1 Timothy 6
Bible Passage: 1 Timothy 6
At the end of this pastoral epistle to Timothy, Paul once more exhorts this young man to hold on to sound doctrine, i.e. the pure word of God.
Just as it was at the time of Timothy, today’s world is filled with various philosophies, cultures, lifestyles, etc., that often exert a subtle influence on our obedience to God’s words, and subsequently, on our Christian conduct. Simply put, we often seem to be no different from the people in the world, when it comes to our attitudes and behaviour at school, work and in society. It’s so much easier to do what everyone else does, isn’t it? But Paul exhorts us to “flee these things”.
So, how do we flee these things? How can we preserve our hearts and minds, and block off the world’s influences? How do we truly obey God’s words?
We need to be humble.
The dictionary defines to be humble as: “not considering yourself or your ideas to be as important as other people’s”.
In fact, humility equals obedience to God’s words. If we are humble, our own thoughts and preferences/ desires will naturally take a backseat and we will put God’s will above ours.
If we look at each section of this chapter from the perspective of humility, we’ll find that it links everything together:
We need to be humble in order to honour and respect our earthly masters, i.e. employers, instead of complaining about them. After all, it is God Who gives authority to whomever He wants. So, when we honour our earthly masters, we are also respecting God’s arrangement.
We need humility to be content with what we have, instead of ever pursuing after more material things.
We need humility to preserve the truth in the Bible, by relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, instead of seeking to interpret the word of God with our own human wisdom.
We also need humility to trust in the living God instead of relying on our wealth, and we need humility to give and share willingly with other people, especially those in need.
Having said that, how do we humble ourselves? Personally, I feel that I’m often lacking in many of the aforementioned aspects. But I know that prayer helps a lot. If we constantly connect to God through prayer, the Holy Spirit will sharpen our conscience and point us to our weaknesses and shortcomings, so that we can strive to improve in these areas. God’s Spirit will also remind us of His words and help us to humble ourselves. His voice will cover the voice of the world, if only we choose to remain constantly in tune with God…
…Speak, Lord, in the stillness,
While I wait on Thee;
Hushed my heart to listen,
In expectancy…
3 Comments
JoyousConcerto
This verse struck me today, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”
1 Tim 6:17
When we think of ‘the rich’, names of famous sportsmen, actors, investors and tycoons come to mind. We do not earn 6 figure salaries monthly, nor own free-hold landed properties. How are we considered rich?
Statistics have shown that if we live in a house or apartment, have clothing to wear, can afford transportation and have food on our plates for every meal, we are among the top 15 percent of the world in terms of wealth!
So we are ‘the rich’ in terms of how we live and what we can afford. What about being ‘rich’ beyond monetary wealth? Look at how rich some of us are in terms of our talents – drawing, music, science, gardening, computers, cooking. Having a healthy life, a loving supportive family, good children. Aren’t all these riches in our lives?
We are all filled with some form of riches in our lives! If we are not watchful and faithful, greed will strike. Pride overtakes and seizes us with jealousy and discontentment. Have you ever met people who are not already content with what they have, they take a further step to ensure that you don’t gain from their leftovers? Will the riches they have ever satisfy them and cause them to be happy? Sadly, some of the rich remain selfish and ungodly in their ways. Worse, instead of being an example in the faith with the riches that God has given them, they have caused the young in faith (and perhaps less rich) to fall.
We begin to forget that all these riches we have today come from God, without whom we are but dust on the earth, and without whom we will not be able to derive true happiness and contentment from having all these riches.
We know we are ‘the rich’ that the Bible mentions, and that is why all the more we have to realise that this is God’s grace for us in our lives, and we need to share this with the people around us, in order to save some soul for Him.
Spread God’s riches!
appleofHiseye
Thank you Love&Respect for sharing the definition of humility. When you put it that way, humility does encompass the good characteristics that Paul encourages Timothy to have; being content, obeying His words, relying on the Holy Spirit, preserving the truth, giving and sharing with other people. It’s hard to think of others, to think of God even, when struggling with the world. School teachers, worldly music, TV, drama, magazines, newspaper, friends, family, internet, traffic, bosses, colleagues-all this throbbing in our ears. It’s nice to take a moment in quietness and stillness to pray and read the word today.. highlighted these few verses…
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing with these we shall be content.”
PS
1 Tim 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
Contentment in heart—>Passively stand still? Don’t move? No, pursue! Run!
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness.
While we are receiving these strength from God, at the same time we are also fighting a spiritual battle with Satan : fight the good fight of faith.
Not sure why, when i read Paul’s letter to Timothy, i think of Elijah and Elisha.
Elijah was brought up in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11).
Elisha died of an illness (2 Kings 13:14).
Both were good prophets of God. Although they left this world in vastly different ways, both doubtlessly went back to God.
Paul: O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust. Do not neglect the gift that is in you.
imagine Paul wanted Timothy to have a double portion of his spirit:
Paul: Grace be with you. Amen.