6. Reject Greed, Pursue Godliness (1 Timothy 6:3-21)
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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on Jesus and the Kingdom of God
Detail from Matthias Stomer (1600-1650), "Avarice."
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2b These are the things you are to
teach and urge on them.
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does
not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly
teaching,
4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an
unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in
envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
5 and constant friction
between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think
that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is
great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be
content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation
and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin
and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of
evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all
this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and
gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the
eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the
presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to
everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made
the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without
spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which
God will bring about in his own time -- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King
of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in
unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might
forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this
present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so
uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything
for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they
will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so
that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
20 Timothy, guard what has been
entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of
what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in
so doing have wandered from the faith.
Grace be with you. (1 Timothy 6:2b-21)
It is so easy to slip into a life focused on wealth and material goods. We
work to gain money so we can live, always focused on the material. Once we earn
enough to survive, then we look for an apartment and clothes. Then a house of
our own, a car, better furniture. Then, as our earning potential increases, a
vacation home. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), perhaps the richest person in
history, was asked, "How much money is enough?" He answered, "Just a little bit
more."
Greed was a problem in the church at Ephesus. The false teachers taught that
"godliness is a means to financial gain" (6:5), which distorted the whole
Gospel. In our day a Prosperity Gospel has made great headway around the world.
How well does it fit with sound doctrine? We'll see, as Paul devotes much of
this section to the topic of wealth.
In verses 2-5 Paul revisits his description of the false teachers that we
examined in the introduction and in chapter 1.
"2b These are the things you are to
teach and urge on them. 3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does
not agree252 to the sound instruction of our
Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and
understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest253
in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious
talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction254
between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think255
that godliness is a means to financial gain." (1 Timothy 6:2b-5)
Paul adds a new element to his description of the false teachers in verse 5:
"... Men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of
the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." (6:5)
Let's first consider the state of thinking that Paul describes.
The false teachers and their disciples are termed men of "corrupt mind."
What is a corrupt mind? It is one that was once sound, but has been corrupted
and compromised. It's thinking is no longer true, but somehow warped. The word
"corrupt" (NIV, KJV), "depraved" (NRSV) is diaphtheirō, "to cause to
become morally corrupt, deprave, ruin,"256
from dia-, "through," a transition from one state to another +
phtheirō, "to rot thoroughly."257
Their other condition is "robbed of the truth." "Robbed" (NIV),
"bereft" (NRSV), "destitute" (KJV) is apostereō, "to cause another to
suffer loss by taking away through illicit means, rob, steal, despoil, defraud."258
I've met people like this. So have you. Someone has deceived them. They have
believed a lie and now the truth has been stolen from them, replaced by a bogus
belief that will ultimately destroy them. Preaching and teaching truth is so
powerful. Lies cannot stand before the white light of the truth. In fact, this
is how true disciples are created.
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If
you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31-32)
This is why sound teaching is so very important.
Their false teaching seems on the surface rather innocuous. It's even
attractive.
"... Who think that godliness is a means to
financial gain."259 (6:5)
We studied the word "godliness" (eusebeia) on
4:7-8 above.
In short, it means, "awesome respect accorded to God, devoutness, piety,
godliness,"260 and occurs in both verses 5 and
6.
"A means to financial gain" (NIV), "means of gain" (NRSV), "gain"
(KJV) is porismos, "means of gain."261
It is derived from poros, "acquisition, gain."262
In classical Greek the word means "providing, procuring," and is used of
"earning a living," "money-getting," and "means of gain," which is the
connotation in our text.263
What the false teachers had done was to doctrinally link godliness with
wealth. "If you're godly or religious," they were saying, "you can become
wealthy."
We sometimes have teachers in our day proclaim:
- "Poverty is a sin and a bondage."
- "Wealth is God's blessing on the godly."
- "If we believe the promises of God, we will prosper financially."
- "If we tithe, we will get more money, because we can't out-give God."
Of course, there is some truth in these teachings -- and some things that are
warped and distorted. Even if the original teachers of these doctrines may have
had right hearts towards money, their disciples and modern proponents of these
doctrines often don't.
Q1. (1 Timothy 6:5) Why do you think people are so
susceptible to distorted Bible teaching concerning financial gain?
Admitting that there is some truth in popular teachings in our time,
what are the distortions that you may have heard? How do they differ
from the truth?
