to make money our master. When Christ is our satisfaction, we don’t have to chase every new possession. When Christ is our security, we don’t have to build our identity around what we own. When Christ is enough, we can receive God’s blessings with gratitude, hold our possessions with open hands, and give generously without being controlled by what we have.

The question this passage puts before every one of us is simple: God or gold? What has your heart? Because Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24). And ultimately, this isn’t just a sermon about money. It’s a sermon about worship. Whatever you treasure most will eventually have your heart.

So don’t ask only, “How much do I have?” Ask, “What has me?” Don’t ask only, “What am I pursuing?” Ask, “What am I worshiping?” Gold cannot save you. Possessions cannot forgive your sins. Success cannot reconcile you to God. Money cannot give you eternal life. Only Jesus can.

Perhaps you’re here today and you’ve spent your life pursuing what you thought would satisfy you. Maybe it’s money. Maybe it’s success. Maybe it’s relationships, possessions, pleasure, reputation, or simply trying to make yourself good enough. But if we’re honest, none of those things can give us what our hearts ultimately need.

The Bible says that our greatest problem isn’t that we don’t have enough. Our greatest problem is that we are sinners separated from a holy God. And the good news of the gospel is that God did not leave us in that condition. Jesus Christ came into the world, lived the righteous life we could never live, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, and rose again from the grave. Salvation isn’t something we can purchase, earn, or achieve. It is God’s gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is better than gold! He offers forgiveness instead of condemnation. He offers reconciliation instead of separation. He offers eternal life instead of temporary satisfaction. He offers Himself instead of another empty promise that “just a little more” will finally make us happy.

So today, the question isn’t merely, “What do you have?” The question is: “Who has your heart?”

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can turn from your sin and place your faith in Him today. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You don’t have to earn your way to God. Come to Christ as you are, confess your sin, believe that Jesus died and rose again for you, and trust Him alone for salvation.

And if you are already a believer, perhaps today is the time to surrender those areas where gold has begun to compete with God. Let Christ be your treasure. Let gratitude replace grumbling. Let contentment replace craving. Let generosity replace greed. And let your life declare that Jesus is worth more than anything this world has to offer.

God or gold?

May we choose to treasure Christ. Not because He gives us everything we want, but because He Himself is better than everything we could ever gain.

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[1] Ephesus was in Asia Minor what is now the modern country of Turkey.

[2] Michael Grant Brown, Second Timothy, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2022), 6.

[3] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, 1617.

[4] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, 1617.

[5] Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, 767.

[6] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2020), 1617.

[7] Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 767.

^[8] Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 341.