Sunday Morning Service (I Timothy 6:17-21)

I Timothy 6:17-21

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"Heavenly Economics"  •  6.19.16  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- As we conclude this First Timothy, we are aware that Paul's goal has been to clarify the goals and perameters of appropriate Christian worship.

- He has addressed this in the church by correcting abberant doctrinal slides and instructing Timothy on the selection of bishops and deacons, whose character defines their calling.

- These issues are vital to the success of the church and Paul makes it clear that this is the goal of his writing in I Timothy 3:14,15.

• I Timothy 3:14,15 : "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." : You might term these "General" or "Congregational" ideals.

- The entire church is to see itself when gathered, as the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of the truth.

- As such, within the church, there are defined "Personal" ideals that must be met. Timothy is taught how to view his relationship to certain segments of the church in chapters 4-6.

- Every section of the church is covered, from the general congregation to masters and slaves. Beginning in 6:3, Paul addresses false teachers and people with a covetous desire for riches.

- Timothy is to stand as a contrast to these men by heeding Paul's exhortation to flee those attitudes by fighting the good fight of faith and laying hold of eternal life.

- He's to consider His example, Jesus Christ, who chose to honor the Kingdom of God over His own life, giving His life unto death.

- Finally, He is to consider Christ's exaltation. Jesus is going to appear on earth again, this time as the exalted King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

- It's against this backdrop that we consider this final section of First Timothy and the Lord's warning and exhortation to the rich. Verse 17.

Text

• I Timothy 6:17 : "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." : It seems as though Paul has already addressed the rich in this book, but there is a distinction.

- Earlier verses 6-10 of this chapter, Paul dealt with those who had a desire to be rich. That is their most pressing goal in life. Here, he is addressing those that were already rich.

- Ephesus was a major banking center in the Roman world, some commentators even went so far as to call it the "Wall Street" of the Roman empire.

- The fact that Ephesus was also home to the Temple of Diana meant that "worship" money was abundant. We might consider the Vatican City of it's day.

- It follows then that there were very wealthy members within the body of Christ. Paul doesn't chide them for being wealthy. You can be a Christian and be wealthy.

- Paul has something to transmit to them from the Lord. Timothy is to command them.

- The same word that is translated "command" here is translated in 5:21 as "charge" and as "urge" in 6:13.

- In each case, there is a sense of transmitting an order or duty from the office of the Commander. These aren't suggestions and Timothy isn't to consider them as such.

- In each of these words, whether we are "charged," "urged" or "commanded," it's best to view them as our marching orders from the Lord!

- As with the other words, this is written in the present tense and the imperitive voice. "You must be consistently commanding those who are rich."

- To this point in the letter, Timothy has had instructions for the poor, as well as the middle class. Here he speaks with the rich. They all exist together as one unit before God.

- If you are in the church of God, regardless of your position on Earth, you are His servant! He has particular instructions for every economic reality.

- These particular people are abounding with material resources. That blessing comes with very difficult temptations which require biblical perspective.

- Paul intimates this with his limitation, that they are abounding in this present age. The Apostle is making sure that Timothy understands that their abundance is necessarily temporary.

- No matter how long you have your wealth, it will not transfer to your eternal station! There isn't a currency in heaven that is affected by earthly means. "If gold is used as the pavement . . ."

- What material abundance that you have is from this present age and for this present age! That has no bearing on how you relate to God or especially, how He relates to you!

- I can't think of a better example than the Rich Young Ruler, who came to Jesus thinking that he could simply procure eternal life from Jesus, the way that he bought bread!

- Jesus allowed him to walk away unsatisfied. Paul wants to make sure that the Ephesian believers avoid the same tragic pitfall.

- This is why Timothy is instructed to urge them not to be haughty or high minded. They are not to be arrogant because of their station.

- We have noted in the past that commands appear because they are needed.

- It's natural to believe that you are on top of the world and on top of God's favor list when you have abundance! Timothy has to continually remind them that this isn't the case.

- Don't be arrogant because first, you are rich in this present age. For some, that will be the best that they have because they are unfortunately very poor in spiritual things.

- That doesn't ever have to be the case, but it's been often the case that those with the most have been the least generous in spiritual activities. All of their wealth is material and temporal.

- Second, Timothy is to remind them that their riches are fleeting. Paul tells Timothy to command them not to trust, or put their confidence in uncertain riches.

- The NLT uses the word "unreliable." Consider also a few synonyms: Untrustworthy, unpredictable and undependable! Common knowledge says money is a difficult master to serve.

