Pursue Righteousness

1 Timothy 

1 Timothy tells us how to “conduct ourselves in the house of God.” This involves exercising ourselves, giving ourselves, taking heed to ourselves, keeping ourselves pure, and withdrawing ourselves from troublemakers. Are you taking care of yourself as the Lord directs?
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“Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.” 1 Timothy 6:1–2 (ESV)

Warren warns in his interpretation of 1 Timothy 6 to “Watch!” Watch your motives, your attitudes, your values, your testimony, and your stewardship.

In the first 2 verses, we are challenged to be obedient so that we do not bring reproach on the Word of God. Titus 2:10 says, “not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” We are not to show disrespect for persons in authority over us. And we are to never take advantage of fellow believers; rather, we are to do all we can to help them as a testimony of the faith.

“Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” 1 Timothy 6:2–5 (ESV)

Here we are call to watch our attitudes, so that no barriers are established to hinder anyone from hearing and see the Gospel clearly. Do you enjoy arguing about the Bible? If so; then search your heart to see if there are any sinful attitudes hiding there that need to be quickly addressed. It is of note that one can never debate a person into the kingdom of God or into a more sanctified life. We are to possess a humble and thankful spirit when presenting or proclaiming the Gospel to allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Let the Holy Spirit work through Gospel as it speak for itself.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1 Timothy 6:6–10 (ESV)

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (ESV)

Are you content with the necessities of life, or must God give you luxuries? God wants us to enjoy His gifts and employ them for the good of others; but beware when our heart is set on getting rich (Prov. 15:27; Eccles. 5:10).

“Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.” Proverbs 15:27(ESV)

Dr. Tony Evans writes, “Paul didn’t say that money leads to evil—rather, the love of money leads to evil. When we make time to grow our material lives, while allowing our spiritual lives to decline (cutting back on church participation, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship), then we are demonstrating that we love money... King Solomon was once the wealthiest man in the world, and he said, “The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income” (Eccl 5:10). One can be filled to overflowing with wealth and material possessions. But without an eternal perspective, such earthly focus will only result in craving for more.”

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV)

Wiersbe warn us to watch our testimony in verses 11–16.

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion.” Amen. 1 Timothy 6:11–16 (ESV)

We must live out the testimony of our faith and stand on the principles of His Word, which is Truth. Know the things you should flee, follow, and fight, and do not confuse them. When you think it too difficult to stand up for the Lord, remember how He stood up for you. Persevere that the Gospel may be known throughout, for Jesus is “not willing that any should perish, but all will come to repentance.”

Finally, we are warned to watch our stewardship. If you don’t know, you have a deposit of spiritual truth to guard and invest, and the enemy wants to take it from you. Beware of those who want to give you “new knowledge” beyond what God says in His Word. Hold true to the Truth of His Word and the simplicity of the Gospel spelled out in His Word.
Are you fleeing those things that harm? Are you pursuing that which gives life? Are you, as the writer of Hebrews says, “Laying aside every hindrance and … running with endurance” (Heb 12:1). Are you leaving behind that which is sinful and pursuing intentional discipleship and spiritual development?
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Today, remember the words of Dr. Tony Evans, “When trials and tribulations strike, remember that God is Sovereign. When you think more highly of yourself than you ought, remember that God is sovereign. When your life hits rock bottom, remember that God is sovereign. The worst nightmare of the wicked is that God is sovereign. The overruling hope of the saint is that God is sovereign.”

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