1 Timothy 6
September 27
Reading: 1 Timothy 6
1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time-- he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
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. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 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.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.
1 Timothy 6:1-2 continues a main line of instruction of this letter to Timothy, that all people should seek to honor God peacefully in godliness wherever they may be, man or woman. (1 Timothy 1:5, 2:2) These principles are now applied to slaves.
This is difficult for us today because slavery can be so horrible. It is important to realize that slavery in the ancient Roman world was significantly different than the racial chattel slavery of the American south before 1865. In the Roman world you became a slave because you were taken in battle or could not pay your debts. Moreover, slavery was usually not a permanent condition, nor were your children slaves. Slavery was more like signing an extended work contract than being owned forever. Nor was it racial. Still, it was often not pleasant.
Paul is telling Christian slaves not to use their newfound spiritual freedom as a pretext for acting rebellious. On the contrary, as a slave, they are to be a witness for Jesus.
Verses 3-16 are really important for a person to read over and over and even memorize parts of it. We often think that life is about making progress, getting ahead, career advancement, making money, and upping our standard of living. Paul is telling us that this is a lie. Life is not about all that. It is easy to fall for that lie because nearly everyone believes it, even in the church. It is still a lie.
Really, “godliness is great gain.” (vs. 6) Life is actually about “fighting the fight of faith and laying hold of eternal life.” (vs. 12) We are simply getting ready for the arrival of the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” (vss. 14-16) Worldly success and money can be a hinderance for what is truly the purpose of life.
This teaching is then applied to those who are rich in verses 17-19. Instead “be rich in good works.” Generosity is the best antidote for greed.
What are you living for? Money? You need to get out of that lie. It will ruin you.