- When you have it, you feel invincible, untouchable, but then, a few health events can drain your resource to nothing! If your portfolio is tied up in the stock market, good luck!

- Soon, you are left feeling vulnerable and lost. This is why we aren't to put our confidence in riches, but in the living God, who is certain, and who will never fail or disappoint.

- Now, please understand at this venture that having riches doesn't deter you from being Godly or pleasing to God. Paul's point is simply not to identify yourself with riches as an end!

- Identify yourself with Christ, who is your true source of riches and understand that what you have has been gifted to you for your enjoyment! He gives us richly all things to enjoy.

- That little word "us" there speaks volumes to me. Paul was a prisoner at this time. He wasn't rich and yet, because he had Christ, he was in the same boat as the rich in Ephesus!

- He had the same privilege. He enjoyed a meal to satisfy his hunger. He had sunsets to gaze upon. He had a fresh breeze flow through his hair. Because God had Him, he had it all!

- Consequently, if you have the blessing of wealth, know for certain it was God who gave it to you for your enjoyment.

- You might retort that you were the prime mover with regard to your wealth. After all, it was your talent, your knowledge, your ideas which brought you promotion.

- Truly, if God had not given you the health and the wisdom, where would you have been? Had he not allowed certain people to meet you, where might you be today?

- All that we have comes from him. God is always presenting us with abundance simply for our enjoyment. He doesn't intend for our heads to grow with self satisfaction or to tie us up emotionally!

- He gives us all things to enjoy, that we might be blessed on the Earth. Verse 18.

• I Timothy 6:18,19 : "Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." : Verse 17 taught the rich how to think about themselves before God. Verses 18 and 19 teaches them what they should do.

- Let the rich be in the habit of doing good. Let them be always looking to do good.

- The purpose is that the rich would be rich in good works. It seems that the word here is written in a way that expresses ever increasing riches.

- On this Earth, there is a limit that will be reached in terms of what can be earned. In your lifetime, there will come a time when you will either retire or become unable to continue earning.

- That is never the case with the riches that accrue in heaven. Now, please keep in mind, that these riches in good works are not done to gain salvation. Heaven forbid!

- These good works are done from salvation! They come from a person that is already saved. These are the only kinds of good works that heaven recognizes. So let them be ready to give!

- The words speak of having a desire in readiness to be liberal in distribution. For those that are rich, let them be looking to give what they have with liberality!

- Let them follow the example that God has shown them! God has given to all of us richly to enjoy. Let the rich follow suit and see their wealth as another extension of God's graciousness!

- Timothy is to teach them to be on the lookout, to have an eagerness to distribute toward the need that they observe and to be willing to share or, as the KJV reads, "ready to communicate."

- The idea is that they are not just giving their material goods toward a person in the body without any real connection to them. They aren't to simply "throw money at problems and people!"

- The idea is that they are to share themselves! Enter into a proper godly relationship with the rest of the body! Don't be aloof, as if throwing money around is simply the end. That is the means.

- The end is to touch the need of another and be touched by your brothers and sisters in Christ! This speaks to another danger with regard to riches: Alienation.

- The rich in this world unfortunately have to consider and make distinctions regarding who really loves them and who really loves their money.

- The body of Christ is not to be that way and when a wealthy person sees their wealth as a gift from God and an extension of His care for His people, the wealthy person can be at ease.

- He can let his guard down and open his heart to those around him, to share in God's grace.

- Such people store or lay aside their treasure for future use. I've often seen the corrolation between what is expended and what is valued.

- What you save for and what you eventually invest in, receives great care and treatment when it is finally in your possession.

- When I am actively engaged in giving toward something, I find that my heart follows and it shouldn't surprise me or you! Our Lord said that this would be the truth of our condition.

• Matthew 6:19-21 : "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." : In the same way that our feelings follow our faith, our hearts will always follow our treasure! What you truly value will determine your course in life here as well as there!

- In this case, as we look to invest ourselves in the heavenlies, a foundation is being poured for the time that is about to be! This is how the rich seize onto eternal life.

- Paul had told Timothy that he was to lay hold onto eternal life by pursuing godly attributes and laying down his rights for the Kingdom.

- In the same way, the rich are laying down their rights to their own riches for the pursuit of the foundation that they are pouring in heaven!

- As I consider this, what the Spirit seems to communicate is that we are to be singleminded in our pursuit of eternal life.

