What Are You Chasing?

What are you chasing? That's the question sitting underneath everything Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, and it's the question we have to sit with tonight, even if it gets a little awkward and quiet. We often spend our whole lives chasing the next best thing, whether it's a new phone, a relationship, followers, approval, or some goal we think will finally make us feel complete, only to find it never quite satisfies. Paul warns Timothy about false teachers who imagined godliness was a way to get material gain, then flips their thinking entirely: godliness with contentment is great gain. That's the difference between using God and loving Him, between treating Jesus like a transaction and actually finding Him enough. We walked through three truths from the passage: the Word of God promotes a godly life, because what we believe about Jesus should visibly change how we live, and our lives either honor or blaspheme the God we claim to follow. We looked at Jesus' words in Matthew 6:19-21 about storing up treasure in heaven rather than on earth, because wherever our treasure is, that's where our heart will be too. Then we sat with Paul's humbling reminder in verse 7 that we brought nothing into this world and can't take anything out of it, and his charge in verse 8 to be content with food and clothing. Contentment doesn't mean we never want anything or that ambition is sinful; it means our joy is no longer controlled by what we have or don't have. The love of money, or the love of anything above Jesus, is the root of all kinds of evil, because whatever sits on the throne of our hearts instead of Him will always leave us empty. So again, honestly: what are you chasing, and is Jesus actually enough for you?

Sermon Notes

1. The Word of God Promotes a Godly Life (1 Timothy 6:3)

• What we believe about Jesus should change how we live
• Paul concerned Christians' lives cause God's name/teaching to be blasphemed
• The way you live your life affects the way other people see God.
• Cross-ref: Matthew 6:19-21 — treasure on earth vs. heaven
• Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be

2. Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain (1 Timothy 6:5-6)

• False teachers imagined godliness = material gain
• Paul flips it: godliness + contentment = great gain
• That's the difference between using God and loving Him.
• We often treat Jesus like a transaction (I'll follow you if...)
• Genuine godliness: Jesus, even if I don't get what I want, you're still enough

3. Be Content in the Gospel (1 Timothy 6:7-8)

• We brought nothing into the world, can't take anything out (v.7)
• Everything we build identity around is temporary
• If you have food and clothing, let us be content (v.8)
• Contentment ≠ never wanting anything; means joy not controlled by circumstances
• Illustration: comparison trap on social media — someone always has something you don't
• 1 Timothy 6:10 — love of money (not money itself) is root of all kinds of evil
• The issue is not what's in your hand, it's what has your heart.
• Personal illustration: chasing relationships/approval as a teen, hitting rock bottom after getting it

Practical Applications

1. Identify your treasure — Ask honestly this week what you think about most when your mind wanders; that's likely your treasure.
2. Audit your social media habits — Notice when comparison starts whispering if I had that, I'd be happy, and name it as a lie.
3. Examine your motives in following Jesus — Ask whether you're using God for what He gives or loving Him for who He is.
4. Talk to a trusted leader — If something doesn't align with God's word in your life, find a leader this week and surrender it.

Discussion Questions

1. What is one next best thing you've chased recently, and how did it actually feel once you got it?
2. How does the phone illustration relate to something in your own life that you keep upgrading or replacing?
3. Where do you see yourself treating Jesus like a transaction rather than truly loving Him?
4. What has your heart right now — and how would you know if something had taken Jesus' place on the throne?
5. How can our group help each other actually store up treasure in heaven this week instead of on earth?