Perspectives of a Tentmaker
1 Timothy 6:1-10
What kind of bosses do you work for? What type of a boss do your employees think about you? As for me, I had many. One of them has a mouth as foul as a sewer. But if you get to know him, his heart is as tender as a newborn’s skin. The one before him sang in a choir. She was tough as nails but kind as a ray of sunshine. She loves baking. Brought cookies all the time. Over the last many years, I had bosses who were weird. Some should have never been. Those who made my life miserable. God used them all to develop who I am.
The title of today’s message is Perspectives of a Tentmaker. That was the apostle Paul’s occupation besides from being a pastor, missionary, ended as martyr of Christ. One of the many things which I’m most grateful for is for MPCBC to bring me on as a bivo. Short for bivocational.
A bivocational pastor is someone who has a regular job (tentmaker). Job to supplement income and support their family. Some do it out of necessity because some churches can't afford a full-time pastor. But that’s not the case with this church. Yes, I do it to support my family, help my parents, provide for my sister who is a researcher, and to also make it possible for me to continue with school. It is also a platform for me to serve others outside of the church.
I do consider it a blessing to be on both sides of the spectrum. As a pastor/student, I study the Word and handle it the best I can. I place God’s Word to take precedence in my life - to live, serve, to study and teach. It is also to test my conviction. As a worker who is also a follower of Christ, I am a type of minister for my co-workers, my superiors, and my customers. Every work I do is motivated by the gifts God has given me both here at church and at the office. I have many roles. Husband to my wife, father to my children, son to my elderly parents, brother to my siblings, yokefellow with everyone at church. I consider all as God’s purpose for my life. These many roles help me to become a better bondservant of God, an effective employee for my company, and a faithful minister for this community of believers.
Just as Paul brings a perspective as God’s instrument in both his occupation and ministry, similarly you have a calling to live out your purpose for the people you are responsible for. I enjoy being able to speak to you as one who knows what you experience on a daily basis. I enjoy the conversations about our jobs. I can speak with confidence about the challenges you face by sharing my perspectives. You too bring perspectives from a different angle depending on the demographic of your job. Together, as believers and followers of Christ, we can encourage, empathize, and edify one another. That’s the beauty of fellowship. God puts us together. There’s power.
The apostle Paul breaks away from spiritual talk to something more practical in the passage we read today. He talks about those who are under the yoke as bondservants. The NIV interprets it as slavery which is accurate because in ancient Rome and many part of the middle-east, people who were in debt worked for their borrowers to form an economy as doulos (slaves) and despotes (masters).
I am very grateful that our study of 1 Timothy has led us to these practical advices especially during this time of the year. The holidays are upon us. Many of us are taking time off and will be returning to the grind after the New Year. Paul is teaching young Timothy how to minister to believers in the church of Ephesus who are like you and me – every day ordinary people. Those who have careers, professionals, both employees and employers and most importantly, those who are in the faith.
If a boss is worthy of honor, you do not have problems pleasing them. If your boss is worthy of respect, you would not be talking at them, complaining, or gossiping about them. Respect also means valuing. You value their leadership. Now on the other hand, if the boss is not worthy of honor or respect (we have worked for many of those), still, “regard them as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and everything you have learned from the teaching of the Bible is not reviled.” Same word for blasphemed. It is a blasphemy for a Christian to disrespect their earthly masters.
TBH I have considered some bosses undeserving of respect. Still, I believe in the work I do, the contribution I make, the commitment to fulfill my responsibilities. Most of all, I stand for righteousness. My integrity represents my allegiance to the heavenly Shepherd, not my earthly supervisor. If you believe God has put you there to do a job, believe also that God can teach you important lessons. How to overcome adversities; emerge to be smarter; advance in knowledge; grow in wisdom. God wants to develop you as a leader in the future, to mentor others, to be salt and light of this world. Always think of your work as investing in God’s kingdom.
I have endured so many trials, and I have so many more stories to share with you my perspectives that God has afforded me to experience to encourage some of you who may be going through obstacles at work. Paul tells Timothy to instruct his working brothers and sisters to be servants worthy of all honor. And that’s the first point – Be Servants (who are worthy) of Honor.
Second, Be Stewards (who discern) of Godliness. (1 Tim 6:3-6)
From Monday to Friday, we are stewards of God’s Word. The Bible is our compass to guide how we work. But look out for anyone who picks apart from Scripture and twist its meaning to mean something other than what Jesus teaches. That’s how we should assess the places we work at, people we work with, and policies they make. As believers, we are to look at everything from a biblical worldview to discern what is right and wrong.
False teachers exist in the church. But false teaching are the worldly instructions – Paul warns, “If any principle is different than the ‘sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ’, they are proud to deceive yet they know nothing. They are sick (unhealthy), obsessed with disputes and arguments over words. And their intentions are visible – 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. Tell me you haven’t worked for someone who climbs the corporate ladder while violating every basic fundamental rule of moral fairness, ethics, and virtue.
Now how does Paul a minister know anything about counterfeit personality? He’s a tentmaker. Brothers and sisters, wisdom comes from being fooled. Foolishness happens from being proud. Pride is a by-product of insecurity. When we pray the Lord’s prayer “Thy kingdom come” and “my kingdom come” may sound the same but it is very different. One is putting our faith fully in God who provides everything we need. The other is putting our faith in self to acquire and accumulate security, prosperity and wealth. Paul says at the end of v5 that their godliness is a means of gain (accusative: action that is being performed). Godliness in v6 is in the nominative case (person that performs the action). Acting godly and being godly are two very different virtues. One is driven by relentless gains. The other – greater gain is contentment.
What does Christmas mean to you? What does the world want you to know about Christmas? How does culture dictate what Christmas should look like, sound like and feel like to you in order for you to consider Christmas 2024 is more successful than 2023? v5 says There is a constant friction among those who are depraved in understanding and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain! There’s a difference between Christmas Celebration (what the world does) and Celebrating Christ (what we do).
Lastly, Be Students of Virtue
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 (not just money) of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
It's weak. We are in the 21st century. I am no Bible hero like Paul nor do I want to live like one.
It’s outdated. That’s Paul’s and Timothy’s choice. Good for them. As for me, I have greater ambitions. I’ll live my life.
It’s offensive. Especially the “want to get rich part.” I’m smarter than letting my wealth ruin my life. I’m no idiot.
It’s subjective. This is only for the poor. They lack and therefore contentment is the only option. This doesn’t apply to me.
I heard something about resume virtues vs. eulogy virtues. Being on both sides of the spectrum I believe both are achievable. The résumé virtues are the ones you put on your résumé, which are the skills you bring to the marketplace. The eulogy virtues are the ones that get mentioned in the eulogy, which are deeper: who are you, in your depth, what is the nature of your relationships, are you bold, loving, dependable, consistent?
