DIGGING DEEP NO. 1130 April 7, 2026
1 TIMOTHY (PART 8)
ORDERS FROM ABOVE
1Tim.6: 1- 10.
This chapter continues Paul’s advice to Timothy on ministering to the various kinds of believers in the church.
Christian Servants – Some historians have estimated that half of the population of the Roman Empire was composed of servants. Many of these people were educated and cultured, but legally they were not considered persons at all. The gospel message of salvation and freedom in Christ appealed to the servants, and many of them became believers. When servants were able to get away from their household duties, they would fellowship in local assemblies where being a servant was not a handicap Gal.3: 28. But there was a problem; some servants used their newfound freedom in Christ as an excuse to disobey their masters. They needed to learn that their spiritual freedom in Christ did not alter their social position, even though they were accepted graciously into the fellowship of the church.
Servants with unbelieving masters – Vs.1. Christian masters are to treat their servants with love and respect Col.4: 1; Philem.1: 16. For a servant to rebel against an unsaved master would bring disgrace on the gospel Rom.2: 24.
Servants with believing masters – The danger here is that a Christian servant might take advantage of his master because both are saved. “My master is my brother!” a servant might argue; he has no right to tell me what to do. This attitude would create serious problems both in the homes and in the church.
Paul gave three reasons why Christian servants should show respect for their believing masters and not take advantage of them. The most obvious reason is that their masters are Christians (faithful = believing). How can one believer take advantage of another believer? Second, their masters are beloved. Love does not rebel or look for opportunities to escape responsibility.
Finally, both master and servant benefit from obedience. There is a mutual blessing when Christians serve each other in the will of God.
False Teachers – 1Tim.6: 3- 10. Paul had opened this letter with warnings about false teachers 1Tim.1: 3; and had even refuted some of their dangerous teachings 1Tim.4: 1. The spiritual leaders in the local church must constantly oversee what is being taught because it is easy for false doctrines to slip in Acts. 20: 28- 32.
The mark of these false teachers – Vs. 3- 5. The first mark is that they refused to adhere to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching 1Tim.6: 3. This teaching is Godly and it promotes godliness. Isaiah’s first test of any teacher was “To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Is.8: 20. It is important that a church hold fast the form of sound (healthy) words 2Tim.1: 13.
The second mark is the teacher’s own attitude. Instead of being humble, a false teacher is proud, yet he has nothing to be proud about because he does not know anything 1Tim.6: 4; 1Tim.1: 7. The tragedy of this is that the people are robbed of the truth 1Tim.6: 5.
The motive for their teaching – Vs.5- 10. These false teachers supposed “that godliness is a way of financial gain. They used their religious profession as a means to make money. What they did was not a true ministry; it was just a religious business. Paul was always careful not to use his calling and ministry as a means of making money. He even refused support from the Corinthian church so that no one could accuse him of greed 1Cor.9: 15- 19. He never used his preaching as “a cloak of covetousness.” 1Thes.2: 5. What a tragedy it is today to see the religious racketeers who prey on gullible people, promising them help while taking away their money. To warn Timothy and us about the dangers of covetousness, Paul shared four facts.
(1) Wealth does not bring contentment vs6. The word contentment means “an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances. Phil.4: 11.
(2) True contentment comes from godliness in the heart, not wealth in the hand. A person who depends on material things for peace and assurance will never be satisfied, for material things have a way of losing their appeal.
(3) Wealth is not lasting Vs.7. Jb.1: 21. When someone’s spirit leaves his body at death, it can take nothing with it, because when that person came into the world at birth, he brought nothing with him. We always know the answer to the question “How much did he leave?” Everything. Our basic needs are easily met Vs.8 – Food and covering (clothing and shelter) are basic needs; If we lose them, we lose the ability to secure other things.
(4) The desire for wealth leads to sin Vs.9- 10. This passage describes a person who has to have more and more and in order to be happy and feel successful. But riches are a trap; they lead to bondage, not freedom. Instead of giving satisfaction, riches create additional lusts (desires). Instead of providing help and health, an excess of material things hurts and wounds.
In Conclusion – It is a dangerous thing to use religion as a cover- up for acquiring wealth. God’s laborer is certainly worthy of his hire 1Tim.5: 17- 18, but his motive for laboring must not be money. That would make him a hireling, and not a true shepherd Jh.10: 11- 14. We should not ask, “How much will I get?” but rather “How much can I give.