1 Timothy 6 - Why the Health and Wealth Gospel is False Teaching!

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6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

Slavery was still being practiced in Paul's day, so the question was how should believers in Christ treat their earthly masters. Though Paul did not endorse the practice of slavery, he taught slaves to respect their masters, so they would not tarnish the gospel with unbelievers. If their master was a believer, it was even more incumbent upon they treat them with respect. 

What does he mean by a "believing master"?

"Perhaps it was easy for a slave to say, “My master doesn’t know Jesus. That’s why he expects me to work so hard.” But if the master were a Christian, or became a Christian, the slave might think, “My brother shouldn’t expect me to work so hard now; he will show me Christian love, and perhaps favor me above the other slaves, because I am a Christian also.” - Guzik

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Timothy is not only to teach these things to the believers in Ephesus, but also to "insist" on them. This underscores not only the importance of the principles of the Christian faith, but importantly the application of these truths. We can know a lot about the Christian faith, but unless we are putting our beliefs into practice, our knowledge is pretty much worthless. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up!" 

Paul warned Timothy that there would be those who would infiltrate the church who would not teach in accordance with these principles. They were self centered and stirred up dissensions and quarrels over trivial matters outside of clear teaching and doctrine which came from Jesus. We see this today, as people get involved in all kind of issues unrelated to clear biblical teaching, which only lead to confusion and division. Satan loves to distract, confuse, and divide us. 

This might seem like an unnecessary warning against an obvious danger. Yet the warning was necessary, because those who misuse God’s truth don’t advertise themselves that way. They often claim to honor God’s word while in fact misusing it. - Guzik

These are the same people who use their influence to gain money and affluence. These preachers often have espoused what is called the "health and wealth gospel". Their teaching goes something like, "If you only believe and have faith you will be healed. Anyone who is not healed doesn't truly trust that God can and will heal you if you have faith!" Or, "God wants you to be wealthy and will bless you if you ask for it and believe he will give it to you!" 

 Christianity is commonly presented today on the basis of what you will gain by following Jesus: personal success and happiness, a stronger family, a more secure life. These things may be true to some degree, but we must never market the gospel as a product that will fix every life problem.

When the gospel is marketed this way, it makes followers of Jesus who are completely unprepared for tough times. After all, if the “Jesus product” isn’t working, why not try another brand? Also, this sales approach takes the focus off Jesus Himself, and puts the focus on what He will give us. Many have their hearts set on the blessings, not the One who blesses us. - Guzik

Final Charge to Timothy

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Paul closes his letter to his son in the faith, Timothy, by telling him to "flee", "fight", and to "take hold ". Timothy should flee people who are false teachers. He should have nothing to do with them. They await a very scary fate when they meet God in heaven. There is probably nothing worse than purporting to speak for God only to be deceiving others for one's own gain. For this reason Timothy should flee from them. 

He also tells him to fight the good fight of faith. Paul knew that Timothy's faith would be tested. It would not be easy, so Timothy could not back down but fight with the greatest weapon we have faith. Finally, he tells him to take hold of eternal life. We are given eternal life as a free gift, but we need to hold on to it with our dear life. We can't forget that this life is only temporary, but God has prepared an eternal home for us. It puts things in perspective when we realize that our labor grounded in faith here on earth is achieving an eternal glory that far outweighs anything in this life. 

Timothy had made his confession of faith, which started his faith journey. But these were the tools that would help him to live out that confession as a pastor and teacher. When we confess faith in Jesus, it is a gift of God. We did not choose God, but He chose us. Once we are saved by faith, we are then called to choose the life of faith each day. There will certainly be temptations and obstacles, but as we "fight the good fight of faith", we will be victorious. Just as Jesus conquered sin by his death on the cross, we will be victorious as he keep our focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith! 

Paul was an amazing mentor for Timothy. Do you have a mentor who is encouraging and urging you to fight the good fight of faith? 

Where in your life do you need to "take hold of eternal life" realizing that this life and its trials are only momentary? 

As Paul says in Philippians, "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21