1 Timothy 6:1-10
1: All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.
Paul addressed the attitudes and behavior of slaves toward “their own” masters. They were to regard them as worthy of honor—be respectful to them—as a witness for the Lord. A Christian slave was not to consider himself better than an unbelieving master. The unbelieving master would see Christ in his behavior and hopefully be drawn to Christ. Nor was the Christian slave to be disrespectful toward his Christian master, for his master (another believer) would benefit from the slave’s hard work. The slave was not to be resentful toward his brother but to bless him. One could apply the same principles to employer/employee relationships.
Paul said if anyone didn’t agree with, or teach, these things, or any doctrine that aligned with godliness, then he was arrogant, had no understanding, and cared more about controversial disputes and arguments. Out of this type of thinking, Paul warned, arises envy, strife, abusive language, and evil suspicions. There is constant friction among the corrupt minds which are deprived of truth. These are ones who think that godliness is simply a means of gain. They use godliness for personal benefit rather than worship and obedience to Christ.
Yet, Paul said, godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. Contentment is a place of sufficiency as the Lord supplies for our needs. There is no lack in Him, but there is a false mindset which causes one to feel either lack or greed. When worldly gain is not your goal, then you're positioned to receive great (eternal) gain. The riches of this life cannot be taken with us into the next. Yet the riches we gain through godliness are eternal—they will be with us forever.
Those who “want to” get rich fall into all sorts of traps—temptations, snares, foolish and harmful desires which bring a person to destruction. It’s the love of money (not money itself) which is a root of all evil. It’s not the only root of evil, but it is one root. Whether you have money or not doesn’t matter, the love of it is a root from which evil will grow. Paul said some had longed for it and wandered from the faith piercing themselves with many griefs. Our position in this life—our financial or employment status, our possessions or wealth—are not the end. Our goal is not to increase in all these areas by the world’s standards, but to increase in godliness and contentment, living by the Lord’s standards in this life. This is what brings great and eternal gain.
2: Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.
3: If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
3: If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
4: he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5: and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
6: But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
7: For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
8: If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
9: But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men 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.
***
Paul addressed the attitudes and behavior of slaves toward “their own” masters. They were to regard them as worthy of honor—be respectful to them—as a witness for the Lord. A Christian slave was not to consider himself better than an unbelieving master. The unbelieving master would see Christ in his behavior and hopefully be drawn to Christ. Nor was the Christian slave to be disrespectful toward his Christian master, for his master (another believer) would benefit from the slave’s hard work. The slave was not to be resentful toward his brother but to bless him. One could apply the same principles to employer/employee relationships.
Paul said if anyone didn’t agree with, or teach, these things, or any doctrine that aligned with godliness, then he was arrogant, had no understanding, and cared more about controversial disputes and arguments. Out of this type of thinking, Paul warned, arises envy, strife, abusive language, and evil suspicions. There is constant friction among the corrupt minds which are deprived of truth. These are ones who think that godliness is simply a means of gain. They use godliness for personal benefit rather than worship and obedience to Christ.
Yet, Paul said, godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. Contentment is a place of sufficiency as the Lord supplies for our needs. There is no lack in Him, but there is a false mindset which causes one to feel either lack or greed. When worldly gain is not your goal, then you're positioned to receive great (eternal) gain. The riches of this life cannot be taken with us into the next. Yet the riches we gain through godliness are eternal—they will be with us forever.
Those who “want to” get rich fall into all sorts of traps—temptations, snares, foolish and harmful desires which bring a person to destruction. It’s the love of money (not money itself) which is a root of all evil. It’s not the only root of evil, but it is one root. Whether you have money or not doesn’t matter, the love of it is a root from which evil will grow. Paul said some had longed for it and wandered from the faith piercing themselves with many griefs. Our position in this life—our financial or employment status, our possessions or wealth—are not the end. Our goal is not to increase in all these areas by the world’s standards, but to increase in godliness and contentment, living by the Lord’s standards in this life. This is what brings great and eternal gain.
Comments
Post a Comment