The following is a sermon transcript from our Sunday Service at The Rock Church in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Each week, we gather to worship, learn from God’s Word, and grow together. This transcript is provided as a free resource to encourage and equip you in your walk with Christ. While you’re welcome to read and share this content for personal use, we kindly ask that it not be redistributed or published elsewhere without prior written consent from The Rock Church.
Introduction: True vs. Temporary Riches
There are riches, and then there are true riches. Now, what’s the difference between the two?
The riches that we accumulate in this life are wealth, property, and possessions. Many live their lives in pursuit of stuff, only to be dissatisfied, wondering: At what point did all my possessions take possession of me?
The question is, how do we know when that happens? Surely riches in themselves are not a bad thing. There’s nothing sinful about having a nice house, a nice car, or a healthy bank account.
But if we don’t have these things, is God not happy with us?
The prosperity gospel preacher will sell you his version: God desires all Christians to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. The danger of this false teaching is that it lulls its followers into a false sense that if we don’t have these things, there must be something wrong with us.
- Do I have enough faith?
- Am I obedient enough to all the commands of Scripture?
God becomes a means to an end—the means to happiness. Jesus becomes the one you call out to so He will give you whatever you ask of Him.
But true riches are so much more than possessions.
The Bible speaks of the riches we have in Christ—every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. These riches go beyond the grave. They are eternal, certain, unfailing, and consistent with a God who gives good gifts to His children.
God is not stingy—He is generous and delights in blessing His people.
Illustration: The Lawn and the Christian Life
The problem is that we often have an incorrect view of riches. We are so focused on the present moment that we can’t see the future destination.
Instead of asking, How much do I have? we should ask, Lord, how much do You have of me?
Instead of praying only about our material wants, we should pray to realize more and more of every spiritual blessing we already have.
Instead of focusing on how beautiful my house and lawn are, I could focus more on helping others.
Let me tell you a quick story.
After 10 years of a terrible front lawn, I tried so many methods. Finally, this past fall, I decided to start from scratch. Over many grueling days, I dug, I raked, I ordered new topsoil. I had everything just right. I evened it, seeded it, watered it—and this past spring, oh yes, it grew into a beautiful 800-square-foot lawn.
But after all that work, I became quickly distraught. Why? Because brown patches began to spread all over my lawn. Some kind of fungus afflicted it.
Now, I could apply the principles of the prosperity gospel and wonder: Is God punishing me? God, I did all this work for You, I labored—and now it’s patchy with dead grass all over it.
But instead, it became a picture of the Christian life. We work, we labor, but there are still “brown spots” all over us. Thankfully, Jesus is the one working on it. It’s a labor of love.
While we want a quick fix, He says, I’m doing a slow, steady, gradual work in you. It’s a long work. Be patient, I will surely do it.
And one day, we will all appear before the Lord without any brown spots, without blemishes. No more need to rake, till, water, or depend on sunlight.
Big Idea: Treasuring the True Riches of Christ
So what if our focus now was on the eternal—on meditating upon the true riches we have in Christ?
Because these riches will not fade. They will never rust or break down. They are found in:
- Knowing God
- Living by faith
- Trusting in the person and work of Christ
It’s the rich deposit of the Holy Spirit alive in every believer, leading us into all truth and remaining with us today.
So here’s the big idea:
Treasuring the true riches of Christ makes for a fruitful Christian life.
And there are three key points:
- Hope in the certainty of Christ strengthens the heart and humbles the spirit.
- Generosity and good works naturally flow from a heart focused on the eternal.
- Protecting sound doctrine requires understanding what is true and what is false.
Point 1: Hope in the Certainty of Christ Strengthens the Heart and Humbles the Spirit
Let’s look at 1 Timothy 6:17:
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
Paul isn’t saying it’s sinful to be rich or to have many possessions. His concern is always with the heart—the place where sin begins.
