1 Timothy 6
1 Timothy 6:1-21 (NKJV)
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 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.
10 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.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,
15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
At the very end of this chapter Paul instructs Timothy to “guard what was committed to your trust.”
We all have been gifts and callings that have been put in our trust, but the actual guarding of it requires us to do something with it and for it. A watering, a time investment, a growing, a care of; all these and many other ways, are how we guard what has been given to us.
This is a good reminder to me today that, just because I know I’m called doesn’t mean I will walk in that calling if I don’t ever do anything with it, or care for it.
From the Master, we’ve received honor and blessing far above anything we deserve, a grace that disallows anything about us a disqualification. As we’ve received this amazing demonstration of love, it is now in our possession to administer as well, and this is not just an option, but a requirement. Though it has come freely, sharing this same honor is now validation that we have truly received it. This means honoring those in authority over us without regard for their political or social preferences and doing so even if they’re a fellow believer, someone we’re familiar with. There will be no assumption that dishonor is acceptable in any instance. Paul indicates that this kind of thinking and teaching leads to prideful and lustful pursuits where the blessing and abundance that are ours in Christ become the focus and motivation over the much more treasured sacrifice of love. The intended purpose of our great outpouring of life in Him is to be utilized in releasing it rather than hoarding it. Doing good and shedding His love abroad will displace “profane and idle babblings and contradictions” as a way of life. Although we’ve been separated from the righteous requirements of the law to approach the throne of grace, it will be the righteousness of Christ lived out through us that confirms that we’ve actually gone there. Adhering to this command as an essential word from God’s heart will ensure our remaining in the faith and not susceptible to straying from it.