Graham continued his series on 1 Timothy this morning, from chapter 6.
1 Timothy 6
Maintaining Values
Intro
- In chapters 3 & 4 - Developing Character
- In chapter 5 - Bearing Responsibility
- Now in chapter 6 - Maintaining Values
Much of the chapter could be seen as being about money, with the first bit about slavery a different topic altogether. Rather, I see Paul’s comments about money as a continuation of his comments to workers.
When speaking to slaves, Paul is taking about values. He then continues this theme by talking to all believers (not just slaves) about money. I see the theme of this chapter as being about maintaining values.
1) Values of the heart
See Acts 21:1 for how Luke described their parting from the Ephesian church leaders. Notice Paul’s heartbreak at the departure. Image his sadness over the Ephesian leaders who gone over to false teaching.
“After we had torn ourselves away from them…”
See: John 13:34-36
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Simon Peter asked him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus replied, Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.
1 John 3:1,11,23
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
2) Values for the workman
Slavery 1 Tim 1:6
3) Values to manage my money, or my money will manage me!
See Matthew 6:19-24
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Eternal things first
Verses 1 and 2 are about work, and those who get those values wrong will be open to the discontent outlined in verses 3 to 5. Lack of contentment leads to chasing financial gain, which is highlighted onwards from verse 6.
See Nehemiah 13:14-22
City gates closed for the Sabbath. The Sabbath rest was to be a continual reminder to the people of Israel that there are more important things than business or the pursuit of wealth. What do you do to remind you of the values you want to maintain?
