Theme: Great Gain
Text: 1 Timothy 6:3-10
Introduction:
Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus are known as Pastoral Letters. The first letter to Timothy is concerned about Christian worship and Church administration. Second letter challenge to endure sufferings and be bold witness till death. Letter to Titus expresses on how to choose Church leaders, how to instruct different Church groups and on Christian conduct. These letters date back to 63 to 67 AD.
6:3-5 Be Sound in Doctrines
This passage explains the struggle of a believer to identify the sound doctrine. Every preacher, every crusader and every Bible teacher wants to claim that he is RIGHT. Every denomination believes that their teaching is SOUND Doctrine. Then who is a false teacher, the false prophet and Pseudo Pastor? Then which denomination or ministry is WRONG. The very simple answer is all those persons and all those denominations which are not promoting Christ but promoting a person other than Christ and teach doctrines other than of Love of God. All those are struck with dogmas, traditions and hatred are the teachers of False doctrine.
Teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ are scattered throughout Gospels and in New Testament passages. Epistles writers mentioned the teachings and doctrines of Jesus Christ in their own context and necessities to feed the readers of their time and culture. However, these words were prompted by the Holy spirit and energized with the power of God to save, heal and warn people of all generations. The word of God does the following three things as per Psalmist in Psalm 119: makes wiser (v. 98), gives more insights (v. 99) and gives more understanding (v. 100). The main references to the Teachings of Jesus Christ are Civic responsibilities and money matters. If anyone is against teachings of Christ and the Word of God at-large, he is more interested in controversies, quarrels which leads to envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, constant friction and he is a man with the corrupted mind (V. 5). We need to grow more in love and care for others. We must be matured to forgive and go forward in faith. We must be content with what we have in our lives.
6:6-8 Be Content with what you have
God never left anyone without blessings. Everyone is conferred with appropriate gifts and grace. Two words are important Godliness (Greek: eusebeia) and contentment (Greek: autarkeia). Godliness is an outward and visible act seen by all – such as devotion, piousness and religious practices whereas the contentment is an inward expression of state of a mind, an attitude of the heart, gratitude of a person in every life situations. Be self-sufficient. So be content with food and clothing (v. 6). Can food and clothing be sufficient for us? NO. We need a car to move, we need a flat or apartment to stay safe, we need a phone to be connected, we need education for a job. ” According to Adam Clark, “it signifies a measure of secular things which is necessary for the support of life”. Paul insists with an inner attitude of contentment, makes one independent of outward circumstances, satisfied with one’s inner resources, enabling one to maintain a spiritual equilibrium in the midst of favourable as well as unfavourable circumstances (Mark Dunagan).
The Greek autarkeia refers to "sufficiency" in all things at all times, having all that you need (ref: 2 Corinthians 9:8). "content" in Philippians 4:11 says "having a sufficiency in one's self". The Lord always supplies His people with what is necessary for them”(Calvin). Being content doesn’t mean to give up on dreams and goals. John Trapp: “True piety hath true plenty, and is never without a well-contenting sufficiency, full self-sufficiency”. Expositors Commentary says: “Content is a man’s finding not only his resources in himself but being indifferent to everything else besides”. Stoic taught his followers that “a man should be sufficient unto himself for all things, and able, by the power of his own will, to resist the force of circumstances”.
According to Van Oosterzee, “Apostle Paul expresses two chief ideas, true piety of itself makes content, and that by doing so it brings great gain”. Cambridge Bible for schools and colleges says: St Paul’s ‘way to be wealthy’ is by limiting our wants and resting on the limitless sufficiency of the presence. Ellicott says: “True godliness is ever accompanied with perfect contentment” Benson adds, “Contentment is the inseparable vital companion of Piety”. Mathew Henry goes one step further and says: “all truly godly people are content”. Barnes says: “contentment refers to a state of mind; a calm and satisfied feeling; a freedom from murmuring and complaining. Gill says: True godliness is gaining, thriving, truly gracious, they come into good and happy circumstances, and possessor of solid, satisfying, durable, and unsearchable riches of the grace of God. They are heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ for heavenly inheritance. They are kings and priests to God and have an exceeding great reward.
The gain in the godliness differs from person to person. For Majority, it always means money but for few, it could be respected, could be favour with somebody, could impress people to think one as smart, could be having the authority of some kind, could have a group of followers and could be many more petty things. The religion or godliness has all these aspects (Richard T. Ritenbaugh). But what we are going to do with our properties and familiarity, honours and powers after this earthly life . Therefore, Be content and move to be rich in good deeds.
6: 9-10, 18: Be Rich in Good Deeds
People who want to get rich always fall into the trap and many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction (v. 9). Love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (v. 10). It’s a big question whether Jesus and Paul are against RICH people or they appreciated them. Is it SIN to be rich on earth? What about Abraham, Jacob, Solomon and many others?. Then, why we struggle for it day and night. According to Robert Morris in his book “Blessed Life” mentions ‘Money is like water, it can be a running stream or stagnant pool according to the attitude of a proprietor’. Stewardship is important and honored by God. One talent man was punished but the five talents man was awarded according to the parable of Jesus Christ. Money is not all about. Those who have money never lack anything and they have everything that their heart desires and mind strives for. If money is the end of everything; then, why suicidal rate of the Celebrities increase for centuries and decades. How many beautiful rich women, handsome rich men had ended their life despite having plenty of money and enormous wealth. So money is not all about.
Paul uses the Greek word 'epithumia' for desires and appetites uncontrolled and disproportionately blown up in the selfish mind (Galatians 5:16). The lust for fame, power and sex are also great tempters. The desire for money is followed by deception and ends in destruction. The root determines the fruit of a tree. The love of money determines our spirituality, our attitude, our stand in certain issues which affect our luxuries and our comforts.
Do not covet is the tenth commandment. Man could covet neighbors house, neighbors life-partner, neighbors employees, neighbors ideas, plans and philosophies and all that belongs to neighbours (Exodus 20:17). The emotional effect of coveting is sorrow, pain, remorse, guilt, restlessness, and dissatisfaction”(John W. Ritenbaugh) but be thankful, it is a state of mind and attitude. It is positive perspective, which does not focus on what one does not have, but rather values what one does have, no matter how basic.
Paul commands Timothy to be rich in Godly characters (v. 11-16) and in good deeds(v. 18). He instructs him to Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (v. 11), take hold of eternal life (v. 12), Keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 14). The true believer is always certainly rich with his small possession, if he is not desiring more below and not aspiring more above and filled with satisfaction in his heart with that small possession as a steward. This state of mind frees us from the dangers of riches, and from the temptations of extreme poverty, and gives the grace to be content (George Haydock’s CBC).
Paul writes to Titus 3:8, ‘We might be careful to maintain good works’. It comes as one of the faithful sayings of Paul. Followed by 1 Timothy 1:15 ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’, 1 Timothy 4:8-9 ‘godliness profits to all things’, 2 Timothy 2:12, ‘if we suffer, we shall also reign with him’.
Conclusion:
So let us strive for the good deeds with the contentment of what we have in our hands and in our hearts with an attestation of the Sound doctrine of Christ on the civic responsibilities and Money. AMEN.
