1 Tim 6:1-10, Godliness needs to be our goal in life

• The theme
• Titus and Timothy are Pastoral letters
• These letters expound on church order not church doctrine
1. The greeting 1:1-2
• Not personal but rather formal -- emphasizes Paul's authority
2. Timothy's Mission 1:3-20
1. The task Timothy faced 1:3-11
2. Exhortations 1:12-20
3. Instructions concerning the life of the local church -- "order" (2:1-4:5)
1. The priority of prayer 2:1-7 -- It is good to pray -- we need prayer
2. The primary responsibilities (roles) of the men and women in church meetings (2:8-15)
1. The men have failed to take a spiritual leadership role
2. There is no argument on the capability of women, only where she should teach and lead
3. The qualifications for Church leaders -- Elders and Deacons 3:1-13
4. The nature of the local Church 3:14-16
5. The problem of apostasy in the Church 4:1-5
4. Instructions concerning leadership of the local Church 4:6-5:25
5. Instructions for groups within the church 6:1-19
6. Concluding charge and benediction 6:20-21


I think this section is summarizing things. I think Paul speaks to the majority (members of the church), then to teachers, then to the rich, and then to Timothy. Each section is applicable to all, but some are more applicable to others.


I.e., you might be a boss, but you also have a boss. You might not be a teacher in a class, but you do teach. You might not be rich, but compared to others, you are rich. You might not be the leader of the church, but you have a responsibility to be an example.


1 Timothy 6:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these things.


• This and other verses have been used to justify slavery in time past. There are a lot of difficulty with that argument.
• One, slavery in the Jewish system was limited in time.
• Two, the Roman system was true slavery, but as a whole all people were used the system for work.
• Three, Paul's instruction for masters completely destroys the whole essence of the server-master relationship of slavery
• Fourth, Jesus' teaching on serving was pretty clear. He was a servant to all, even though he was Master. And we are to follow his example
• We all read our own biases (our narrative) into our environment
• I enjoyed the Wednesday night discussion, but I saw a lot of bias in the view of events that comes from all people -- none of us are alone, we all suffer from cognitive dissonance (something believe to be true but turns out to be false, where you brain rewrites the narrative to fit your belief)
• Instead, we will apply this to the employer-employee relationship which is the context where this would have been better understood
• Before we do that, let's reread the end of verse 2 -- "Teach and urge these things"
• However we view verse 2's place, it still refers back to verses 1 and 2
• What are the instructions for employees?
• (Believing and non-believing boss) Treat their boss as worthy of all honor (this is the same word used for Elders who do a good job)
• (Believing boss) Must not be disrespectful to boss
• (Believing boss) Service must be just as good (if not better)
• What is the purpose or reason for instruction?
• Name of God may not be reviled
• Teaching (of God) may not be reviled
• Why would our interactions with our boss affect our witness?
• Our changed life is our best witness
• Our changed life affirms our words
• If we can't change our work attitude to our boss how can change our life? We spend more time at work than any other activity other than sleeping
• APPLICATION:
• What can we do to show respect to our boss at work?
1. Do a great job
2. Do a quality job
3. Do an on-time job (or even better, before-time)
4. Praying for your boss


1 Timothy 6:3–5 (ESV) —
3 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, 4 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, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.


• This is at least the third time Paul has addressed this issue
• 1:3-7 Paul tells Timothy to command and warn
• 4 Paul tells them what to teach
• 6:3ff Paul reminds them of what he has told them
• => A key problem in this church has been misguided teaching
• What is good teaching?
1. Agrees with sound doctrine
• Scripture interprets scripture
• The bible does not contradict itself (if you are looking for a contradiction, you will find it -- good example of cognitive dissonance)
2. Accords with godliness
• If teaching doesn't cause change, it is not good teaching
• We should always be having discussion on application
• Christians fool themselves
• Attend church but do nothing
• Don't attend church, but just pray and do nothing
• God is very clear - we must be hearers of the Word of God and Doers of the word of God
James 1:19–25 (ESV) — 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
• If you are not following these two rules, how are those teachers characterized?
• Puffed up with conceit -- when you think you don't need the word of God but can have a relationship with God without the teaching of the word
• Understands nothing -- the world does not give good wisdom. Pithy sayings are not substitute for daily intake of the word of God
• Unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels -- I think most Christians are in this boat in regard to politics
• What is the result of bad, non-biblical teaching?
• Envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction -- this is the answer our world is right now using to solve its problems -- IT WON"T WORK
• Depravity -- leads to all kind of physical and sexual sins
• Deprived in truth -- almost a hatred of the word of God (in the teachers)
• Warped sense of godliness -- you can make money talking about God
• APPLICATION:
• Not only do we need to get under teachers who teach the word; we need to be in the word ourselves for our own protection
Acts 17:11 (ESV) — 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.


1 Timothy 6:6–10 (ESV) —
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 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. 10 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.


• Verse 6 is such a beautiful verse and very easy to memorize
• In contrast to using godliness to make money, Paul turns it on his head. What is he saying?
• Godliness is becoming like God, a changed person -- a doer of the word
• Combined with contentment, being satisfied, is great gain
• The Greek word, porismos, means source of gain. There is a sense of provision which no amount of money can equal
Matthew 6:25–33 (ESV) — 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Hebrews 13:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
• NO FEAR
• We brought nothing in and we are taking nothing home
• So how are we using our money
• Yes, we should plan and save for the future
• Yes, we should use our money for the good of others
• No, we should not obsess about money
• Paul talks about contentment in the book of Philippians
Philippians 4:10–13 (ESV) — 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
• Why is contentment important?
• There is a snare out there that Satan uses to ruin our faith
• Greed is a trap. It will ruin you spiritually
• Greed feeds the flesh and it the cause of a lot of spiritual struggles
• How do you fight greed?
• You give it away
• Almost 40 years ago, I started giving to the Lord
• When I started working, I started at a least a tenth -- I did not know any better
• Every year, I would get a pay increase or promotion. But I put more proportionally into giving than into non-giving. And I did not notice it in my budget
• I also started a savings program for giving -- money that was only to be used for ministry or giving projects
• I actually got excited about giving and being part of the lives of many missionaries
• You prioritize knowing God over money
• Almost every day I sync my bank account with Quicken
• I have my quiet time before I sync my bank account or check my spending
• APPLICATION:
• What is more important in your life?
• Your time with God
• Your bank account
• Memorize
1 Timothy 6:6 (ESV) — 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,