- If I were falling from a cliff and two ropes suddenly appeared, I would not choose both and trust the strength of both of my hands.

- No, both of my hands would consolidate their strength into one rope, so that my strength would be focused upon one outcome.

- That is the idea of seizing onto eternal life. Let both of your hands grab with all their strength onto eternal life.

- In the years of pondering the plight of the rich young ruler, I believe this to be his achilles heel. He wanted heaven, but he wanted to keep one hand on the things of this earth!

- You may not consider yourself wealthy, even though statistically, you have greater wealth than most of the world's population, given the impoverished state of much of the globe!

- Don't let what you have on earth hinder you from having heaven! Be rich toward God. Be well established in heaven. Paul concludes this letter with one final appeal to Timothy. Verse 20.

• I Timothy 6:20,21 : " O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen." : That "O" is evocative to me. There is a yearning for Timothy, not in terms of friendship, but for him to embrace what has been laid out for him.

- Admittedly, Paul is commanding him to take on serious, eternally consequential activity!

- From what we have read of some of the people in Ephesus, there will be doubt, and he will be challenged.

- There are pages and pages of text that could be spoken here about the value of Christian responsibility over against popular response.

- We all can know what is right, but pressure may often keep us from doing what is right!

- I can imagine Paul worrying about this and yet, like all Christian people, he wanted what was spiritually best for his younger disciple.

- In that little letter, I hear sympathy, support and a sincere desire to stand beside Timothy. He knows that what he has written him will require greater courage than he may naturally possess.

- It will take all that he has to remain committed to keeping what was committed to his trust. He was to beware that nobody remove it from him. What he holds is more than valuable. It is sacred!

- What he has is a trust fund of truth that was to be held by a steward for the sake of a household. In this case, it's the household of faith and this is the sacred truth of God for His people!

- No wonder he is expected to protect it! You might find it interesting that the way to protect the sacred trust is not necessarily to do anything to it, but to keep from adding anything to it!

- Timothy is to protect it by avoiding, turning aside from profane and idle babblings. These are common, empty useless matters. Don't be in the habit of fighting about unresolvable matters.

- Avoid these things! Don't entertain them! When you see that this is the road that someone is wanting to walk down, you take a turn!

- Avoid these and the antithesis that some had wrongly called "knowledge." It is opposed to true Christian dogma. Somehow, it has been given the title for knowledge, but it's not.

- Those that engaged themselves in this have swerved from the faith. That is the danger to unresolvable scriptural conflict.

- Paul ends, knowing the challenge that Timothy faced, with a wish for God's grace to be with him. With all that we've seen, we can know that he needed it desperately!

 Conclusion

- As we conclude, can you not hear the Spirit whispering to you through Paul? "Send your wealth forward. Set your heart on that which is certain!"

- This is more than visualization. This is taking God at His Word! I can have a heavenly account that will pay dividends in eternal currency!

- That will be the case as I hold on with all my might, guarding the truth that has been deposited in me with all diligence, refusing to be distracted by non-issues.

- I have salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. What more do I need? May you have the grace to say the same!

Sunday Morning Service (I Timothy 6:11-16)

I Timothy 6:11-16

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"Vision For A Godly Life"  •  6.12.16  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Timothy has listened to Paul indict the men within the church that were straying from the doctrine that saved them and the life that brought glory to the Lord.

- The Christian life empowered by the Holy Spirit still requires dedication and focus. When others who claim to have a love for Christ stray, one begins to wonder.

- At the very least, one has to consider what they are missing out on. Maybe Timothy was beginning to struggle with this quandary. His friend and mentor Paul won't have any of it!

- How does one deal with a spiritually wayward spirit? Let us look on and learn. We will see:

I. Paul Exhortation (v.11,12)

II. Timothy's Example (v.13,14a)

III. Christ's Exaltation (v.14b-16)

Text

I. Paul Exhortation (v.11,12)

• I Timothy 6:11 : "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." : "But you, O man of God!" What a statement to make and what a compliment to receive!

- There are those who are living for prestige, spiritually or materially. That isn't to be the case with a man or woman of God. "They will act these ways, but you will be the exception."

- Paul was calling Timothy "a man of God." Could there be higher praise? What has Paul been talking about? He's been talking about men of greed. Timothy is to be a man of God!

- Timothy is a man who belongs to God, whose character is forged by God and whose life choices reflect a deep and abiding reverence for God!

- Before we move on, would you characterize yourself as a man or woman of God? Better still, does the world around you make that pronouncement?

