Well, I should get the last chapter of 1 Timothy done so we can get on to the next book. The students asked for us to go through Philippians next, so it should be a good few weeks of study.
This study we look at 1 Timothy 6:3-21:
"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, 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, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 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. 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. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 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. 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, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 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. 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. 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. 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." (1 Timothy 6:2-21 ESV)
We have already discussed up to verse 2 in last week, so letup look at the rest of the chapter. In verse 3 Paul once again reminds Timothy to watch out for people who teach a different doctrine, calling those who do so "Puffed up with conceit and understand(ing) nothing." Paul also states that such a person, "Has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels." Paul is clear: those that preach a different doctrine are clearly doing it for their own egos and to cause division of the church. The Gospel of Jesus is a message of Love, which brings unity and compassion, and that is what we should preach.
At the end of verse 5, Paul says that these teachers—those teaching differing doctrine—also believe that "godliness is a means of gain." Meaning they believe the reason we act "godly" is to obtain some type of reward, that is what drives them: maybe the praise of men, or money, or some other benefit. But Paul tells Timothy that "there is great gain in godliness with contentment." Godliness is not a means to an end, but part of the process of being made perfect in Christ. We do not decide to become godly because of what we can gain from it, but because it is gain. Paul further takes on the importance of being content through verses 7 & 8, reminding us that we did not bring anything into this world, we can take nothing with us when we leave, so be happy that you have life, food, and clothing. The rest is all blessing from God. Verses 9 & 10 talk of the struggle of the rich, or those desiring to be rich, for they put their trust in their wealth and are snared by it. It is a proven fact amongst even the unchurched: those who are content with what they have now are happier than those who believe they need just a little more. For what is the price of happiness and joy? And what net worth can we say "Now I am satisfied"? $10,000; $500,000; $2M; $1B? If you are not satisfied with where you are now, if you do not see God's provision in what "little" you currently have, than you will not see it when you have much, the world will never be enough. So chose to be content with what you have, for that is the secret of happiness. Trust God to provide, if you trust money than you begin to pursue it and will wander from faith in pursue of monetary security.
In verse 11 Paul encourages Timothy to "flee these things (what things? Dissension, wrong doctrine, conceit, pursuit of wealth). Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (These are the things that have true lasting value, both in this life and the next.). Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life..." It is a fight, this life of faith we have chosen. We must chose everyday to stand in the assurance that God is taking us onto glory, that He has, is, and will provide us with everything we need. It is a fight with our flesh to be content with what we have, to not put our trust in things that will fail (money, etc.) and to trust that everything on this earth is fleeting and we must stand on the things which last. It is a fight to set our focus on eternal life, to take hold of it, grasp it in our hands and never let it go.
At the end of verse 12 Paul reminds Timothy of Timothy's confession of faith and to keep the command "free from reproach" until the day Christ returns in glory, which will occur at the time ordained. On that day, Christ will come and fully reveal himself to be the one true and only authority on earth: "the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who alone has immortality (Christ holds full authority over life and death), who dwells in unapproachable light (Christ's Glory is so magnificent, so beyond, that no one can approach him), whom no one has every seen or can see (except through our faith and trust in him have we been made worthy of approaching his throne). To him (to this Christ, to our Lord and saviour, to the Magnificent One) be Honour and eternal dominion. Amen!"
I get fire up just reading that, and I am sure Paul is stirred up as well, but he must finish his instruction: he turns back to the wealthy for he had left things a bit depressing for them, telling them that they are in danger of losing their faith because of their love of money. So in verse 17 he encourages the wealthy of Timothy's church by encouraging them to cease putting their trust in earthly wealth and build up heavenly wealth through good works. For worldly riches are uncertain, especially in our time when much of our wealth is based on arbitrary values. One company can make a bad business decision, or the value of oil drops and suddenly a persons wealth is naught. Thus we should put deposits in our heavenly accounts: do good works, be generous and ready to share. Thus we store up heavenly treasure where there is always a good return, and the value never drops. By doing so we are able to take hold of "that which is truly life."
Verse 20 & 21 is a final exhortation to Timothy to "guard the deposit entrusted to you (the gifting and anointing that God has given you). Avoid irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called 'knowledge,' for by professing it some have swerved from the faith." I find this last verse interesting, some translation use "science" instead of "knowledge." Recently there has been a lot of debates between the scientific community and the Christian community, much revolving around evolution and the origin of man. Perhaps there were similar types of debates during the time of Timothy and Paul, I have not done enough research to say either way. But what I find interesting is that Paul specifically tells Timothy to avoid these discussions for nothing can be gained from them. I would say that this instruction should hold true for us as well: for how much can a teach a person about the love of Christ if I am caught up in trying to prove his basic beliefs wrong. Now there is an appropriate time and place for use to argue the origins of the world, but I would risk saying it is not nearly as important as we make it out to be. Many of the people we argue with generally just want to argue, and if you can go beyond the babble and contention and touch them with Christ's love you will find all those arguments are just vain contradictions.
To sum up 1 Timothy I would say this: Preach sound doctrine, avoid dissections and serve the church with love. That is truly what we are called to do as minister of the Gospel.
Thank you so much for staying with me through this study, I pray that the things that are of me would fall away and that which is of God would grow into fruition in your life.
God bless,
Tyler
A Boy Wonder.
Labels: 1 Timothy, Bible Teaching, VABC