1 Timothy 6 -- Some Great Final Points

My commentary picked up something as Paul warned timothy about false teachers -  the dangers of covetousness:

                “Wealth does not bring contentment.

                Wealth is not lasting.

                Our basic needs are easily met.

                The desire for wealth leads to sin.”

Paul also told Timothy to take care of himself, giving him “four admonitions that, if obeyed, would assure him success in his ministry and a continued testimony as ‘a man of God’:

                Timothy was to separate himself (flee) from the sins of the false teachers.

                Separation without positive growth becomes isolation.  We must cultivate these graces of                           the Spirit in our lives, or else we will be known only for what we oppose rather than for                       what we propose.

                Paul told Timothy to keep on fighting – military orders to guard the commandment and                             obey it.

Paul told Timothy to be faithful.  God had committed the truth to Paul, and Paul to Timothy.  It was Timothy’s responsibility to guard the deposit and then pass it along to others who would, in turn, continue to pass it on.”

“Paul’s final sentence was not for Timothy alone, because the pronoun is plural.  ‘Grace be with all of you.’  Paul had the entire church in mind when he wrote this letter, and certainly all of the elders, not just Timothy.  As leader of the church, Timothy needed to heed the word of the apostle, but all of his church members had a responsibility to hear and obey as well.  And so do we today.”

Father, thank You for entrusting us with this same truth.  Help us to pass it along.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford