OUR FATHER WHO BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE CONTENT

1 Timothy chapter 6 verses 1 - 10 says this,

1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

The apostle Paul passed some intructions to those who among the church who were slaves. He instructed them to honor their masters so that the name of God would not be associated with dishonor and rebellion. He also insructed that the slaves who had masters who were believers to honor them as well because the beneficiary of their honorable service would be believers.  

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Paul, aware that his counsel would have detractors, strongly conveyed to Timothy that those who spread a different ethic regarding how slaves were to relate to their masters, were prideful, obstreporous, envious, contentious, abusively critical, purveyors of evil intrigues, pointlessly political with no understanding of the truth and who viewed the path of righteousness as a means of materially benefitting themselves and he advised Timothy to avoid contact with such people.

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Paulˋs comment to Timothy was to teach believers to cultivate contentment with what ever they had and to avoid scrambling to gain material wealth which would invite temptation that would ensnare them in destructive lusts and their attendant consequences.

Paul, recapitulating the teaching of the Lord Jesus, tells Timothy that the love of money was the root of all types of evil. This establishes the concept that the love of money is what entrenches evil conduct in a community where the pursuit of money causes people to involve themselves in all manner of unsavoury practices that lead them away from the faith and cause them to suffer painful physical and spiritual injuries.

Amen.

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