James reminds us that sin starts with desire in the heart. Desire meets temptation, temptation becomes sin, and sin grows up into death.
Paul warns that for the rich, the dangers are false pride and false security:
- You have all you need, lacking nothing.
- You’ve worked hard, sacrificed, and become successful.
- The temptation is to look back and say, Look what I accomplished. Look how much better I am than others.
Instead of thanking God, we attribute success to ourselves. And while everyone else can see the pride, the rich man cannot.
False Pride vs. Authentic Pride
- False pride: An extreme focus on self, arrogance masking insecurity and shame, manipulating others, refusing to admit mistakes, feeling entitled.
- Authentic pride: Rejoicing in how God is working through your children, your church family, or others—giving glory to God instead of self.
God’s Word on Pride and Riches
Jeremiah 9:23–24 says:
“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me…”
The Lord delights in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.
So instead of saying, Look what I have done, we say:
- Look what the Lord is doing in my life.
- Look what the Lord is doing in others’ lives.
- Look at how the Lord has blessed me with the knowledge of His Son.
The result? Humility.
It’s the wonder of the cross—that Jesus finished the work, declared us righteous, and purchased us with His blood. Our sin is taken away, we’re buried with Christ, raised to new life, and made slaves of righteousness instead of sin.
Riches Fade, Christ Remains
Riches rise and fall. Stocks rise and fall. Currency gains and loses value. But Christ never changes—He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So Paul reminds us: build your hope not on wealth, but on the certainty of Christ.
And here’s the good news: God richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Holiness is not drudgery—it’s joy in Christ. God provides both for our needs (life) and our growth (godliness).
He richly blesses His people with both physical provision and the power of the Holy Spirit to delight in Him.
The Result
Treasuring the true riches of Christ makes us:
- Joyful instead of prideful
- Humble instead of boastful
- Confident in Christ instead of anxious about riches
So enjoy what God has given—food, drink, family, creation, possessions—but hold them loosely. Give thanks, and cling tightly to Christ, the source of true riches.
Point 2: Generosity and Good Works Flow Naturally from a Heart Focused on the Eternal
Let’s read 1 Timothy 6:18–19:
“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
Paul tells Timothy: those who are rich should do good, be generous, and share. Why? Because these works are the natural overflow of a heart fixed on eternal riches in Christ.
The Pattern of Scripture
God always gives the indicative (what is true) before the imperative (what to do).
- Indicative: We already have every spiritual blessing in Christ.
- Imperative: Now, live it out—do good, be generous, share.
When we separate the imperative from the indicative, we slip into legalism, joylessness, and striving. But when they’re held together, obedience flows from joy.
God Himself Models Generosity
- Acts 14:17 — God “did good” by giving rains, fruitful seasons, and food to satisfy our hearts.
- Acts 10:38 — Jesus “went about doing good” and healing the oppressed in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Generosity reflects God’s own heart.
What Generosity Looks Like
- Giving to those in need without expecting repayment
- Sacrificing time, money, and talents joyfully
- Responding to needs in the church and community with eagerness: “I want to serve, I want to give.”
This isn’t out of burden but out of thankfulness: Look at what the Lord has done for me—now I want to give.
Treasures in Heaven
Paul says good works and generosity store up “treasures for the future.” These are eternal treasures where moth and rust cannot destroy.
Jesus said in Mark 8:36: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
Worldly riches fade. Eternal rewards endure. Even a cup of cold water given in Jesus’ name has eternal value.
Holding Loosely to Worldly Riches
Generosity loosens our grip on possessions. It’s an act of worship. Jesus said it’s better to give than to receive, because giving shapes our hearts for eternity.
Paul encourages us: “Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
The more we give away, the more we gain spiritually.
What Is Truly Life
Paul says this generosity allows us to “take hold of what is truly life.”
- Not thrill-seeking or adventure (“you ain’t living until you skydive”).
- Not material comfort or status.
