The last group of church members Paul addresses are slaves (vv. 1-2). Slaves must be taught to honor God’s Word by honoring their masters, even if those masters are Christians!
Paul warns Timothy of false teachers, for they twist God’s truth, divide God’s people, and are religious mercenaries who are materially minded (vv. 3-10). Paul then urged Timothy to live in light of Christ’s return (vv. 11-16) by fleeing everything associated with false teaching, following after Christian character, fighting for truth, and looking for Christ.
Lastly, wealthy Christians should use their wealth for ministry (vv. 17-19) and Timothy must guard the truth and resist false teaching (vv. 20-21).
Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On
- False teaching affects the entire church. From the beginning of 1 Timothy to its end, false teaching has been addressed and warned against. From 1 Timothy we have seen that false teaching destroys lives, warps worship, twists Christian truth, creates controversy, denies God’s good gifts, leads souls astray, prevents needy Christians from receiving help, corrupts church leadership, and leads to hell. Remember 4:16!
- Being content with the basics of life is essential to living a Christ-like life (vv. 3-10). When professing believers focus more on physical, material things than spiritual things, their souls start to drown and eventually die. The world and its lusts are passing away, but “he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Keep a “loose grip” on this world and a “tight grip” on Christ!
- Jesus is coming again (v. 14)! No one knows the day of his coming (“which He will manifest in His own time,” v. 15), so until then it is always time to live and serve Christ faithfully.