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Now Paul seeks to instruct Timothy and the Ephesian church about the balance:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain."
(6:6)
The keyword here is "contentment" (autarkeia), "
'self-sufficiency' in the sense of 'independence', then general 'sufficiency,'"
here internal sufficiency, "state of being content with one's circumstances,
contentment, self-sufficiency," a favorite virtue of the Greek Cynics and
Stoics.264 The related verb occurs in verse 8
(arkeō), "be satisfied/content with something"265
and in the Letter to the Hebrews:
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and
be content (arkeō) with what you have, because God has said,
'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)
Another word from this root occurs in Paul's Letter to the Philippians:
"I have learned to be content (autarkēs266)
whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it
is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being contentin any
and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in
want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians
4:11-13)
Paul certainly wasn't against wealth, but he saw it as dangerously seductive
-- as did Jesus:
"How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom
of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:24-25)
Jesus taught his own disciples the message of simple trust vs. heaping up
wealth:
"For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew
6:32-33)
American Christians, especially, have so flirted with associating prosperity
with Christian faith that they have distorted the Gospel, which is one of
contentment with God's sufficiency, a trust in God's provision of our needs,
rather than a gospel of present abundance.
Paul continues to Timothy:
"7 For we brought nothing into the
world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and
clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich
fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that
plunge men into ruin and destruction." (6:7-9)
Sadly, much Christian stewardship teaching appeals not to sacrifice, but to a
desire to get rich267 and an implied promise
that if we give, God will bless us financially. He does -- and will (2
Corinthians 9:6-11) -- but if that is the motive for our giving, then we are
falling into the temptation to get rich, rather than giving out of a spirit of
love and worship. There is a subtle but real difference here!
Look at the strong words that Paul heaps up about the desire for wealth:
"Temptation" here is peirasmos, "an attempt to make one do
something wrong, temptation, enticement to sin."268
Jesus faced this same temptation at the hand of Satan himself.
"The devil took him to a very high mountain and
showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 'All this I will
give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.'" (Matthew 4:8-9)
We are fed this temptation every day in the media we watch. But the
temptation to wealth is not a new one. Nor is it restricted to the rich
themselves. Many of the poor desire wealth more than anyone.
Drawing of a bird snare from the Philippines, in
Fay-Cooper Cole, The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao
(Chicago, 1913). |
"Trap" (NIV), "snare" (KJV), "are trapped" (NRSV) is pagis,
" a device used to catch animals, trap, snare," then figuratively, "that which
causes one to be suddenly endangered or unexpectedly brought under control of a
hostile force, trap, snare."269 The Hebrews,
along with most of the ancient world -- and rural peoples today -- trapped birds
for the meat they provided, however meager. They used a whole variety of traps
and nets to do this -- "the snare of the fowler" (Psalms 91:3). The idea is to
catch the bird or small animal unawares -- deceptively. As the Proverbs reminds
us:
"How useless to spread a net in full view of all
the birds!" (Proverbs 1:17)
Snares are often used symbolically of the hidden dangers of sin (Psalms 91:3;
Proverbs 7:23; 29:5-6). The desire for wealth is like a snare, ready to be
sprung and trap you in its constraints.
"Foolish and harmful desires." Often we know that our desires270
are out-of-bounds, but we court these desires anyway. How strange we humans are.
"Foolish" (NIV, KJV), "senseless" (NRSV) is anoētos, " unintelligent,
foolish, dull-witted."271
The results of these temptations are severe:
" ... [They] plunge272
men into ruin and destruction." (6:9)
"Some people, eager for money, have wandered from
the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (6:10)
"Ruin" (NIV, NRSV), "destruction" (KJV) is olethros, "a
state of destruction, ruin, death," from ollymi, "to destroy."273
"Destruction" (NIV, NRSV), "perdition" (KJV) is apōleia, "the
destruction that one experiences, annihilation both complete and in process,
ruin." The two words combined mean "utter destruction."274
"Wandered from the faith." In my mind I see someone wandering275
over a fog-obscured moor, confused, lost and far away from home.
"Pierced276 themselves with many griefs."
Paul warns of those whose quest for riches has resulted in grief, sorrow, and
mental distress.277 Wealth promises happiness,
but that is most often elusive.
Lest we take all this with a grain of salt, remember the fate of the rich
young ruler whom Jesus loved, but who sadly walked away from Jesus when asked to
sell what he had and give to the poor (Mark 10:21-22).
"For the love of money is a root of all
kinds278 of evil. Some people, eager for
money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
(6:10)
We see a similar phrase in Hebrews:
"Keep your lives free from the love of money279
and be content with what you have...." (Hebrews 13:5)
"Love of money" in verse 10 is philargyria, "love of money,
avarice, miserliness,"280 from philos,
"love" + argurion, "silver, money." Ebenezer Scrooge in his counting
house comes to mind. But for most of us the temptation is much more subtle.
"Eager for money" comes from a word which means literally, "to stretch
oneself, reach out one's hand."281
We love God, we loudly claim. But what will we do if the price is high
enough? Many a man and woman has abandoned principles for money. Anybody can be
bought, we are told, if the price is high enough. Can you? Can I?
Paul changes subjects here and then comes back to wealth. For the sake of
continuity, we'll skip to verses 17-19 for a moment, though Paul's commands to
the rich are part of his final exhortation to Timothy.
"Command those who are rich in this present world
not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but
to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our
enjoyment. " (6:17)
The rich are commanded to hope in God instead of wealth. Why?
- Riches are temporal. We are rich only "in this present world."
You can't take it with you. Therefore, we should "lay up treasure ... for
the coming age" (6:19).
- Riches are uncertain.282 Only
in heaven, "moth and rust do not destroy, and ... thieves do not
break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20). As anyone who owned stocks in 2008
knows, wealth can be an illusion that quickly disappears. Income can vanish
as quickly as a job. Savings can shrink with no way to stop them.
- Riches are deceitful. This doesn't come from our passage
directly; nevertheless it fits here since the present-only and transitory
nature of wealth deceives us. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus compared
the thorny ground to "the deceitfulness of riches" that chokes the word of
God and keeps it from growing to maturity (Mark 4:19). Wealth is deceitful
in that it promises one thing, but delivers another.
- Riches cause arrogance.283
Strange, isn't it, how wealth produces a feeling of superiority to the poor.
Pride and a desire for wealth feed on each other.
- Riches replace God as the source of trust.284
When we have a comfortable life we are often tempted to trust in our
relative wealth, rather than to trust in God.
Paul gives several positive commands for the rich:
"17 Command those who are rich … to put
their hope in God, who richly provides285 us
with everything for our enjoyment.286 18
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share." (6:17-18)
Of course, it's almost a cliché to say that we in the West are rich by Third
World standards, but it is certainly true. So if you are an American or
European, then Paul's commands are specifically for you. Notice that he does not
tell us to give all our money to the poor and become poor ourselves. That
command was specific for the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:21). Rather we are to:
- Hope in God. First, we are to realign our trust system. Where we
find ourselves trusting in our wealth, we must repent and turn afresh to
God. In times of economic turmoil the object of our trust will become
clearer to us. Firmly fix your hope in God and reject the very great
temptations to trust your income and savings to get you through.
- Do good.287 Wealth gives us
options to do more than just survive. Think of all the good you can do
because God has supplied your basic needs. Then do as much of that good as
you can.
- Be rich in good deeds. The true riches are found in heaven, so we
are to lay up treasures there (Matthew 6:19-20), so that we are "rich in
good deeds" (6:18). Dorcas was "abounding with deeds of kindness and charity
which she continually did" (Acts 9:36, NASB).
- Be generous.288 literally, "be
good at imparting." What a privilege we have to help others with our
possessions. What's more, generosity is God-like, and we can share in being
like Him. What a blessing!
- Be willing to share. This is a synonym of being generous,
"pertaining to giving or sharing what is one's own, liberal, generous."289
"In this way they will lay up treasure for
themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold
of the life that is truly life." (6:19)
Now Paul explains two results of obedience:
- Rewards in heaven. "In this way they will lay up treasure290
for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age...." (6:19a). If you
have been thoroughly schooled in salvation by grace, you may not be very
comfortable with the idea of rewards for faithfulness. However, the idea of
rewards in heaven in addition to salvation is clearly part of the teaching
of Jesus (Matthew 6:19-20; 10:42; 19:21; 25:34-40; Luke 12:21, 33; 18:22)
and Paul (1 Corinthians 3:8; Galatians 6:9). If we serve for the reward, we
act in selfishness, but if we serve out of love, the reward is a bonus from
our God.
- Authentic life. "... So that they may take hold of the life that
is truly life." (6:19b). The luxurious life of a rich person may seem
splendid. But when compared to life from God with an eternal quality, it
shrivels in importance. We must "take hold of"291
Life with a capital "L". Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full" (John 10:10b).
Pursing the Character of Christ (6:11)
Now let's come back to Paul's final charge to Timothy concerning his own
personal life and holiness:
"But you, man of God, flee from all this,
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and
gentleness." (6:11)
In this verse (and also 2 Timothy 2:22) Paul uses a pair of verbs, both of
which carry strong images of running.
- Flee. First, Paul commands Timothy to flee "from all of this" --
that is, flee a love of money and the hedonistic lifestyle that it can buy.
The verb "flee" (NIV, KJV), "shun" (NRSV) is a strong one: pheugō,
"to seek safety in flight," here, figuratively, "to keep from doing
something by avoiding it because of its potential damage, flee from, avoid,
shun."292 It is a verb of action and
running.
- Pursue. But Paul's command does not consist of primarily running
away from sin, but of actively running after and pursuing the life of God.
"Pursue" (NIV, NRSV), "follow after" (KJV), diōkō, "press on," here,
figuratively, "pursue, strive for, seek after, aspire to something."293
The same word is used for "persecute," to chase something down.
What follows is a six-fold list of virtues to pursue:
- Righteousness is moral uprightness and justice. The end does
not justify the means. The means must be just as well as the end.
- Godliness is devoutness, piety, and respect for God. This is a
lifestyle of seeking to please God with one's life.
- Faith is trust in the faithful character of God, in his goodness,
and in his power through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Love is the selfless love modeled by Christ, when he gave his all
for us. Now we give our all for God and for our fellow human beings.
- Endurance or patience is the "capacity to hold out or bear up in
the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness,
perseverance."294
- Gentleness or meekness is "the quality of not being overly
impressed by a sense of one's self-importance, gentleness, humility,
courtesy, considerateness."295
"12 Fight the good fight of the faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good
confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God,
who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before
Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this
command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 which God will bring about in his own time...." (6:12-15a)
This next series of commands is four-fold (three, but I've included "confess"
since the idea is clearly in the text):
- Fight the good fight. We see this phrase "fight the good fight"
three times in 1 and 2 Timothy. First in 1 Timothy 1:18, here, and finally
in 2 Timothy 4:7 in Paul's final words to his young protégé. To fight296
is to carry on the struggle, to not give in to those who would oppose us, to
consider our message of the faith to be worth struggling for. This is not
being quarrelsome and contentious, but rather continuing on until we achieve
what God has put before us to do.
- Take hold on eternal life. "Take hold" (NIV, NRSV), "lay hold"
(KJV) means to "take hold of, grasp, in order to make it your own."297
The word also appears in verse 19. We are so often casual about the life we
have been given. To lay hold on it means to actively commit ourselves to the
life that concludes in eternity.
- Make a good confession. The "good confession" made at Timothy's
commitment to Christ and conversion emulates the "good confession" that
Christ made before Pilate. Though it cost him his life, he spoke what was
true. The word means "statement of allegiance."298
During the persecution under Diocletian, many Christians broke under threat
of death. Those who maintained their confession of faith in Christ in spite
of threat, execution, or imprisonment, were honored after the persecution as
Confessors, men and women who had kept the faith. St. Nicholas, Bishop of
Myra (Santa Claus) was one of these.
- Persevere. "Keep" means "to persist in obedience, keep, observe,
fulfill," perhaps, "to keep unharmed or undisturbed."299
The content of the command seems to be for Timothy "to persevere in his own
faith and ministry, and so save himself and others" (cf. 4:16), so guard
what is entrusted to him (6:20).300
Paul is winding up the letter now, looking to the future, with the hope
brought by Christ's Second Coming.
"... Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which God will bring about in his own time...." (6:14b-15a)
The word "appearing" (NIV, KJV), "manifestation" (NRSV) is epiphaneia
(from which we get our word "epiphany"), "appearing, appearance," especially
also, "the splendid appearance."301 Christ has
not yet appeared -- though some claimed it had already taken place (2
Thessalonians 2). It is still future. The one who determines the exact time is
God the Father, who will bring it to pass302
"in his own time" (6:15a).