- If there is anything worthy of our ambition, it would be that we would be known as men and women of God!

- I thank the Lord that there are many in our church who are people of God and I pray for more still! How does one become a man of God? In Timothy's case, he was already one.

- In order to continue, he must maintain and continue in certain attitudes. If we are to be people of God, we would be wise to measure our profession against these characteristics.

- First, Timothy was to "flee these things." According to the lexical definition, we are to run swiftly, to seek safety by flight.

- When desires contrary to a godly life pop up into our hearts and minds, we're not to stand and seek a fight. You and I are not strong enough to contend!

- That's why God empowers and commands us to run in the opposite direction! One cannot help but think of Joseph the slave who was daily tempted by his master's wife.

- When his refusals would no longer work, he took to his legs and ran for his spiritual life!

- Specifically, he was and we are to flee desires that are born from a covetous heart.

- He's to flee the temptation to abandon scripture for his own personal gain and to flee the idol of materialism. We are to flee from these attitudes as well.

- Paul doesn't leave much to chance, as he employs the present imperitive to strengthen this. "You are commanded to run and to continue running from these things!"

- If you believe that you can stop running, you can rest assured that these desires will catch you! Run away and run toward godly desires.

- Generally speaking, you do not eliminate cravings. You replace them with other, more healthy cravings! That is what Paul is calling Timothy to observe spiritually.

- He is to flee from the foolishness of false teaching and covetousness by pursuing righteousness, godliness, etc.

- "Pursuing" is the operative word and tense. It is a consistent, present activity. Timothy should always be in a state of fleeing from and pursuing toward.

- Yes, it begins with a single decision, but then it requires reinforcing decisions daily!

- Timothy is to follow after in such a way as to obtain a measure of the virtues seen here. He's to be the embodiment of righteousness. That refers to how he lives before people.

- He consistently acts according to the scripture. The world sees in him an example of how Christ would act if he were visibly present. He is also to pursue godliness.

- This word speaks of disciplines that God sees. Godliness is the verb for a life that is marked by the disciplines of a Christian.

- Studying, praying, and partnering with God's people are all marks of a godly life.

- He's to pursue faith. He's to seek to comprehend what his faith means as it relates to the congregation and his own soul.

- He's to pursue God's love for people, seeking always to respond to them as God responds to them. He's to bear up under the people that God assigns to him.

- He's to do all of this with gentleness or meekness. That word speaks of controlled or tamed power which is released only when absolutely necessary.

- Before we move on, I want to interject that these things are essential aspects of Christian life. There is no doubt in my mind that they should be seen in your life.

- Because Paul commands Timothy, it is rightly believed that he and therefore, we, can and must, seek after these characteristics.

- We need to ask ourselves daily if we are seeking to be right before men? Are we more godly today than we were yesterday? Are we practicing Christ's love and patience with gentleness?

- We seek them because we love Him and because He loves us, we will see these added more and more to our lives as we yield to the power of His Spirit.

• I Timothy 6:12 : "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." : Timothy is to run and to fight! He is to practice agonizing in the contest for the faith. He's to be vigilant in standing for and upholding the cause of the faith.

- The Christian life is a fight. Moreover, it's a good or proper fight of those of the faith in Christ!

- This is something that must be done aggressively and continually, as the enemy will not simply be beaten once and for all. Understand you are in a fight that doesn't end!

- Timothy is to always be at the business of standing his ground! What a word for us today! Society has never been pro-Jesus. The moral and spiritual decline carries a heavy weight against us!

- You and I, like Timothy need to be reminded that we are to engage in the battle upon whatever stage the Lord has given us!

- The agonizing uphill battle presents Timothy and every combatant the same prize: eternal life! "Timothy, you must keep fighting to lay ahold onto eternal life!"

- Are you seeing the value replacement? There were members within the body at Ephesus that had abandoned the faith for the present value of materialism.

- Timothy's was to run in the opposite direction but with the same zeal. Run after eternal life in the same way, with the same zeal, that men run after temporal riches!

- This man of God needed to take possession, to seize onto eternal life. Paul firmly commands him to do so. This was what Timothy was invited by God to do.

- This last statement is strange. Timothy had agreed to the good confession in front of many witnesses. He had believed and now lived this out before a crowd of witnesses.

- What is the good confession? Verse 13 begins to bring light to this.

II. Timothy's Example (v.13,14a)

• I Timothy 6:13-14a : "I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen." : "I urge you" reflects an agency outside of the Apostle Paul himself. Paul is transmitting this matter to him from the Lord!

