Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (26.5)

The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:9-21 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Pitfalls facing those motivated by greed

v9-10  There is no doubt that some Christians will be rich because of God’s blessings upon them.  Abraham was very rich, and so was David.  But there is a class of people who want to be rich, who make money their sole pursuit in life.  Paul describes these people simply as they that will be rich.  Their will is to get rich, their motive is greed.  Paul warns that such people fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts. Who will tempt them, and who lays the snare for them?  It is none other than Satan himself.  When Satan sees such people, he baits them accordingly. 

Why do people fall into temptation and snares?  It is because of their own foolish and hurtful lusts.  When Satan knows what you are lusting after, he will know how to bait you. The effect of this is to drown men in destruction and perdition. And what is the root cause of all these problems?  Paul says, the love of money is the root of all evil.  The emphasis here is not on money per se, but on the love of money.  Money itself can be a blessing; it can be used to support church ministries.  But the love of money is evil, it is greed. 

And in the covetous pursuit of it, some have erred from the faith. How come?  Because there is no money to be made by sticking faithful to the faith.  Ministers motivated by greed make the pulpit a money-making business, and such people need big crowds at the pews to entice them to part with their money. Sermon messages on the faith do not draw such crowds.  So because of the love of money, such ministers will tailor their sermons to what the crowd wants to hear.  Messages on hell, salvation, the blood of Jesus Christ, etc, are thrown out of their pulpits, and in come sermons on health, wealth and prosperity.  It is a different gospel from that of our Lord Jesus Christ, one that cannot save a sinner.

Others who are not ministers and are motivated by greed will simply quit Christianity to pursue their love of money.  Paul says that those who have erred from the faith have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. It is ironic that those will devote their life to the covetous pursuit of money find in the end that all the money in the world cannot buy them peace and happiness.  The only true peace and happiness is found in the faith.  Departing from the faith brings sorrows to such people.

Man of God

v11-12  Paul now gives some general exhortations to Timothy.  Notice that he calls Timothy man of God.  Every minister must be a man of God, for he is afterall a minister of God.  As such, a minister has to guard jealously the reputation of God.  Timothy is therefore asked to flee these things, things described above such as the love of money.  But it is not enough to just flee from such things.  Timothy is asked at the same time to pursue things that are contrary to the lusts of this world, to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Timothy is urged to do his part as a good solider of the Lord Jesus Christ - fight the good fight of faith.  This is a fight not after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual. This is a fight of faith.  All Christians are asked to fight this fight of faith.  And the outcome?  Paul says to lay hold on eternal life.  Eternal life is ours as Christians, but Paul here says to lay hold of it.  It is the crown of our reward. Eternal life is also something that Timothy hast professed a good profession before many witnesses, and he therefore lay hold on it and not go after the pursuits of worldly pleasures and lusts.

The solemn charge to Timothy

v13-16  The charge given to Timothy is this: That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This commandment relates to the whole work of his ministry, all the trust committed to him and the services expected of him as a minister of God.  Timothy is charged with maintaining his ministry spotless, unrebukeable. We have a similar responsibility as well.  Notice that this solemn charge is to last until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no doubt that the Lord will come again, but the question is will you be found faithful at his second coming?  This charge is solemn because it is given in the sight of God who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.   Two things are worth noting here.  First, ministers serve a living God, the only true God who can bring life to those who are spiritually dead in sins. 

Secondly, there is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ giving a good confession before Pontius Pilate.  This refers to what the Lord said before Pontius Pilate: My kingdom is not of this world: I am come to bear witness unto the truth (Jn 18:36-37).  This profession that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world means that ministers and Christians alike are not to pursue worldly pleasures and lusts.  Then follows a description of the attributes of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is the only Potentate.  Let no human usurp that title.  He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  All earthly powers that be are ordained of God!  He is immortal and no mortal man can see the glory of the invisible God.  And no man can approach Heaven where God dwells on his own efforts, except those whom God brings into Heaven via his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul concludes with this doxology: To whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 

Concerning the rich

v17-19  These versus are added as a postscript and it concerns instructions to those who are rich.  This is for those who are blessed by God with riches, not those who seek after riches.  Those that are rich in this world are charged not to be high-minded.  Pride is something to be guarded against, for pride is high-mindedness. It is so easy for the rich to be proud.  But Paul says that they should not trust in uncertain riches. Instead they should put their trust in the living God, and acknowledge that it is God that giveth us richly all things to enjoy.  The most ungrateful thing is to deny that our riches come from God. 

Those that are rich are also to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.  In other words, God bless us with riches so that we can in turn be a blessing to others with our riches.  Rich people too must think of another world, and lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.   Ministers are therefore to exhort the rich as well as the poor of the eternal life, and to preach the Gospel to all men regardless of their wealth.

Concluding charge and benediction

v20-21  Here is the final charge: Keep that which is committed to thy trust.    The ministry, the word, the faith.  These are all committed to our trust.  Timothy is once again told to avoid profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.  Science is useful in many ways, but when science is used to discredit God, and to deny His existence, it is to be opposed.  This includes false teachings on evolution.  The concluding benediction is: Grace be with thee. Amen.  Yes, a minister needs the grace of God in his ministry.