Doxology (6:15-16)
Now Paul launches upon a spontaneous doxology -- the second in this letter:
"15b God, the blessed and only Ruler,
the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who
lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor
and might forever. Amen." (6:15b-16)
- The blessed and only Sovereign. "Ruler" (NIV), "Sovereign"
(NRSV), "Potentate" (KJV) is dynastēs (from which we get our word
"dynasty"), "one who is in relatively high position, ruler, sovereign."303
Though there are other earthly rulers, he is over all, and in that sense the
"only" sovereign, expressed in the next phrase.
- King of kings and Lord of lords. This term was used of an emperor
who ruled over many petty vassal kings -- the emperor of all the kings. Our
God is the exalted ruler of all.
- Immortal,304
that is, not subject to death.
- Lives in unapproachable light. The brilliant glory of God is so
overpowering that no one may approach him without being "fried." The
psalmist says, "He wraps himself in light as with a garment..." (Psalm
104:2a).
- No one can see. People can see manifestations of God when he
allows it, but since he is a Spirit and lives in glorious light, no one can
or ever has seen him in reality.
- To him be honor and might. There is no might305
greater than his. He is worthy of all honor.
- Amen. It is the truth! So be it!
Guard the Faith Entrusted to You (6:20-21)
Now for the last words of this letter. Unlike most of Paul's letters, it has
few personal references, and no "greetings" in the last few paragraphs. Paul is
writing to Timothy, his friend, repeating for the last time what he has spelled
out in great detail earlier in the letter:
"20 Timothy, guard what has been
entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of
what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in
so doing have wandered from the faith.
Grace be with you." (1 Timothy 6:20b-21)
Let me highlight a few phrases.
First, the idea of guarding a trust. "What has been entrusted to your
care/to you" (NIV, NRSV), "that which is committed to thy trust" (KJV) is
parathēkē, a legal technical term for "property entrusted to another,
deposit."306 Paul also uses the term in 2
Timothy 2:12, 14. Pastors and leaders, the faith is not just some denominational
party line. It is a sacred trust -- God's message and teaching -- that we have
received. We cannot tamper with it, but must pass it on pure and unadulterated.
Paul uses the imperative verb, "guard" (NIV, NRSV), "keep" (KJV) literally,
"to carry out sentinel functions, watch, guard," here figuratively, "to protect
by taking careful measures."307 This is not a
volunteer opportunity, but a holy responsibility.
Second, Paul gives a final warning to Timothy not to be taken in by all the
talk and "the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge." I've
been around long enough to observe that ideas come and go like fads. What is
politically correct this decade is considered naïve in the next decade. It is
called "truth." It is called "knowledge."308
These "opposing ideas"309 may be accepted for
a few years, but they are not real "knowledge."310
They are just the prevailing thinking of a fickle culture. Those who follow them
end up wandering311 from the faith they once
claimed to follow.312
So we must hold to the sure word that we have received, the Gospel, as taught
by Christ and his apostles, and turn away from the quest to be hip and
up-to-date with every philosophical or theological trend. Others may do that,
but we have been appointed as guards over a sacred trust.
Q5. (1 Timothy 6:20-21) How can we guard the faith
without becoming narrow, backward-looking people who oppose all change,
and complain about "what things are coming to"? How can guards be at the
same time positive, loving, and pleasant to be around?
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Paul concludes with the simple blessing: "Grace -- God's favor -- be with
you." And that's what it all comes down to. We continue faithfully only by God's
grace and gifts to us.
Prayer
Lord, it's so easy to get caught up in getting ahead, in succeeding
financially. And while it's good and needed for our families, it can have a way
of capturing us and taking hold in our hearts. Father, forgive us for our
attachment to materialism and wealth. Be God fully for us afresh. We refuse to
trust in wealth; let us trust in you fully. Then teach us how to use whatever
you have given us in a way that pleases you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Key Verses
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For
we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (1 Timothy
6:6-8)
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation
and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin
and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some
people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves
with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and
pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." (1
Timothy 6:11)
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of
the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in
the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12)
"... God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of
kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in
unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might
forever. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:15-16)
References
Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Timothy
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JesusWalk: Beginning the
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