1 Timothy 6

Intro

This morning we are wrapping up our series in 1 TImothy. If you have been with us, we’ve been leaving some space for you to discuss the material. I said last week that this is what ministry really is. It isn’t having all the answers, but it is simply just being willing to be open and discuss life and faith from your perspective.

The other thing that I realized is that this is the kind of community I think of when I think about the church. There is no expectation, you don’t have to have all the answers. It is just being open and honest about life. It is allowing the perspectives and experience of others to sharpen our understanding, and together we grow and become more like the men and women God has called us to be.

To kick things off this morning, I want you to discuss at your tables this question.

If you had to sum up 1 Timothy with one word, what word would you pick?

take a few minutes and discuss

what did you come up with tables?

Godliness

I’m going to suggest a word, not only because it is one that has come up a few times already in 1 Timothy, but because of the 15 times this Greek word is used, 8 of them are found in 1 Timothy.

so this word is a big deal for Paul as he is encouraging young Timothy. He really wanted this word to get stuck in the mind of his son in the faith.

The word is Godliness

Now before I unpack what godliness is, I want to highlight how Paul uses godliness, particularly in chapter 6

Godliness Results From Good Teaching

1 Timothy 6:3 NLT

Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.

So the result of wholesome teaching is a godly life.

Paul goes on to talk about what results when someone is a false teacher or not a wholesome teacher. He says that arrogance, jealousy, division, slander, and suspicion begin to arise. Remember, Paul just finished telling Timothy that the church should be united, like a family. False teachings will threaten the unity.

So godliness, or the pursuit of godliness, will protect us from false teachings

Godliness with Contentment is True Wealth

1 Timothy 6:6 NLT

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

Paul says that false teachers will use a show of godliness as a means of gaining wealth.

But true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth

Paul goes on to talk about how the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and that those who are wealthy should not put their trust in their wealth but put their trust in God, because it is God who gives all we need for our enjoyment

Godliness is Worth Pursuing

1 Timothy 6:11 NLT

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Paul tells Timothy to not just run away from evil, but to run towards righteousness and a godly life. I would say this is some great parenting advice right here, as well as adivce for life. We so often tell people or kids to stay away from something that is bad, instead of directing their attention to the thing that is good.

Paul does not just tell Timothy, and doesn’t just us to stay away from sin and evil things. He tells us to point our eyes towards things like righteousness, faith, love, perserverance, and gentleness. But don’t just pointour eyes towards them, but pursue them. Chase after them, because we will spend our lives understanding what these things look like in our life.

I would go so far to say that you are either godly or godless. There is no middle ground. You have to pick one.

What is godliness?

that is all well and good and you will get plenty of time to discuss these things, but the real question is this: What is godliness?

In order for me to answer that question, I want to read to you a couple other spots where godliness appears in scripture, and then I’ll give you a quick definition. Then I am going to turn it over to you to discuss. I have a few guiding questions, as well as the other scriptures I will read. But I invite you to come up with a definition of godliness, or at least what it might look like in your life.

Titus 2:11–14 NLT

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

the word devotion in this passage is the same root word in Greek for godliness, so you may want to take that into account

2 Peter 1:3–8 NLT

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

twice in this passage we see godly life and godliness pop up, along with a list of other good things that we should pursue

so in light of all this, what is godliness?

The Easton Bible Dictionary says this:

Godliness—the whole of practical piety (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:6). “It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience.”

M. G. Easton

veneration is another word for reverence.

Godliness is the equivalent of being all in for God.

Godliness makes a man like God.

The Form Of Godliness Without The Power, Volume 35, Sermon #2089 - 2 Timothy 3:5

Charles Spurgeon

when it is put like that… ya it is easy to see why it is a lifelong pursuit.

Not only is it something to be pursued, but it should be evident to all. This kind of life is hard to hide.

1. What stood out to you in this chapter?

2. 1 Timothy 6:4-5 unpacks the marks of a false teacher. What stands out to you in this list? How does godliness guard you from these things?

3. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and v. 17-19 unpacks how godliness protects us from an unhealthy relationship with money. How does being content equate to great wealth?

4. What is godliness? Read 1 Timothy 6, Titus 2:11-14, and 2 Peter 1:3-8 and agree on a definition that you can remember and think about throughout the week.