1 Timothy 5

Chapter 5. The Man of GodBut you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 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. (1 Timothy 6:11-12)There is something striking and suggestive in the name here given to Timothy—“man of God.” They used to give it to the ancient prophets, but why should it not belong to every true follower of Jesus Christ? To belong to God, to be in fellowship with God, to be like God, to be serving God, and to be looking forward to spending eternity with God—surely this is enough to constitute any child of earth a man of God. Someone has defined a man of God as “God’s man doing God’s glory.” The apostle uses the expression in this epistle with reference to others than Timothy: “That the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). Human leaders have their devoted followers, ready to lay down their lives for the hero they worship. Why should not God have His men whose one business is to represent Him? A stirring message came once from a poor Kroo to the missionary who had led him to Christ years before. Finding an Englishman who was acquainted with his old teacher, he sent him this word: “Tell him that I was God’s man then, and I am God’s man still.” The epistles to Timothy give us some fine glimpses of the man of God.

A Man of Faith

A Man of Faith1. A Man of Faith This is the foundation of all Christian character, of confidence in God. The man of God must know that God is for him before he can be for God. Where shall we find sublimer confidence than in the testimony of Paul: “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12)? First, he believed in God, literally trusted in God. It is a glorious thing to simply, fully trust God, and rest without a quiver of doubt and fear, in His mighty and everlasting arms. 2. Come to Know God “I know whom I have believed.” There is a faith that comes from receiving the simple Word of God, and there is a deeper confidence that comes from closer intimacy with Him. It is of this that the Psalmist says, “Those who know your name will trust in you” (Psalms 9:10). This intimacy with God grows up through the trials and deliverances which test His faithfulness, and bind Him to our hearts by 10,000 cords of memory and love. 3. Committed Everything to God “What I have entrusted to him” (2 Timothy 1:12) literally means, “my deposit.” It is the figure of a deposit in the bank. We put our treasures where we have assurance of safety; we make our deposits where we have confidence in the stability of the bank. Paul had committed everything to one great investment. Everything that was dear to him was in the hands of Christ and bound up with His coming and the prospects of “that day.” He had kept nothing back; he had no other resources. These are the lives that God loves to honor and use. Have we thus committed ourselves and all we hold dear—spirit, soul, body, friends, fortune, life—to His hands as One we know and trust, and are we persuaded that He is able to guard us for that day? There is nothing in the compass of human experience to be compared with the value of such a confidence as this. It will keep your heart secure amid every conflict and danger, and leave your soul at leisure to make the most of life for God and your fellowmen, because your interests are safe, and your cares are all cast on Him who cares for you and who has promised that you shall “live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm” (Proverbs 1:33).

Other: Worldliness

Other-WorldlinessOne of the strongest features brought out in the contrast of our text is what might be called other-worldliness. It began with a picture of worldliness, “Men of corrupt mind,… who think that godliness is a means to financial gain” (1 Timothy 6:5). Then comes a twofold picture of the worldling. The first is a frightful description of the confirmed and utter devotee of mammon. “People who want to get rich” (1 Timothy 6:9) is the description of such men. They have set their minds on the acquisition of money at any cost; scruples have been thrown away; risks have been taken, and all sails are set for the port of wealth. The results are next described. They “fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires” (1 Timothy 6:9). Oh, the temptations, the snares, the follies and the lusts that accompany the pursuits and acquisition of wealth! But this is not all; the end is an eternal tragedy which culminates in “ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). That is the sure end of every man who sets out with the determination that he will be rich. We have no right to set our hearts upon any supreme choice but God; and covetousness, which is idolatry, makes the world its god and finds its own place at last. It is the curse of our age, and the wrecks that it has flung on the shores of time are surely enough, as they look back on us with their ghastly faces, to make us “flee from all this” (1 Timothy 6:11). But the apostle gives us a second picture of the worldling, not quite so desperate and determined, but one of tremendous peril. He proceeds to say, “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” (1 Timothy 6:10). These men have not determined to be rich at any cost, but they are hankering after it; it really has touched their hearts with its fascinating peril. They “have wandered from the faith.” Oh, the compromises of principle that men are tempted to make for the sake of position and gain! And they pierce “themselves with many griefs.” Oh, the wrecked fortunes, the ruined constitutions, the broken hearts, the backslidden lives that come from sailing too close to the mouth of the pit! Oh, men of today, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed” (Luke 12:15). “But you, man of God, flee from all this” (1 Timothy 6:11). But it is not all a matter for men alone. The women, too, have their word of warning. Listen, “[She] who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6). “They bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to” (1 Timothy 5:12-13). There is your fashionable woman for you, with her fashions, her five o’clock teas, her theater parties, her formal calls, and her wretched gabbling, gossiping waste of life and ruin of peace, reputation and home. What is it all worth when the end comes, for “we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:7-8). The spirit of other-worldliness is a spirit of simplicity in dress, in domestic life, and in all the tastes and habits of our life. But it is even more than that. It has a more valuable use for wealth than selfish aggrandizement or gain. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) The idea of this splendid passage is that a man or woman of wealth can invest his or her means in the work of God so that they shall be laid up in the coming kingdom and shall meet them with an eternal fortune there. This was what the Lord meant when He said, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). Use your earthly fortune for God, and you will find it awaiting you yonder. Surely, this is a sane and attractive sort of other-worldliness which holds out to the men and women of today a splendid ambition and a glorious and enduring prize.

