1 Timothy, Chapter 6
Instructions to Those Who Minister
In this chapter Paul is going to give a full-throated rebuke of rich people and declare that Jesus was a socialist! Wait…that’s not what he says… But that’s definitely the way it gets misconstrued by a lot of non-Christians; and unfortunately by a lot of progressive pastors as well. Remember when Paul started the letter off warning against false teaching? So let’s see what Paul actually had to say on the topic of the rich. Also, for some older reading, I’ve actually written about “Buddy Jesus1,” Trans Jesus2, and Socialist Jesus3 previously, if you’re interested in reading my thoughts on some of these false teachings.
1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. 2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers or sisters, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. 3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a sick craving for controversial questions and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
I will start by saying that I break this opening section of Chapter 6 down a little bit differently than the NASB or NIV do. Both of them put verses 1-2 together, then put verses 3-10 together, but I see 1-5 being more directly connected in the way it is worded and in the Greek wording used for truth (in verse 5) and Paul’s warning against false teachings of how both slave and master should behave toward one another, while verse 6 going forward is where we get in to money and the rich members of the church and community.
So, truth is a common theme in Paul’s letters, and he talks about it in two different ways. One being The Truth of the life and message of Jesus. The other, which is the Greek form used in verse 5, being the way of a Christian life and warning against false and corrupt teachings that “christians” of the time would use for their own personal gain as the church was growing both in number and influence. And Paul is giving this message because he understands the importance of setting a good example in the community. In Ephesians Paul talks about Christian masters and instructs them not to be threatening toward their slaves, but to treat them with goodwill. Just as he instructs both in Ephesians, Corinthians, and here in Timothy that they should be obedient to the masters. This is similar to when Paul has instructed new Christians to pray for and be obedient to governors and laws. It is not acknowledging another authority over that of God, but rather to present ourselves, as Christians, as upstanding members of the community who are not trying to cause a fuss. Given persecutions in that time period, this is probably sound advice! Paul also encourages Christians not to sell themselves in to slavery if it can be avoided, and if they are already in slavery to try to find a way to freedom. He does not explicitly tell the masters to release their slaves…you have to understand that in that period of time it likely wouldn’t have legally been so simple as to just say “ok, you’re free.” Paul did not want the church to be a disruption of the commerce and culture of Ephesus. He wanted it to be something that showed a better example of living in that culture with Christ’s love and message as the primary focus, rather than exploitation for monetary gain. Which brings us to the next section…
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The first lesson here is contentment, which is criminal that that part always gets left out or underplayed in this section. Godliness and being content with what He has given you is a great gain! That’s powerful stuff. How many people completely ruin their lives out of a lack of contentment. Always trying to “keep up with the Joneses” and chase after more and more and bigger and better…and for what? We have brought nothing into the world and we can’t take anything out of it! Notice moving forward how these verses are worded…”those who want to get rich” fall in to a trap. The destructive and foolish desires that lead to ruin don’t come from being rich, it comes from the desire. Because that desire for wealth is placed above the desire to love, live for, and serve God first and foremost. “For the love of money” is a root of all sorts of evil, not money itself. This is so often misquoted as “money is the root of all evil” which completely misses the point of what Paul is saying here. Money cannot be evil anymore than a hammer or a knife or even a gun can be evil. They are all completely inanimate tools that are only as good or evil as the heart and mind of the hands they are in. The longing to be rich and the love of money are the things that drive people to abandon their faith and become an affliction, not only on others but, on themselves. How often do we look at those who are, objectively, truly greedy and selfish people, who have become absorbed by the pursuit of being rich; and they just look miserable? On the other hand, how many times can you look at other people who are considered wealthy by all standards who look sincerely happy and fulfilled? What’s the common element with those who still have life in their eyes and don’t look like a comic book villain? They don’t seem to be in love with the money or place pursuit of that wealth as their defining thing. They usually have rich lives and give generously and try to use the money to do something that will make a mark on the world, not just that will make a bigger mark in their portfolio. Even with people who don’t fall in the upper 1%, you can see a lot of the same things… the ones who pursue wealth and love the idea of it, and the ones who utilize it as a means to be something more than just “rich” people, but to have fulfilled lives. Think about how you view the pursuit of wealth… I know for me, when I was younger and chasing money and that’s what I thought was important…I was miserable. And then I stopped doing that. And it was hard, Lord knows it was hard…my wife and I caught some lucky breaks here and there that kept us afloat. But we weren’t pursuing wealth or chasing money anymore. We were building a happy, fulfilled life together and for our children and going to church and serving God and our community. And then, everything else just sorta worked itself out! …but that love of money drove me to a dark place in life for a long time… as Paul and Timothy both saw it do to many in the church and community of Ephesus.
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I direct you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without fault or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
Read this part out loud like a black Baptist Gospel preacher who has the whole congregation on their feet and tell me you don’t get goosebumps! I don’t know that there’s anything for me to really explain or add to this section. Especially following up my personal dark places in the love and pursuit of money and coming out of those a much different man that I had been 10+ years ago. Or if you want to listen to me try to read it enthusiastically…well here’s this.
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Again, Paul doesn’t rebuke or talk down to those who are rich. Rather, he calls on them to place their faith and trust in God and the riches of heaven that he promises us. To be generous and do good works. To build up a treasure of a strong foundation of Godly living and faith so that they will have a fulfilled life. “Money can’t buy happiness” is a quote I absolutely hate…because the response is often something like “yeah but it can buy a boat and that would make me happy.” Which brings me to one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite TV shows, Don Draper in Mad Men saying "What is happiness? It’s a moment before you need more happiness.” But the fulfillment of a good life? That’s something you can’t ever fill with anything that can just be bought, and that’s not a moment that will pass while you wait for the next thing.
20 Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thereby have gone astray from the faith.
And with that we close out the 1st letter to Timothy. Reemphasizing the need to stand firmly against false teachings, not to get bogged down in “empty chatter” and senseless arguments with those who are insincere and manipulative. And a punctuation on that for those of us in the modern Christian church, as we need to be every bit as diligent as Timothy had to be then to stand up to bad doctrine, twisted theology, and blatantly wrong teaching that comes from a broken world looking to drag all of us down into that brokenness with it.
Next week will be a little break from Bible studies as I recount having lunch with a friend recently. Then the first Sunday of December we’ll start diving in to 2nd Timothy.
