Epistles – 1 Timothy 4-6

1 Timothy 4-6 being such a practical book on Christian living really give me so much insights and thoughts that I cannot possibly cover all in this short posting. I had a hard time choosing a few to focus on. So I hope that you readers can also share your own thoughts on these practical words of the Bible.

Let’s read 1 Timothy 4-6.

Bible Passage:  1 Timothy 4-6

Are we too comfortable?

The junior youths covered the book of 1 Timothy in the recent Junior Youth Bible Seminar held in June and one point really stood out.

…exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. (4:7-8)

The encouragement was that if we are too comfortable, perhaps we should reconsider our current states. Look at the word “exercise”. Why did the Bible use the word “exercise” when talking about cultivating ourselves spiritually?

When we are exercising physically, we are probably not feeling the most comfortable. We would be perspiring, we would be gasping for air. We would be drenched in our sweat. Our muscles might be aching. The verse says to exercise ourselves toward godliness. In our pursuit of spiritual growth, can we  say that we have reached this level? Have we gone to the point of “perspiring” for godliness? Have we actually have our “muscles aching” because we were striving for godliness so much?

I do not think so. Most of us would agree that we pursue godliness within our comfort zone. When we have the time, we read the bible. In the comforts of our bed, we pray. When our schedule allows, we go for that extra midweek service. Yet, the Bible encourages us to exercise ourselves towards godliness. Do you think we have done that?

I always feel that if I am feeling comfortable, then I am not doing very right. Imagine the world as a current against us. If we are feeling comfortable, then most likely we are being carried along by the waves of the world. Instead, we should be walking against this current, no matter how tough it is, and that would probably not be a comfortable feeling at all.

I am sure we have also heard about how struggling is actually not a bad thing. Christians should always be struggling to keep the Word and do God’s will. The day that we find ourselves not struggling, we have probably already fallen prey to the wiles of the devil, unknowingly. Which is why Paul’s struggles against not doing what he knows is wrong and doing what he knows is right is not such a bad thing! At the very least, it shows that we are still struggling against the devil. And we know that we will emerge victorious at the end, because God gives us the victory.

Your example is evident to all.

Paul also always exhort Timothy to use himself as an example for the believers in Church.

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (4:15-16)

These verses seem to suggest that one’s “progress” is actually evident to all. In other words, people can see whether you have indeed grown in your faith and spirituality. To stretch this further, people can see whether we have indeed done what we preached.

I like how this encouragement from Paul to Timothy seem to tie in with this verse in 5:24-25,

Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. (5:24-25)

The first sentence talks about very obvious sins versus more concealed sins, that perhaps even the person himself do not realise that he is sinning. This is what David called “hidden or secret faults” when he prayed for God’s mercy regarding this (Psalm 19:12).

The second line suggests that when we do good, it is also seen and known by people. They cannot be hidden; eventually people will know about it!

One principle thus seems to run through these verses.

For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.  (Luke 12:2)

My point is that, whatever you do, whether in church or outside, people can see what you are doing. And more often than not, people know what is going on as well. So be always watchful of our behaviours and conduct, not just so that people cannot find fault with you, but more for the purpose of living up to our names as the children of God. If people can see for themselves our conduct, our wrongs, our good works, whether immediately or eventually, surely God sees even clearly our deeds.

We seek our own sorrows.

I would like to share on another verse which struck me.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (6:9-10)

These lovers of money have “pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

When one deviates from the path of faith that God has in mind for all His followers, just like these lovers of money have strayed from the faith in their greediness, the end result is many sorrows. And not just “many sorrows”, but sorrows that pierce right through the hearts. And not just piercing sorrows, but piercing sorrows which God never meant for us to bear, and even worse, we inflicted these upon ourselves when we choose the path we take.

I might not be a person greedy for money, but there must have been many times when I chose not to faithfully abide by the path that God has set. As I deviate from that straight, seemingly boring path, I enter into the forest to seek an adventure, only to find myself being pierced on every side by attacking arrows of sorrow. I brought this upon myself; nothing to do with God.

Remember these verses?

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:17-18).

If we had not sought after that adventure in the forest, and were contented with the path that God has set before us, we would have save ourselves much tears.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).

Let us all strive towards godliness and learn to be contented in Christ alone.