1 TIMOTHY STUDY
7
GET YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT 1 Timothy 6:3-21
In this concluding section Paul
spells out some final priorities – both for the church and for Timothy.
He stresses:
1. The power of corrupt motives (3-10)
a. Back to corrupt teachers (3)
See
where and how these people have already figured in this letter (1:3,6,7;
4:1-3,7).
Why are they a major source of potential
damage?
b. What characterises these people (4,5)?
Which elements pose the major threats to us
today?
a. How does the desire for ‘financial gain’ (5)
constitute a problem, not only for the false teachers, but also for ourselves?
Think about the implications of vs. 9,10.
b. What facts do vs. 6-8 spell out as the Christian
approach to the problems of affluence?
Think about Paul’s attitude and experience in Phil. 4:11-13. What bearing does this have on our response
to the affluent society of today?
2. The challenge and implications of total commitment to
the Lord (11-16)
While this is Paul’s challenge to Timothy personally, think about its implications for our own personal life-styles.
a. There is often a case
for confronting evil and temptation head-on, but what course of action
does Paul recommend in relation to the love of money(11a)? What will this mean for us in practice?
Notice other areas of temptation where Paul uses the same
imperative (1 Cor.
6:18; 10:14; 2 Tim. 2:22).
Why does he give this specific instruction?
b. What are the positive factors on which to concentrate
(11b)?
See also 2 Tim. 2:22b.
Why are these factors helpful as an antidote to evil?
c. Why is it important, as committed Christians, to go on
to the attack (12a)? How would you
describe the fight and the enemy?
Think
of the significance of Eph. 6:10-20; also note 2 Tim. 2:4; 4:6-8.
d. How would Timothy have understood v. 12b: ‘Take hold
of eternal life…’?
e. What is Paul emphasising, so far as Timothy is
concerned, in his
solemn
charge of vs. 13-16?
Notice
how Jesus also stressed the importance of not only ‘knowing’ but ‘doing’ (John
13:17; 15:12-14).
The third priority Paul has for
Timothy is to:
3. Pass on the challenge (17-19)
Paul has had to deal with the false teachers who have had their eye on church offerings and support, especially, perhaps, with the rich members in mind.
When God gives us money what
are our priorities to be?
Note the two negatives in v.
17a (Luke 12:13-17 illustrates the second.
What lesson does it carry for
us?)
What are the five positive
instructions of vs. 17b, 18? And what
do they point to (19, see Matt. 6:19-21)?
How, in practical terms, can
the four elements of v. 18 be worked out in our own area of involvement in
Caterham?
4. Postscript (20,21)
These were obviously issues immensely important for Timothy – and already raised in the letter.
If Paul had been writing to
you, what particular points do you think he would have needed to re-emphasise?
Perhaps the four words ‘Grace
be with you’ were the most important for Timothy to experience. Paul wrote them out of his own experience (2
Cor. 12:8-10; Phil. 4:13;
2 Tim. 2:1).