A look at 1 Timothy 6: thinking straight about Jesus—and money
By Dean Collins
I suspect we would all agree with Paul’s description of the ultimate conceited person. No, Paul didn’t give us a name, and we probably should avoid the temptation to put a name and a face with this description, but we can all be warned by it. Paul says if we teach a doctrine that doesn’t agree with Jesus and his life of godliness, we are puffed up, conceited, and ignorant. And Paul didn’t stop there. A person that wants to take an opposing view of Jesus is someone who has an unhealthy appetite for quarreling about words. These folks, by quarreling about words, create envy and dissension, practice slander, and create suspicions and factions. And some do all this believing they can find financial benefit from their opinions.
It used to be that quarrels about words were best done by academics and politicians. Many theologians and preachers have participated as well. (I’ve probably lost a few points with friends in each group!) But nowadays it’s a daily practice of people everywhere.
The beauty of godliness
Earlier in Paul’s letter he described the mystery of godliness. Jesus was visible in the flesh, validated by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached across the planet, believed in by millions even billions, and taken up to glory. That’s the basic gospel story. When we choose to believe it, we consequently have chosen to live the way Jesus lived.
Paul explained we didn’t know any of this and didn’t have anything with us when we were born. And we know Paul is speaking truth when he also said we won’t be able to take anything with us when we die. Knowing this, we are free from the need to accumulate stuff for the future and should spend more time on godliness and generosity while we live our few decades on earth. By the way, it’s okay to leave some stuff for the kids and grandkids, but they can’t take it with them, either. So if we don’t show them how to be content in godly living they will be tempted to waste a lot of energy and time on accumulating stuff as well.
By the way, some of 1 Timothy 6 has been twisted terribly over the years. Money isn’t the root of all evil. It’s a root. You can probably come up with several other roots that lead to evil.
Pursuing righteousness
Part of Paul’s point I think is that our primary pursuits should have to do with righteousness, faith, love, steadfastness, and kindness. We pursue and practice these forms of godliness so that Jesus is made visible. And we don’t do these things to be seen by men or to receive any financial benefit. The payoff comes through contentment and is rewarded in eternity.
I think Paul would say the same thing to us as he did to Timothy: Guard the deposit entrusted to you; don’t turn away from faith, and grace will be with you until the end.
Your time with God’s Word
1 Timothy 6:3-21; 3:16 ESV
Photo by Joshua Oluwagbemiga on Unsplash
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