- Paul says this with God as his witness. It's the God who gives life to all things. Literally, he makes alive or quickens. Consider that for a moment. Why would Paul say that here?

- Paul says this to remind Timothy that the eternal life that he has comes from the God that he lives in front of!

- It's another way to say that God owns the Christian's life and we have the joy of honoring that on a daily basis! God has given you life. Now, live the life that He has given you!

- Paul includes Christ Jesus, the One who testified to the "good confession" before Pontius Pilate. We now have the specificity we desire. Turn in your Bibles to John 18.

- On the morning of His crucifixion, Jesus stood before the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate who sought to defer his decision, but had to rule when Herod couldn't find just cause. Verse 33. 

• John 18:33-37 : "Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered him, 'Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?' Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?' Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.' Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are You a king then?' Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.'"

- What then, is the substance of the 'good confession?" Christ's Kingdom and life are not established in human governmental power, but in the will of God and in the cause of His truth!

- Consequently, when Timothy testified to the veracity of the "good confession," it would seem that he was emphasizing the preeminent priority on living for that Kingdom of God's!

- Does this not fly in the face of the false teachers, who sought their own prominence by straying from the once delivered truth?

- Does this not contradict the lifestyle choice of the person who allows their pursuit of wealth to dominate their life's goals and purposes!?

- Timothy has agreed to the same confession that Jesus did and in Christ's case, He gave His very life for it! Paul is not explaining the good confession to Timothy. He knew it!

- But Paul is saying to Timothy that even if his confession led him to have to give his life before Nero, as Christ gave up His life before Pilate, it would be worth it for the sake of the Kingdom of God!

- Like His Lord, Timothy is to keep this commandment without spot. He's to follow after the Kingdom of God without being dirtied by the world around him.

- He's not to take a momentary dip here or there. He is to remain unspotted and blameless.

- We've mentioned before that this word reflects an untouchable characteristic morally. Nobody could lay a true and serious charge against Timothy that could actually stick.

- The same was true of Jesus, who died on the basis of illegal and false testimony! Regardless of what comes, Timothy is to remain virtuous and blameless until the Lord's appearing.

- Christ's appearing, the brightness of His return, from which we get our word "epiphany," was imminent. Jesus, His example was soon to come.

III. Christ's Exaltation (v.14b-16)

• I Timothy 6:14b-16 : "which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen." : Notice that Paul expects Jesus to return and that it will happen at the time of His decision. He will show Himself visibly.

- Did you notice how Paul describes Him at His second coming? He is the blessed and only Potentate! Jesus will not return as the sacrificial lamb of God.

- He will not come in humble circumstances that could be ignored and misinterpreted by the religious elite.

- There will be no doubt at His second appearance that He is the blessed and only ruler over all of humanity! "Blessed" is the same word that is found in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

- Gone will be the "Man of Sorrows" acquainted with suffering and grief. When Jesus returns, He is marked with everlasting happiness and joy!

- Then we come to the word "Potentate" which gives us the English word "dynasty."

- In essence, Jesus Christ is the crown Prince who was always going to rule over the Father's House, in this case the totality of creation!

- In this case however, the dynasty culminates in Him. He is the Only Begotten. He is the Final Prince, who by virtue of His ever enduring life, can never be replaced!

- He will be the King over all Kings and the Lord over all Lords! There will be none above Him and in Him will be the culmination of all rulership!

- Every great and noble King will simply be a foreshadow of His greatness and nobilty. Every wonderful work will pale in comparison to the great work that He has and will do for His people!

- He will be the final King and Lord standing when He returns to take the place that has been given to Him by God the Father.

- He comes being the sole possessor of immortality. This word is better translated "deathlessness." He is without death. Death cannot touch Him or His ever again!

- He has immortality in and of Himself so that death is powerless, but neither are there powers that can affect Him. He dwells in inaccessible light!

- He will be arrayed in a way that no man can say he has ever seen and no man will have the power to see without His transforming work in the life of the believer!

- He is the One that we will honor and ascribe everlasting power to! Timothy, don't forget that this is your destiny!

 Conclusion

- As we close, if you are ever tempted to turn away, hear again Paul's exhortation: Flee and fight! Pursue godly things and remember that eternal life is better than what passes for life!

- Remember Timothy's example. Jesus stood before a Roman ruler and testified that He was willing to lay down His life in order to serve the interests of the Kingdom of God. May we do the same!

