Scripture: I Timothy 3:14-15

C.I.: The Family and Its Motives

In our series on I Timothy – we have seen…. – Today we will conclude as God speaks to various groups.

•  God's Instructions to Various Groups, (I Timothy 6)

A. Those who work for others, (vs. 1-2)

1. If you work for a non-believer - ( v. 1 ), “Let all who are under the yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of
all honor – so that the name of God – and our doctrine may not be spoken against.”
a. How Xns live our lives – not only says something about us – but also something about God!
1) Clearly, the reason we live as we do – is so that God may be glorified.
2) ( Matt. 5:16 ), “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works….”
3) So Christians should be the BEST employees!

2. Working for a Xn - ( v. 2 ), “And let those who have believers as their masters - not be disrespectful to them because they
are brethren, - but let them serve them all the more, - because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved.”
a. Xns must never take advantage of their employers (extra time @ lunch, days off, raises…) – esp., Xns.
1) Every employer (and esp. believers) – should benefit from hiring other believers.
2) ( Rom. 12:10 ), “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”
3) While the temptation may be to do less “since they are Xns,” – we should do all the more!!!

B. Those who do not teach the truth, (vs. 3-10) 3 problems…

1. Wrong Doctrine: ( v. 3 ), “If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness.”
a. One word describes false doctrines – different! – (notice: it doesn't agree w/Jesus teachings)!
1) This is why Timothy remained in Ephesus, ( quote 1:3 ).
2) Paul warned the church about the consequence and source of these doctrines, ( quote 4:1-2 ).

b. Different is not the same as “new.” – There may be many scripturally acceptable ways that are new – to
apply God's word. – METHODOLOGIES MAY CHANGE BUT THEOLOGY NEVER DOES!!!
1) ( Mk. 16:15 – “Go…” = walk, write, radio/TV, internet, etc.).
2) But when these do not agree with the teachings AND person of Jesus – WATCH OUT!!!

2. Wrong Demeanor: ( vs. 4-5a ), “…he is conceited and understands nothing; but has a morbid interest in controversial
questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and friction between
men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth.”
a. Jesus warned us about false teachers – and told us how to recognize them…
1) ( Matt. 7:15-16 ), “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are
ravenous wolves … you will know them by their fruits [envy, strife, abusive language, etc.!] .”

3. Wrong Motives: ( vs. 5b-10 ), “…who suppose godliness is a means of gain. But godliness is a means of great gain when
accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. –
And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. – But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a
snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. – For the love of money is a root of
all evil, and some by longing for it have pierced themselves with many a pang.”

a. Their “motivation is that “it's all about THEM!”
1) Any motive we have - which is less than glorifying God – is the wrong motive!
2) ( I Pt. 4:11 ), “Whoever speaks, let him speak… that in all things God may be glorified in Christ Jesus.”

C. Those who teach what is true, (vs. 11-16) These are “right” in the areas where the others are “wrong”!

1. True doctrine: ( v. 11 ), “But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
perseverance and gentleness.”
a. Christians are called to flee from false doctrine (“Can I visit my friend's church and then they…?”) NO!
1) Pursue: Chase, run after, set as a goal – none of which can be had by “false doctrines.”
2) Righteousness = Matt. 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger & thirst….”
3) Godliness = I Tim. 4:7 – “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”

4) Faith & Love = I Tim. 1:5 – “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and….”
5) Perseverance = I Tim. 4:16 – “Pay close attention to yourself & your teaching; persevere in these..”
6) Gentleness – Matt. 5:5 – “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”
7) By following true doctrines – means we will be practicing the things that please God!

2. True Demeanor: ( v. 12 ), “Fight the good fight of faith.”
a. God concludes where He began – by reminding us that there is a war going on – we are called to fight!
1) ( 1:18-19 ), “…fight the good fight, keeping faith with a good conscience, which some have rejected and
suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”
2) Some believers have quit the fight. – In surrendering, they have lost everything!!!

3. True Motives: ( vs. 13-16), “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who
testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate [ Rom. 10:9; Jn. 18:37 ] , that you keep the commandment without stain or
reproach – until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ , … He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and
the Lord of lords.”
a. The greatest motive the believer has for keeping God's commandments = Jesus Second Coming!!!
1) ( II Pt. 3:10-11 ), “The day of the Lord will come … Since all these things are to be destroyed in this…”

2) When God's family keeps our Lord's coming foremost in our minds = it is right motivation!!!

D. Those who are rich, (vs. 17-19)

1. Be faithful in all things!
a. ( v. 17 ), Instruct those who are rich in this present world – not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the
uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all good things to enjoy.”
1) There is no sin to being rich. – It's not $$$ but the “love of money” that is bad.
2) ( Pro. 30:8 ), “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, - lest I be
full & deny You & say, ‘Who is the Lord?' – or lest I be in want & steal, & profane the name of my God.”
3) But the wealthy must be faithful – “fix their hope on God!!”

b. ( v. 18 ), “Instruct them to do good , to be rich in good works , to be generous and ready to share .”
1) The issue is NOT WHAT THEY HAVE – but rather WHAT THEY DO with what they have!!
2) This is God's purpose for giving us money (i.e., do good…good works…to share ).
3) We do “give that we might receive” – rather, we have received so that we might give!!!

E. Those who believe they are smarter than everyone else, (vs. 20-21)

1. ( vs. 20-21 ), “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoid worldly and empty chatter – and the opposing
arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge' – which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. – Grace
be with you.”
a. These “knowledgeable ones” (knowledge = gnosis , i.e. Gnostics).
1) They believed they had “special knowledge” – which made them spiritually superior to the
rest of God's family.
2) God, however, tells us all we need to know about being His children, ( I Jn. 3:7-8, 10 ), “Little
children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is
righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil … By this the children of God and the children of the
devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not
love his brother.”

God's family (the church – 3:15 ) is made up of the saved.
The saved are those who have answered God's call, ( quote II Thess. 2:14; Mk. 16:15-16 ).