1 Timothy 6 - The Love of Money Can Become a Big Problem!

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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.

Paul continues to outline for Timothy instructions on how he should lead the church at Ephesus. In this section he instructs Timothy on how to handle those in the church at Ephesus who were slaves. 

Christianity arose in a social setting where slavery was commonplace. There were some 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. Some slaves held privileged positions; other slaves were treated with great abuse. While the Bible never commanded slavery, it did permit it and regulate it. - Guzik

The bottom line as Paul teaches in other passages is that each person should maintain their station in life when they were called to be Jesus' followers. In this case, slaves were to respect their masters to be a good witness to the society around them. Even if their masters were believers, they were to respect them in the same way. In fact, they were to serve their Christian masters even better, because they were brothers in Christ. Christian slave holders should also respect their slaves for the same reason. 

The church itself was a place where slavery was destroyed. It was not uncommon for a master and a slave to go to church together, where the slave would be an elder in the church, and the master was expected to submit to the slave’s spiritual leadership! Such radical thinking was an offense to many, but glorified God and eventually destroyed slavery.

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.

As a teacher of God's Word, Paul had some strong admonitions for him on the content of his teaching. The norm for sound teaching was always to be in alignment with what Jesus taught. If people were out of line with Jesus' teaching and sound doctrine, they would be a problem for the church.

There were obviously already examples of this in the church, as Paul details all of the ways in which these false teachers had wormed their way into the church and caused trouble. They focused on controversial subjects that divided people and they got caught up in details that are not of importance to the mission and growth of the church. The division in the church caused people to not trust each other, talk behind each other's back, and all kinds of other strife. 

The other aspect of their character is linking someone's obedience to Christ with financial success. Today we call it the "health and wealth gospel". It teaches God will bless a person with health and wealth, if they follow Jesus. If they don't get these things, they somehow don't have enough faith. They need to "claim their miracle as if it is already theirs!" in order to get it. They reason that God would want his followers to be rich and have the best things in life. The problem is that nowhere does Jesus even come close to teach this. 

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.

On the other hand true godliness leads to contentment. Contentment is a true gain because it does not need more and more to be happy. Paul says in Philippians, 

"I have learned to be content in any and every situation. whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13 

Paul distinguishes between wants and needs. If we have what we need like food, a place to live, and clothing, we have what we need to survive. But those who are rich face a lot more temptation. The more money one has, the more complicated life can get. The more money you have the more one can feed the desires of the flesh, which are never satisfied. 

There is nothing inherently wrong with money. God is not against a Christian having money, but we need to be careful what we ask for. Paul says it is the "love of money" that is at the root of all evil. Like anything good in this world, God wants us to enjoy it and give thanks to God for it. Many people who have been blessed with with material wealth have joyfully and generously given to causes that advance God's kingdom. 

I believe the scripture teaches that those who are faithful with the gifts God has given them, including money, will be given more as they continue to remain faithful with it. 

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 gives a closing charge to Timothy urging him not to get caught in the affairs of the world. Instead of focusing on these worldly things, he should focus on a life characterized by faith, love, and the fruits of the Spirit. Timothy needed to remember his calling in Christ, and when he confessed Jesus as His Savior and Lord. 

There have been significant moments in my life, like my ordination service, that I will forever remember as times the Lord and the Church affirmed my calling to be a pastor of God's people. Particularly God gave me the words, "Feed my sheep". I have done my best to be faithful to my calling over the past 30 years. Though not perfect, the Lord has sustained me and help me to fulfill this calling. And he's not done yet!

Paul charges Timothy to keep these commands faithfully until Jesus returns. Paul acknowledges that no one knows when this time will come. It will happen in God's sovereign timing. 

Paul closes with giving glory to the God who called both he and Timothy to fulfill Jesus' Great Commission he gave his disciples before being taken up to heaven. Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Though it may not look like this in the world, one day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father. 

Meanwhile the greatest treasure is to those who gladly do so now! 

Though you may not be called to be a pastor like Timothy or an apostle like Paul, God has called each one of us to be faithful with the time, talents, and treasures he has entrusted to us.

Are you ready for Jesus to return at any time? What would you change in your life if you knew he was coming tomorrow, next week, next month? Why wait? Giving all you have for Jesus is the most exciting and fulfilling adventure you will ever take!