- Finally, consider Christ's exaltation. When He is revealed, finally and fully in all His glory, will you not then see that your sacrifice now was worth it? I know you and I will!

- Let us keep our eyes in the there and then, as we serve Him in the here and now!

Sunday Morning Service (I Timothy 6:1-10)

I Timothy 6:1-10

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"True RIches"  •  6.5.16  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- We are coming to the end of the book of I Timothy, but are currently near the end of a section in which Paul instructs Timothy how he is to view and treat members of the church.

- He is to treat some as family, some with honor and some with support. The immediate section before us brings Timothy's relationship within the church into final focus.

- Paul begins with what he is to teach slaves and masters. Verse 1.

Text

• I Timothy 6:1,2 : "Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things." : Roman culture, which permeated the social state of Ephesus, grew and was maintained by a vast number of slaves. Some have estimated that 25 percent of population were slaves.

- If you were a member of a conquered people group, or if you or your family fell into debt, you would become a slave. If your parents were slaves, this was your automatic lot in life.

- This was the reality in Paul's society, one which he has no interest in changing, but that he helped to change by the equality espoused in the gospel!

- In the gospel and thus in the church, there is neither bond nor free, male or female. All are one in Christ and Christ is in all equally! (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11)

- Eventually, it was the subversive gospel which brought down the oppressive state of slavery in Rome. The seeds of this societal shift began in the church!

- The relationship between a bondservant and a master faced radical gospel redefinition. In some cases, a bondservant could be a leader in his master's church!

- On Sunday, they were brothers and friends. Perhaps a slave had been entrusted with either a deacon or elder role. On Monday, they were again Master and slave.

- Paul commands the bondservants to esteem their own masters, their "despots" with all the honor that was due to them.

- These are bondservants who are "under the yoke." The phrase is indicative of hard and disagreeable labor. Not all slaves had it bad. Some were honored and greatly loved.

- But there were some who drew very difficult assignments. Their response was to view their own Masters with all reverence.

- They are to esteem their Masters in the same way that the church is to esteem it's widows and it's elders! Same word! And while it's not the same condition, there is an immediate application.

- How do you view your "Masters" or in our modern day language, employers? Do you esteem them with all honor? Note again that there is no pre-existing condition whereby honor is due.

- We may not be able to honor a person, but we must be able to honor a position!

- Paul doesn't give them or you the "out" if they are disagreeable or cantankerous. The word "count" is written in command language. They must do this and for a very good reason.

- You might think, "Yes, it's because I need the job and the paycheck that comes with it!" That's a good reason, but Paul gives us one that is far superior!

- They were to honor their masters SO that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. Draw some arrows around this text. God's reputation is at stake!

- The Name of God refers to His person and the association that a believer has with Him. He puts His Name upon you. Consequently, you represent Him when you go to work!

- You are also closely related to His doctrine, the teaching of the church. What the church believes, it is assumed, and rightly so, that it is what you believe!

- Often, you will find that unregenerate people have a faulty view of God's Word and misapply it for their purposes but are keenly aware when the Christian foregoes their agreed responsibility.

- Understand that the non-Christian will defame and speak evil of God or that which you are supposed to hold precious, His Word, when you do not hold to your end of the bargain!

- Honor your employers! And what about your believing employer? If you have a Master, honor them and be a witness. If you have a Christian Master, honor them and be a blessing!

- Timothy is to teach them not to despise them simply because they are believers. Why does Paul need to say this? Because the prevalent issue of familiarity has always applied!

- They had to be told this because of presumption. "They are a believer so I can expect them to treat me special since I am a believer!" That is how you "despise" your Christian employer!

- This is the same word that Paul uses in the 4th chapter. "Let no one despise your youth." - The YLT captures the sense when it reads, "and those having believing masters, let them not slight them, because they are brethren."

- It's easy to presume that a Christian might favor another Christian in the work place, granting exclusive favors or providing an understanding environment.

- If that happens from the employer to the employee, then so be it. Enjoy your privilege. But never seek to force that from your position as an employee!

- Presume the opposite! Presume to work harder than your non-Christian counterparts. Presume not that God has brought you there not to receive a benefit, but to be a benefit!

- Your employer, Christian or not, should receive greater and greater returns for his choice of you because you are a loyal employee that loves him and is seeking to bless him!

- Paul commands Timothy to continue teaching and exhorting these things. There are always more important and pressing spiritual matters which must take precedence over your private feelings!

