1 Timothy 4-6
Secrets of Godliness,
Contentment, and Great Gain
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TMS Romans 8:32 God's Provision
Observations
The fact that God provided Jesus for us, should clue us into the degree to which He wants us to be saved and succeed in the Christian life. This verse is in the context of how much God wants us to experience His plan to bless us (for that's His purpose in creating us, and glorifying Himself -See observations on Romans 8). “Freely give” is the verbal form of grace, so it could be translated as “grace us with all” we need for fulfilling His desire that we go from forgiven, to free/sanctified, to glorified.
Application
God will give us all we need, all we need to do is ask and accept.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I'm so grateful You sent Jesus to die for my sins; thanks too, for Your willingness to make realization of Your perfect will possible by Your grace; may I not receive it in vain. Amen.
1Timothy 4-6 Secrets of Godliness, Contentment, and Great Gain
These chapters describe the behavior of believers who will be blessed when Christ returns. As in the previous chapter, there are a few verses that indicate salvation and eternal life are the result of works done in faith. These are not what secure our justification/forgiveness (which is only by faith in God's provision of Christ), but they are what secure our eternal reward/glorification. Paul warns Timothy against the things and people that might keep him from his faithful service and future reward as well. The secrets of godliness, contentment, and a secure eternal happily ever after are also revealed.
1 Timothy 4 Godliness is Doubly Profitable
A Warning against Apostasy
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.Application
How do you exercise yourself for the purpose of developing godliness in your life? If you don't already have such an exercise program in place, you can develop one from the instructions Paul gave Timothy.
Prayer
God, thanks that You guide and glorify Your godly servants; may my conscience be sensitive to Your Spirit, my life embody Your truth, and my teaching transform lives, for Your glory's sake. Amen.
1 Timothy 5 Honoring the Honorable
Reproof and Respect
1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.Honoring Elders
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,”and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
A Charge to Timothy
21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.Application
Strive to be honorable, and to honor those to whom honor is due.
Prayer
Lord thanks that You use Your people to meet the needs of Your people so Your love and care can be reflected to others; help me be honorable, as I mirror Your character. Amen.
1 Timothy 6 Rich and Riches
Serving with Honor
1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.Teach and urge these things.
Reject False Doctrines
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.Godliness with Contentment
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.Fight the Good Fight
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.A Charge to the Rich
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.Guard the Faith
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.Grace be with you.
Application
God richly provides what we need so we can richly meet the needs of others.
Prayer
God, thanks that You protect and prosper Your people so they can bring You glory though the blessing of others; help me use what You've given me to accomplish all Your intended purposes. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God gives us all things to enjoy and use to serve, bless and honor others.
Build-a-Jesus: The Lord Jesus Chris is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who alone has immortality; who dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom belongs all honor and eternal power.
Us in a nutshell: We can be content in God's provision as we seek to do what is right in His sight.
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