Daily Scripture Reading 1Timothy 6:1-21

We live in a very affluent time and place in history. When you compare our abundance of food, the size of our housing, our entertainment options, and our ability to travel around the world, those of us living in the 1st world in the 21st century are the most prosperous people in the history of the world.

It is great to have that abundance, and there is nothing wrong with it, but wealth can lure us into relying on ourselves and our wealth instead of relying on God. We fall into the trap of thinking our earthly wealth guarantees our security. Today’s passage gives us the proper perspective on wealth, safety, and the future.

1Tim. 6:1 ¶ 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 slandered.

1Tim. 6:2 But those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

1Tim. 6:3 ¶ If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words—those of our Lord Jesus Christ—and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

1Tim. 6:4 he is conceited, understanding nothing but having a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions,

1Tim. 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

1Tim. 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.

1Tim. 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

This is a very important concept to grasp and live. We can’t take any of our earthly possessions with us when we die.

1Tim. 6:8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

1Tim. 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

1Tim. 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Notice what this verse does and does not say. Notice the word “love”. Paul did not claim money is the root of evil. He stated that the love of money is a root of evil. If your entire life is devoted to accumulating more and more possessions, then you are vulnerable to wandering away from the faith in pursuit of money and stuff.

1Tim. 6:11 ¶ But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness.

Think about the word “flee”. The idea of fleeing is not simply abstaining, it is moving yourself far away from the temptation.

In order to understand what we should flee from, it is necessary to understand what Paul meant by “these things”. The term “these things” includes the love of money referenced in verse 10 as well as the “morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words” found in verse 4.

In modern society, Christians are surrounded by movies, television shows, and advertisements which encourage us to pursue money and possessions. Our consumer society encourages the love of money.

For the most part, believers are not fleeing those influences. We don’t shut them out of our lives. At best we tolerate them. At worst we succumb to them and become lovers of money and possessions.

Paul also listed things we should pursue when we flee the love of money. That is helpful because it is easier to resist temptation and sin if we have something positive to pursue in place of sinful desires. Pursuing righteousness and godliness is a way to flee the love of money. If we spend our time and energy striving for what is good, then we won’t have time or energy to indulge in harmful desires.

1Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1Tim. 6:13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

1Tim. 6:14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1Tim. 6:15 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,

1Tim. 6:16 who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal might! Amen.

Verses 15 and 16 contain important truths about God.

There are many human kings and lords throughout the earth. God is King and Lord overall all other kings and lords.

God is immortal. No one can see God.

1Tim. 6:17 ¶ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

Western civilization is abundant in money and things. We have many insurance and financial products to store and protect wealth. It is tempting for us to place our trust in our possessions, savings accounts, retirement funds, and our insurance policies.

However, all earthly possessions are uncertain. Insurance companies can go out of business. Banks can fail. Government can take our wealth. God is the only One we can truly rely on.

1Tim. 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

1Tim. 6:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

There is nothing wrong with having savings accounts, retirement plans, and insurance policies. At the same time, if we indulge in all those man-made products but fail to do good works and store up treasure in heaven, then we are harming ourselves.

1Tim. 6:20 ¶ O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning aside from godless and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge—

1Tim. 6:21 which some, while professing, have gone astray from the faith. ¶ Grace be with you.

When you compare our abundance of food, the size of our housing, our entertainment options, and our ability to travel around the world, those of us living in the 1st world in the 21st century are the most prosperous people in the history of the world. Wealth can lure us into relying on ourselves instead of God, and the trap of thinking our earthly wealth guarantees our security.

However, we can’t take any of our earthly possessions with us when we die. Therefore, our lives should be dedicated to storing up treasure in heaven. We must keep God’s commandments and pursue righteousness and godliness.

To what extent do you trust your possessions instead of God?

Do you love money and things?

What do you need to do differently in your life in order to pursue godliness and righteousness?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”