Paul's Proverbs Of Ministry

INTRO

Paul’s first letter to Timothy concludes with chapter 6, a chapter that has a military theme (1 Timothy 6:12). Paul urged Timothy to fight for the things that were important for the church in Ephesus, and he called Timothy to rise up against the false teachers and their teachings that were harming the Ephesian church. The message is still good for the church today. We need to fight for what we know to be true without backing down.

First Timothy 6 reads like a selection of Proverbs. Paul had multiple thoughts he wanted to make sure he shared with Timothy before he closed his letter.

TEACHING

1 Timothy 6:1-2: Paul gives instructions for how slaves are to treat their masters because of their relationship with God. I don’t know how to even address these verses because of the context of slavery. So, we’ll just read what the Bible says and move through this. Wiersbe interprets this for today as believers showing respect for their bosses, regardless of whether those bosses deserve that respect.¹ Therefore, those who were slaves were required to show respect to those in authority, whether they were believers or not and to work harder for their brothers in Christ than for nonbelievers.

Constable explains, “Paul urged the adoption of proper attitudes toward others that would normally make it easier to produce proper actions. Christian slaves were to ‘regard’ their masters as worthy of all ‘honor,’ if, for no other reason, than that God had placed their masters in a position of authority over them.”²

1 Timothy 6:3–10: Anyone who teaches false doctrines, who does not agree with the teachings of Christ, was conceited and had “a sick interest” in disagreements and verbal battles (vv. 3–4). Nelson’s Commentary explains: “These false teachers were more interested in theory and debate than putting the truth into practice. They had a morbid desire to argue over words.”³ Paul explained the false teachers were driven by financial gain through their teachings (v. 5). Paul described them “deprived of the truth,” meaning their arguments were useless.

In verses 6–7, Paul stresses finding contentment in Christ, not in material gain. Verse 7 refers to Job 1:21, reminding Timothy mankind is born with nothing and takes nothing with them when they die—except for the gift of eternal life through Christ. Nothing else lasts permanently. All that is necessary on earth to be content is to have essential needs met—food and clothing (v. 8) (Matthew 6:25–28, 34; Luke 12:25; John 14:27; Philippians 4:11–12). However, those who focus on gaining riches are open to temptations, traps, and foolish desires (v. 9a). This focus will plunge them into ruin and destruction (v. 9b). Is that temporary or eternal? Nelson’s Commentary explains ruin and destruction as “ruin and irretrievable loss.”⁴ It continues: “This loss may be experienced in this life, as through a wrong purpose for living, or it may be experienced in the afterlife if material desires lead a person away from Christ.”⁵

Paul explained the problem with these often-recited words: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (v. 10a). Note Paul said the love of money is a root, not the root of evil. Money is not bad, but the love, the desire, the craving of money is the problem.

1 Timothy 6:11–16: Craving money can lead people away from Christ because their attention is taken from Him to the pursuit of riches. Paul instructed Timothy, as a “man of God,” to run from the temptations and traps of money and wealth and to pursue the righteousness of God (v. 11). Paul instructed Timothy to “fight the good fight for the faith” and hold onto the things of God (v. 12). Paul told Timothy to flee from temptations (1 John 2:15–17), follow God’s righteousness (Romans 7:18–25), and fight the good fight until Christ returns (v. 14) (2 Peter 3:10–16; 1 John 2:28). Paul reminded Timothy God would make things happen in His timing because He is God (v. 15). He is sovereign, immortal, and eternal (v. 16).

1 Timothy 6:17–19: Paul told Timothy to tell those who were rich not to be arrogant about their wealth or make it most important but to focus on God instead (v. 17). Timothy was to tell them to do what is good, to be generous, and to share what God had given them (v. 18), storing up the things of God that matter rather than the things of life that do not (v. 19).

1 Timothy 6:20–21: Paul returned to Timothy personally in the last verses of the chapter. Paul encouraged him to guard what had been entrusted to him, and to guard against using irrelevant and empty speech and contradictions that came from false teachings (v. 20). Paul emphasized the false teachings were so dangerous they had already pulled people away from God. He closed with a blessing that included everyone in the church in Ephesus: “Grace be with all of you” (v. 21).

CLOSING

Paul used four words that begin with F to give Timothy steps to follow:

1. Flee from temptations
2. Follow God’s righteousness
3. Fight the good fight
4. Remain Faithful to God and His teachings.

We are to do all of this until Jesus comes back.