1 Timothy 6
McGeeCHAPTER 6THEME: Duties of officers in the church (concluded)
1 Timothy 6:1
RELATIONSHIPS OF BELIEVERS TO OTHERS"Servants"Paul is going to deal with the relationship of capital and labor. The Christian should render a full day’s work for whomever he is working. If he agrees to work until five o’clock, he should work until five o’clock. Then sometimes workers leave with their pickaxe hanging in the airthey don’t finish up. The Christian is to turn in a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. Now suppose a Christian has a Christian boss. That puts their relationship on a different basis; it brings it to a level above any kind of contract. I know of a manufacturing plant in Dallas, Texas, where the owners are Christians and many seminary students are employed. I have had the privilege of speaking to them in a forty-five minute chapel service they have and for which time the workers are paid. The spirit is marvelous there, and one time I commended the management for it. They replied, “Don’t commend us! We find that these Christian men are better workers than anybody else. It’s a two-way street. They are such wonderful employees that we don’t feel that we are giving them anything. They give so much to us.” What a wonderful relationship! You see, Christianity gets out into the workshop. It gets its hands greasy. It gets its feet down in the mud sometimesnot the mud of sin, but the mud of hard work.
1 Timothy 6:3
There are some proud men in the ministry, and they do cause trouble. Pride will always cause trouble, and it is unbecoming in a child of God. We ought to recognize that we are sinners saved by the grace of God. Pride is a constant dangerpride of place, pride of race, pride of face, and pride of grace. Some people are even proud that they’ve been saved by the grace of God! But, my friend, we Christians have plenty to be humble about. We have a very sorry and sordid background. We are sinners saved by the grace of God.
1 Timothy 6:6
It is important that the child of God find satisfaction with his position in life.
1 Timothy 6:7
This is a true axiom. As one of our American millionaires was dying, his heirs waited outside his room. When the doctor and lawyer finally came out, they eagerly asked, “How much did he leave?” And the lawyer said, “He left everything. He didn’t take anything with him.” We come into the world empty-handed, and that is the way we leave it. This is the reason a child of God ought to be using his money for the work of God. I believe that making a will is fine, but it is often much abused. As someone has rhymed it, Do your givin' While you’re livin’. Then you’re knowin' Where it’s goin’. A child of God should make sure that he is supporting the work of God in some way.
1 Timothy 6:8
Riches will not bring satisfaction.
1 Timothy 6:10
Money is not evil in itselfit is amoral. Notice it is the love of money that is a (rather than the) root of all evil.
1 Timothy 6:11
These are the virtues that a man of God should pursue.
1 Timothy 6:12
“Fight the good fight of faith.” This fight may be outward or inward, physical or spiritual. “Lay hold on eternal life.” Let me ask you a question: If you were arrested for being a Christian and were brought into court, would there be enough evidence to convict you? This is what Paul is talking about. “Lay hold on eternal life"make it clear by your life that you are a child of God.
1 Timothy 6:13
“God, who quickeneth all things” means God who gives life to all things. “Keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable” means to keep the commandments Paul had given him without stain and reproach. My friend, if you are following Christ, you will act like a child of God.
1 Timothy 6:15
“Who only hath immortality.” Jesus Christ is the only One who has been raised from the dead in a glorified body.
1 Timothy 6:17
“Charge them that are rich.” These verses are a warning to those who are rich. Ready to distribute” means ready to sympathize, ready to share. Lay hold on eternal life" means the life which is life indeed.
1 Timothy 6:20
In other words, don’t try to be an intellectual preacher or teacher or Christian. “Science falsely so called” should be translated the falsely named knowledge. Paul is speaking of the Gnostic heresy, but this can certainly be applied to all human philosophies.