1 Timothy 6:9-10 Pursuit Of Civil Life
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 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.
I believe the Holy Spirit moved Dr. King to write the sermon that is a make-believe letter from Paul, its title is, “ Paul’s letter to America”. Martin Luther King Jr was a doctor, but his Ph.D. was in the medicine of God’s word. Dr. King, knew the thirteen letters of Paul very well, just like he knew all the holy scriptures. So as a student of the Bible, a pastor, and civil rights activist, Dr. King used Paul’s writing style to tell the Christian of America, God wants me to give you a prophetic message. Dr. King’s sermon, Paul’s letter to the American church, has various parts. In the first part, Paul explains how the technological advancement of America has made Christians lose their morals. The second part is how some American Christians will forsake the teachings of God to be accepted by the majority or to receive benefits from the government. But you Christians are supposed to be citizens of the kingdom of God, more than the USA. This Bible teaching blog is about the third part of the sermon and Paul’s warning to American Christians. Capitalism is good if used in a godly wise way, but sadly, you use your wealth to glorify a materialistic lifestyle in America. My brothers and sister’s lifestyle does not lead to contentment, but a lifestyle where a person is never happy because they never have enough.
I, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to you who are in America, Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. ~ You have become the richest nation in the world, and you have built up the greatest system of production that history has ever known. All of this is marvelous. But Americans, there is the danger that you will misuse your Capitalism. I still contend that money can be the root of all evil. 4 It can cause one to live a life of gross materialism. I am afraid that many among you are more concerned about making a living than making a life. You are prone to judge the success of your profession by the index of your salary and the size of the wheelbase on your automobile, rather than the quality of your service to humanity.
Dr. King was saying nothing is wrong with the economic system of Capitalism. It is just how you use it, especially Christians. There is nothing evil about money, just the love of it. The word of God teaches us to love the Lord and love others. If you and I have enough money to buy an expensive fancy automobile and help others with your income, do so. If you have enough money to buy a mansion on earth, help others have housing. If you have enough money to feed yourself exotic food, please provide others with your income. Many outside the church see this as a problem that churches and Christians do. Why does a pastor need an expensive leer jet to spread the gospel and help? Many Christian doctors and nurses give up income to help those in poor nations, and they do not seek any personal glory. Dr. King says to glorify God with your wealth and help your neighboring American brothers and sisters. If you are the only one benefiting from your blessing prosperity, it does not help others prosper. The United States Declaration of Independence makes this statement We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. In the penmanship of the apostle Paul, the spirit of God moves Dr. King to tell Christians to put treasure in godly living and not on meaningless worldly treasures. You and I will have peace with God and self if we pursue a simple life. Any other wealth cannot compare to what the Lord has in store for those who genuinely love Him. God bless you all, Jesus loves you, and so do I. His bondservant, Samuel Jerry Head.
1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