- But eternal life—real life—already begun in Christ and lasting forever.
C.S. Lewis wrote: “We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us… Like an ignorant child making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine a holiday at the sea.”
True life is eternal, sinless, joyful, and present with Christ forever. That’s what generosity points us toward.
Point 3: Protecting Sound Doctrine Requires Understanding Truth from Falsehood
Let’s read 1 Timothy 6:20–21:
“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.”
Paul charges Timothy to guard the gospel—the priceless deposit of truth God has entrusted to His people.
Guarding the Treasure of the Gospel
If someone gave you a million dollars, you’d protect it carefully—placing it in a bank or secure investment. How much more should we guard the eternal treasure of the gospel and sound doctrine?
This doesn’t mean hiding it. We proclaim and share it, but we protect it from corruption, distortion, or theft by false teachers.
The Role of Creeds and Confessions
To “guard the deposit,” we use safeguards like creeds and confessions. They aren’t Scripture but serve as guardrails to keep us from error.
They protect against:
- Prosperity preachers promising health and wealth if you “sow a seed.”
- Secret-knowledge teachers (like modern Gnostics) who claim only a few have “special revelation.”
- Legalists who add rules and works as conditions for God’s favor.
- Ascetics who deny all material things, thinking withdrawal from the world earns holiness.
- Moralists who reduce Jesus to just a teacher of good living.
All of these distortions turn the gospel into “Jesus plus something else.” But the truth is all of Christ, not Christ plus.
The Danger of Empty Knowledge
Paul warns against “irreverent babble” and so-called knowledge. This includes conspiracy theories, endless debates, pragmatism (“if it works, do it”), and chasing experiences instead of grounding faith in truth.
Even Gideon’s fleece in Judges 6 was descriptive, not prescriptive. Jesus warned: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.” We walk by faith, not by constant demands for signs.
Why Sound Doctrine Matters
Because it leads us back to Christ. The Word of God, rightly handled, points us always to Jesus. He is the living Word, transforming us from one degree of glory to another.
Sound doctrine keeps us from swerving into false hope and anchors us in eternal truth:
- Christ is for us.
- We are His beloved children.
- His promises never fail.
The Call to the Church
Paul’s charge to Timothy is ours as well: treasure the gospel, guard it, proclaim it. Shun what is empty and cling to what is eternal.
Protecting sound doctrine ensures that we—and future generations—remain grounded in the truth of Christ.
Closing Application and Prayer
Application
So what kind of life treasures the true riches of Christ?
- A life that hopes in the certainty of Christ, not the uncertainty of riches.
- A life that is humbled by God, not boastful or haughty.
- A life that is rich in good works and generosity.
- A life that is committed to protecting sound doctrine.
The church has faced decline and strength across the centuries, yet Jesus continues to build His church—and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
So today, take a moment to:
- Confess your unbelief and misplaced trust in worldly riches.
- Acknowledge your worries, fears, and idols before the Lord.
- Run to Christ, who already knows your heart, and find rest in Him.
Remember: our hope is not in changing circumstances but in Christ Himself, who is Lord of all and cares for His children.
Prayer
Gracious God, You’ve heard our confessions. You know our weakness, our misplaced trust in riches and comfort, our chasing after the passing pleasures of sin. Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and wisdom to trust You above all else. Thank You that in Christ, our sins—though many—are forgiven, and His mercy is more. Help us cling to You daily, growing in dependence, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing Reading: The Baptist Confession
Before we sing the last song, I want to read from the London Baptist Confession, Chapter 16, Paragraph 3:
“Their ability to do good works does not arise from themselves, but entirely from the Spirit of Christ to enable them to will and to do His good pleasure. Yet, in addition to the graces they have already received, they need the actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do. Therefore, there is no reason for any of them to be negligent, as if they were not required to perform any duty without a special motion of the Spirit. Instead, they ought to be diligent to stir up the grace of God that is in them.”
