1 TIMOTHY LESSON 7


     We will begin this lesson in I Timothy 6:1 "Let as many servants
as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour,
that the name of God and [his] doctrine be not blasphemed."

     "Servants", in the verse above, could have been translated
slaves, as well as servants. It is the same suggestions either way.
Many persons who had been slaves came to the knowledge of Christ in
the early days of Christianity. Christianity has always been evident
among working people and slaves.  I believe this Scripture is
expressing the fact that just because a person comes to Christ, it
does not free them from their other obligations. In fact, a person who
has received Christ as his Saviour should do an even better job at the
things he is obligated to do, because they are doing it as unto
Christ.  True Christianity teaches loyalty, and honor. Paul is saying,
that they might even win their master to Christ, if they show him it
makes a difference for the better being saved. Christianity is not a
crutch to be used to get a person relieved from their duties. It
should make a person more productive, because of the peace and
happiness it brings to the individual.

     I Timothy 6:2 "And they that have believing masters, let them not
despise [them], because they are brethren; but rather do [them]
service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the
benefit. These things teach and exhort."

     Paul is explaining that even though you are a brother in Christ
with your believing master, you should still give him the respect he
is due because of his position. We said before, Christianity should
not be used to get you special rights and privileges. God is the one
who put us in the position we are in on the earth. Whatever place we
find ourselves in, we must do the best job we can. Paul is explaining
little problems that might occur. Since these things had not been
mentioned earlier, he was covering as many as he could. You are not to
change your station in life, because you are saved. You are to serve
God where He called you.

     I Timothy 6:3 "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness;"

     This is not a complete sentence above, but we know what it is
saying, do we not? Just proclaiming yourself a Christian does not make
you a Christian. A Christian is Christ-like. Jesus said, serving
others should not be thought of as an obligation, but a privilege. He
spoke of how the servant would be the greatest. Matthew 23:11 "But he
that is greatest among you shall be your servant."  We must remember
that the Jews who had converted to Christianity were extremely class
conscious. Jesus served mankind. If we are to be like Him, we will do
likewise. Paul is warning Timothy, that the Judaizers will teach a
false doctrine which is caught up in class.

     I Timothy 6:4 "He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings,"

     The humble servant accepted Christianity willingly with the
doctrine of serving. The converted Jews were constantly questioning
the doctrine of the Christians. The law, with its class separations,
had caused many to reject Jesus and His teachings, because they did
not conform to what they had been taught. This Jewish element in the
Christian movement, questioning at every turn, were causing strife
among the brethren. They were arguing to keep all the customs of the
law. This caused problems with the new Christian converts.

     I Timothy 6:5 "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such
withdraw thyself."

     The word translated "perverse", here, means misemployment, or
meddlesome. My own personal belief about the Scripture above, is that
Paul is warning Timothy to tell the people not to use God for personal
gain. The fact that they have corrupt minds, means that they had the
truth and wandered away from it, teaching that if you were where you
should be with God, you would, also, be financially better off. They
were connecting their position with God with having earthly wealth.
Notice, the stern warning, from such withdraw thyself. Sometimes
people who are godly have money. It does not mean if you have money,
it is a sin. It is saying, to use God to get great wealth is sin.

     I Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

     I love what Paul said in another Scripture about this.
Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have
learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content."
Philippians 4:12 "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full
and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."  We will find
that it is not how much we have, or how well thought of we are, that
makes us happy. It is our attitude toward life. If I put my faith and
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, I should be content knowing whatever
is happening to me, is for my good. In Proverbs, we read a lot about
what makes a man happy. It is not wealth or fame, it is attitude. When
we have food and a place to lay our head at night, it is enough, if we
have Jesus. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me."

     I Timothy 6:7 "For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it
is] certain we can carry nothing out."

     The only true riches are the ones we lay up in heaven. This
world, and the people on it, are temporary tenants. It all belongs to
God. We are travelling through this land on the way to our promised
land. The world is like Egypt was for the Israelites. It is a place of
dwelling that we do not own. We come into the world naked. It is for
sure we cannot take our big cars and fine homes with us to heaven.
They would pale by comparison to what God has in store for us, even if
you could carry them. Jesus has gone ahead and prepared a place for
us. We will not need anything from this earth. He has made provision
for us.

     I Timothy 6:8 "And having food and raiment let us be therewith
content."

     These are basic things to live on. In the 6th chapter of Matthew
beginning with the 25th verse, you will find the teachings of Jesus on
this very thing. I will quote just one verse here that says what we
must keep our mind on. Matthew 6:33 " But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you."  Our heart and mind should not be stayed on material things of
this world. God will take care of that, if we will just worship and
serve Him.

     I Timothy 6:9 "But they that will be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition."

     Notice the key words in this: will be. In other words, he is not
already rich, he wants to be rich. This means that the person has his
mind stayed upon being rich. Sometimes it is a temptation to take
short-cuts to get to where you want to be financially. It is not
riches that send a person to hell, but the lust of riches. This type
of lust causes a person to totally disregard others to acquire their
own selfish desires. It is very important to know how to deal with
riches, if you find yourself in that position in life. I Timothy 6:17
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us
richly all things to enjoy;"  I Timothy 6:18 "That they do good, that
they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate;"  It is not a sin to be rich. It is a sin to lust to be
rich.

     I Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

     When you covet, you want something that does not belong to you.
Notice again, the money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of
money. It is our attitude toward the riches that either condemns us,
or saves us. One of the best examples of this in all the Bible, is the
rich young ruler that comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to be
saved. Throughout the Bible we are told that we must believe in Jesus
to be saved. In this particular instance Jesus told him to go and sell
what he had and give it to the poor if he wanted to be perfect. Why
was Jesus' answer different to this young man? It is simple. The man's
money was his god. He went away sorrowful. He chose to keep his money
over turning to God. Anything, whether money or something else, that
comes ahead of God with us, is our god. Money should not become before
God. God said: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Those who do
this, are lost.
                        1 Timothy 7 Questions


1.  How is a servant to treat his master?
2.  Why is he to do this?
3.  What is another word that "servants" could have been translated in
    verse 1?
4.  Because a person comes to Christ, does not free them from their
    _____________.
5.  Why should the servant do a better job after he, or she, comes to
    Christ?
6.  When the master and the servant both are Christians, what effect
    should that have on their positions?
7.  Why is Paul getting into all these details?
8.  Proclaiming yourself a Christian does not mean you are a
    _________.
9.  Quote Matthew chapter 23 verse 11.
10. The Jews that had come to Christ were extremely _______ conscious.
11. What were the converted Jews constantly questioning?
12. What caused  much of the strife in the early church?
13. Those with corrupt minds supposed what was godliness.
14. We must not use God for __________ ____.
15. Quote Philippians chapter 4 verses 11 and 12.
16. Quote Philippians chapter 4 verse 13.
17. What are the only true riches?
18. The people in this world are temporary _________.
19. If we could take our big cars and our fine homes to heaven with
    us, what would we discover?
20. Having _______ and _________ let us be therewith content.
21. Quote Matthew chapter 6 verse 33.
22. What are the key words in verse 9?
23. What is his mind stayed upon?
24. It is not riches that send a person to hell, but what?
25. What does this type of lust cause a person to do?
26. How must we deal with riches, if we find ourself in that position?
27. For the ______ of money is the root of all evil.
28. What are you doing, when you covet?
29. What really condemns us or saves us regarding money?
30. Why did Jesus require more of the rich young ruler?
31. Did he fulfill the requirements?
32. Anything that we put ahead of God, is our _____.