Courage, Fortitude and Christian Soldiership

Courage, Fortitude and Christian SoldiershipAnother feature of the man of God so strongly emphasized in this passage is courage, fortitude and Christian soldiership. “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12), our text says. The Christian life is a fight as well as flight; we are to run away from some things, but we are to face others. “I have fought the good fight” (2 Timothy 4:7) is the apostle’s splendid testimony, as he closes his noble career. “Endure hardship… like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1). How much we need this quality of moral courage, of spiritual daring, of the faith that knows no fear. “God did not give us a spirit of timidity” (2 Timothy 1:7), is the apostle’s first mark of discernment of the Holy Spirit. The enemy will try to intimidate you if he can; and if he can make you a timid weakling, your usefulness is practically done. We need today a confidence that has no fear for itself, and dares to claim all that God has promised, and stand for all that he has commanded. The exhortation of the Apostle Peter in another epistle is of preeminent importance. “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness [virtue] [courage, author’s translation]” (2 Peter 1:5). The word means virility. The baptism of the Holy Spirit always gives holy boldness. Shame on the men and the women who are afraid to hear their own voices witnessing for Christ, and who hide their teaching when their Master’s name is dishonored in polite society by profane language, Sunday newspapers and suggestive innuendoes which scoff at His holy Word and other sacred things.

Passive Virtues

Passive VirtuesBut the man of God is characterized by the passive virtues of meekness, gentleness, patience and love. How they shine out in this picture. “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). And again, “The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone” (2 Timothy 2:24), and again, “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them” (2 Timothy 4:16).

Family Life and Duty

Family Life and DutyThe man of God is true to the claims of family life and duty. The head of every home is to provide industriously and honestly for his own household; and “if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). The ethics of Paul have no place for the religious idler or tramp. Woman also comes in for her due need of admonition and reproof. The gadabout, the busybody, the tattler, were a trouble to Paul and Timothy as well as to us today. The true matron, wife and mother who guides her house, rears her children and loves her husband, giving no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, is held up as the simple and practical ideal of the average woman, A creature not too great or good For human nature’s daily food. Perhaps the apostle’s teaching in the second chapter of First Timothy respecting feminine fashions may be difficult to harmonize with modern ideals, but the spirit of his counsels and admonitions is equally becoming to woman in every age whatever the outward form of her dress may be. “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God” (1 Timothy 2:9-10). Servants also are remembered in the apostle’s directions. “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” (1 Timothy 6:1) And if their masters are believers, the servants in turn are commanded to “not show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them” (1 Timothy 6:2). When we remember that the servant of Paul’s time was an absolute slave, how much it does add to the force of this right relationship between employers and employees in the Church of God. Christianity is the true socialism, and in contrast with its sober peace-making and heavenly principles, the conflicts of the classes and the masses in our day present a very dark picture, a very different picture of confusion and selfishness.

Prayer

PrayerPrayer is emphasized as one of the supreme duties and ministries of the man of God. “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing” (1 Timothy 2:8). The prayer which God accepts must be a prayer of faith, of love, of holiness. The apostle specifies the objects of prayer and the wide range of our intercession. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) This ministry of intercession is recognized as a real spiritual force, promoting peace, quietness, godliness and honesty, and contributing to the great end which God ever has in view, to have all men saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

The Resources

The ResourcesThere are three resources of the man of God.

1. The Faithfulness of Christ in Trial and Suffering Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13) It is not our faith, but His faithfulness that guarantees our stability. Even if we do not believe, yet He stays faithful; He cannot deny Himself. And the measure of our suffering is the measure of our glory. The further the pendulum swings downward, the loftier will be the reversion; and it will be found that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
2. The Promises Cover Both Present and Future Life The promises cover the present life as well as the life to come, for “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). God’s goodness takes in the whole circumstance of our present life. His providence is ever protecting us, and His promise is sure. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
3. Divine Deliverance in Every Extremity The man of God is provided with divine deliverance in every extremity. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18). This promise is as true for us as it was for Paul. And Paul himself seems still to say to us from the battlements of glory, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The Expectations

The ExpectationsNext come the expectations of the man of God. The blessed hope that inspired Paul’s closing hours he has bequeathed to us also, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). That will make amends for all, and in its prospect we may well say, “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). As we quoted in the beginning of this chapter, what else do we need if we can say, “I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12)? To Paul there was but one day that counted; it was “that day.” What will it matter then if we have had a stormy passage, a hard and bloody fight, a long and weary waiting, so long as we are home at last, safe at last, satisfied at last, crowned at last? Then let us Wait, only wait; God is working—trust, and only wait; Wait, and ev’ry cloud will brighten, Wait, and ev’ry load will lighten, Wait, and ev’ry wrong will righten, If you only wait.