- A final word before we move on. What does not apply to slaves certainly does apply to us. A slave could not change their owner or better their situation by looking for alternate employment.

- You may have come to the Lord after being in a job that compromises your ability for one reason or another to follow and honor Him!

- Until you can find alternate employment, honor your employer as unto the Lord and pray that He opens a new avenue for you. Paul moves on to another group within the church. Verse 3.

• I Timothy 6:3-5 : "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.":The church is a place for God's uniform, once delivered truth to be proclaimed.

- Therefore, if a person who was a teacher decided to teach something other than what had become the accepted norm, this was to be addressed.

- The person here is one who is presently and repeatedly teaching something "other." This isn't a person who slips in his explanation or mistakenly fails to make something clear.

- This is someone who is determined to hoist something foreign upon the people of God. That person is not to go unchecked. In fact, the next phrase implicitly describes what must take place.

- Such a person must lovingly be confronted. He is to consent, to "come near" or to "come to." There is an element of submission and agreement to the word.

- This is to be done lovingly and respectfully. Our great example of this took place in the life of Apollos, who was taken aside by Priscilla and Aquila, who explained God's word more accurately.

- This person is to agree to "wholesome" or "hygienic," uncorrupted words. You can almost hear Paul's voice raise, as he ponders this out loud.

- The only clean and uncorrupted words that this world has, emanate from Jesus Christ. You can hear the incredulity in Paul's voice when he says, "even the very words of our Lord!"

- We have in our possession, the Bible, the very Word and communcation of God. What is taught therein is the doctrine which produces a godly life pleasing to Him!

- Why in the world would we accept any substitute? When a person won't consent to these wonderful and practical considerations, you have a man that is not ignorant, but proud.

- We've looked at this word previously and noted that it was closely associated with someone enveloped in smoke! They are wrapped in a mist and cannot see clearly beyond their own confusion.

- Generally, a person enveloped in their own pride considers themselves well studied and intellectual. Paul says plainly that they know nothing!

- It sounds and feels pretty good to say that such a person knows nothing, but the better translation is that they lack any understanding. They are not rightly understanding the truth.

- I've seen this multiplied thousands of times. "This verse says this therefore this teaching must be right." Wrong. This is the very reason we study the whole Bible.

- When parts are divorced from their context, the Bible can seem to say anything that anyone wants to prove! These people seem more intelligent and seem to be people of great depth.

- Instead, Paul says, they are sick, having a morbid fascination with debate and trifling words. They love to wrangle over these things which ultimately don't matter!

- Everything that they are pursuing ends in jealousy, slander and suspicion! "I know more than you." "You aren't that great of a Christian if you don't believe this!" "I wonder if you are even saved!"

- Have you ever encountered a person like that? If your study of God makes you an expert over against your brother or sister, you have not studied well and you certainly don't understand!

- The result of a proper theological study should result in greater humility, not in greater pride! Unfortunately more rotten fruit comes from these prideful people.

- The obsess with useless wranglings of men. This is only found here and it speaks of a long and contentious discussion. Such things are foreign to God's Word.

- But that isn't where these teachers are getting their information. Their allegiance is to the minds and systems of men whose minds are ruined and worn out.

- In other places, the word speaks of a moth eaten piece of clothing. These men are deprived of the truth.

- This sounds as though they have not had the opportunity to have the truth, but the sense of the word is that they've done it to themselves!

- They have robbed themselves of their opportunity to know the truth! They have spoiled themselves! They've allowed themselves to be defrauded!

- You have to wonder why they are there in the church? They think that they know it all. They strive with everyone who will listen to them. They are frequently fighting about the most trivial points.

- And yet, they remain. They stay there because they hold to a belief that godliness is something to gain. It may mean that they felt that they could financially gain from godliness.

- Certainly, that has turned out to be a true statement among the televangelist crowd. I'm not sure that this is what Paul means exclusively, though from what we are about to read, it does apply.

- I would suggest that their experience of godliness is a proverbial feather that they can attach  to their cap, along with their great intellectual prowess!

- They have already ruled in one world. Why not simply learn to rule in this world as well? Besides, where else can you find people with a command to love everyone?

- These type of people were a part of the first century church and they have persisted to now.

- They aren't here to learn and grow in grace. They are hear to promote themselves and their self-subscribed, sub-Christian agendas! Paul commands Timothy to withdraw himself from them!

- "Whoa! Paul! Don't you think a little Pastoral help will sway them back into the right way of thinking? Don't you think a Pastor should spend all of his time trying to win this one?"

