We come to the concluding verses of 1 Timothy, and we see how Paul wraps up his letter to Timothy. Paul leaves him with some final exhortations and encouragements, which we will do well to read and apply too.
(A) The man of God (1 Tim 6:11-16)
In 1 Timothy 6:11, Timothy is told to flee “these things” and also pursue other things as a man of God. To understand what “these things” are, we need to refer to the earlier verses, which tell us that these refer to the false teachings in the church (1 Tim 6:2-3). These false doctrines lead to division in the church (1 Tim 6:4-5). The false teachers thought that godliness was a means of gain (1 Tim 6:5). These false teachers do not know the teachings of the apostles, love to make a platform for themselves, and seek self-gain through their work.
Instead, Paul tells Timothy to flee these things (1 Tim 6:11). What does Paul expect of the man of God? He desires for Timothy to know the Word and to be committed to it, be aware of truth, desire for God’s glory to be known, not to be in it for self-gain and instead seeks to serve without expecting reward. He wishes for Timothy to be eager for the unity of the body of Christ, desiring that the body of Christ is not cut up and sliced up — not segregated by age, background, race etc.
The man of God is to go in the opposite of self-gain and one-upmanship. Instead, he is to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Timothy is to be different from the false teachers that are operating at Ephesus. He is to speak the very words of God.
Friends, how do you think of the preacher who brings you God’s word? He may be boring, but everything he says is from the Bible. Or, have you already chosen to listen to a sermon where no Bible is quoted but it is very entertaining. The problem is that so many of us are not men and women of God, and do not desire God’s word. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Does this describe you? Friends, there is nothing better than to read God’s word for yourself, for the rest of your Christian life. Don’t make anything else more important than this.
Why does the man of God need to be steadfast? It’s going to be easy to be discouraged when you speak God’s word.
Why gentleness? Because the sheep are unappeasable.
Why love? Because the flock might say that you are not doing enough.
Notice how Paul describes faith in 1 Timothy 6:12. Faith is a fight (1 Tim 6:12). Faith is a battle. (c.f. Eph 6:10-13) The Christian life is not a walk in the park. Prayer is not about presenting our list of desires to God. Instead, it will feel like a fight.
So, fight the good fight of faith.
Paul goes on to encourage Timothy to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach (1 Tim 6:14). This is the main action. Paul is calling Timothy to a vigorous set of actions (1 Tim 6:11-14). In fact, he seems to be getting Timothy to double down (as seen from the charge he gives).
But, what is the commandment? If we refer to 1 Timothy 1:18-19, 4:6, 4:16 and 6:20, we see that Timothy has received God’s Word. He has been trained in the teaching by Paul. Therefore, he is to keep teaching the apostolic teaching that he has received from Paul, and not abandon it, like the false teachers have.
Thus, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach means to keep the purity of the teaching and not to mix it with other philosophy and to keep other ideas out. Keep the BIble the Bible, preach the Bible. He is to continue to live in a way that is free from reproach.
This has been Paul’s two-tiered thrust through this book — get doctrine right for godly living. We do not want right doctrine with ungodly living, nor wrong doctrine with “godly” living.
What is this confession in 1 Timothy 6:12? Timothy confessed a specific teaching — that Jesus Christ is Lord. He did not raise a hand or say a prayer and with that, is assured of his conversion. Paul is reminding Timothy of the confession he made in the presence of witnesses. This is what he has to cling to, and not veer away from as he conducts his ministry and lives his life. Paul is encouraging Timothy to stay a Christian because of the gospel and to keep it pure, all the way to the end.
Paul also envisions an event in 1 Timothy 6:14-15 — “the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time”. He is to keep the doctrine all the way to the end.
This is the man of God.
Are you a man or woman of God? Are you a man or woman of the Word?
(B) The godly rich (1 Tim 6:17-19)
Paul goes on to address the rich, and speaks about what they ought not to misunderstand about this present age. The rich are not to be haughty, nor set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches (1 Tim 6:17). Paul states is clearly that riches are uncertain, always. Are things going well for you right now? Do you have a belief that things will always be ok? Read this verse again. Paul wants us to understand that all goodness comes from God.
How do you really spend your money? 1 Timothy 6:18-19 shows us how we should use money. Do you spend all your money on yourself or future self or future offspring? If so, you’re not really sharing. Read these verses again. Have you thought beforehand, as the money comes in, that you will give to those around you, to remind yourself that you are not a slave of money? The money that we share and give to others, is us storing up treasure as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. As John Piper puts it, “God gives his people money so that we can use money in a way to show that money is not our God.”
So again, how do you use your money? Do you have a plan to use God’s resources in a way that show that your money is not yours? Are there members in your church that you can give or use your money on? Do you know others in your church.
Living in this way shows us how we live in the excess and abundance of God’s grace.
(C) The godly son (1 Tim 6:20-21)
As Paul closes this letter, he has final words for “O Timothy” (1 Tim 6:20). This phrase conveys relationship and intimacy and should make us think about what Christian relationships look like. Is there anyone in your life who can speak so fondly of you in this way, and call you their son (or daughter) in the faith? Young people, may you have those that can tell you to guard this, avoid that. If you don’t, find them in church. Get to know an uncle or aunty and who can share something of what it means to follow Christ over many years. Find someone who can be a father or mother to you. Paul also writes something similar in his other letter to the Thessalonians church, in 1 Thessalonians 2:3-12. Do you have spiritual mothers and fathers who can speak as Paul did to the church?
We are also challenged to hold fast and guard the gospel that has been entrusted to us. How do you feel about it? Do you guard it like a treasure that you have to surrender back to God? In the meantime as a steward, do you seek to have it grow out and become all that your life is about? Avoid all irreverent babble and confessing false knowledge that leads to swerving from the faith (1 Tim 6:21).
Friends, the dangerous thing is to assume the gospel. Do we take the small things and make them big? Things like speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing. What is important? Jesus crucified and raised again. Make much of the big things and make small things inconsequential that we may be known as men and women of God.