- Paul knows what others have had the misfortune of learning. These types of men have no desire for the truth and no desire to be "won."

- Our most prudent move is to move aside and stand aloof as this person walks further and further into the error that they have purchased for themselves!

- If it weren't here in the text, given as a command no less, I would find it suspect! But it's the inspired word of the Holy Spirit through Paul and exceedingly wise counsel!

• I Timothy 6:6-8 : "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." : Don't misunderstand Paul. Godliness is great gain alone, but especially when it is accompanied with contentment.

- Being in a right relationship with the Lord, allowing His Holy Spirit to express Himself through you, brings great gain by itself.

- You never have to wonder where you are because you know how you got there! You aren't worried about unexpected pregnancies or unexpected consequences of a one night stand!

- Usually, when a person allows this to happen humbly, even the most ardent Christian hater has to be thankful for such a gracious person! That is great gain alone!

- And then, for that person to be content. They see what they have as being sufficient. They don't have an external need for other things. They aren't striving to force new circumstances

˚ "It was a favorite Stoic word, expressing the doctrine of that sect that a man should be sufficient unto himself for all things, and able, by the power of his own will, to resist the force of circumstances."     Marvin Vincent

- We came into this world without anything and we lack the power to leave this world in any other condition. Every one of our children came into this world naked.

- Every one will go out with only the most modest of attire, but not with anything else! What a fools errand then to amass material riches for yourself only to leave them to another!

- In Luke 12, Jesus tells the story of a man who had collected so many material possessions that he had to tear down his storage barns in order to erect even larger barns.

• Luke 12:20 : "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'" : Be grateful for your necessities, food and clothing. View everything else as extra!

• I Timothy 6:9,10 : "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." : Those that were content with their necessities received great gain. Ironically, those that sought great gain would never have it.

- These people are characterized by a consuming desire for ever increasing wealth. Such people are headed for an overwhelming and sudden fall into a trap of adversity!

- It's fascinating. They are seeking freedom, but are experiencing a loss of freedom instead! Contentment is true riches for the believer.

- Paul pictures those with an unhealthy preoccupation with riches, as those who are indeed troubled and trapped.

- He continues telling Timothy that their way is fraught with many foolish, senseless and thoughtless, ultimately hurtful endeavors.

- We chafe at the truth that real change takes dedication, focus, denial of self and God's will!

- How many ideas and products have you seen that were wrapped in promises of gold, which turned out to be some new variation of the same old ponzi scheme?

- How may bright eyed hopefuls have stood waiting for the product that would change the world and their destiny, only to discover that Rome and anything like it, wasn't built in a day!?

- Some have experienced this to a degree, but others have lost all that they owned chasing a an ever elusive dream. Ultimately, these people are destined to sink.

- When a Greek speaker heard this, it sounded more like this: "They are sinking and will continue to be sinking!" They are sinking toward ruin and waste!

- This would speak first of ruin in this life. Penniless and poor, they have given all they have for something that didn't pan out. The second word is worse, as in their pursuit they neglected their soul!

- How sad it is for a person to seek, not to gain, but to seek the whole world, only to lose their soul in the process!

- Those involved in such pursuits always think that there is time and when they have appropriate amounts of disposible income or time, then they will honor God!

- How incredibly deceived such a person can be! Do you see why the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil?

- Money itself, properly viewed, is a blessing of God's provision in our life. When there is a love for it in our life, there is a root that is formed.

- What comes from that is not one kind of evil, but all kinds of evil! What horrifying things have been done before God for the sake of money? Only God knows all, but what we know is hideous!

- Paul is talking to the church! He is talking about some members of God's family, whose love for God had been supplanted by a love for money! May it not be said or thought of you!

- Some were already being led astray from the faith toward their greediness. They are reaching out and grabbing for that elusive target, which unbeknownst to them, will remain elusive!

- He says that they have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. They have impaled themselves upon the sorrow of a wasted life!

 Conclusion

- According to this passage, Paul taught Timothy to teach and exhort people along three principle lines.

- First, Honor your employment. Consider your witness and your contribution. A non-Christian should desire to know more about Christ

- Second, Honor the Lord's Word. Be thankful that it's once delivered, timeless truth that any simple person endowed with the Holy Spirit can understand!

- Finally, Honor the life that God has given you. Be grateful for what you have. Be thankful for who you are in Christ. When these are your commitments, you are the richest you will ever be!