WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday February 25, 2018
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152,000 readers worldwide
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THE
GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
(True
life is in GOD, not in the world)
(1
Timothy 6)
In
the New Testament Greek, the word used for “godliness” is “eusebeia”
(you-seb-i-ah), and it can only be found in the “pastoral letters” of the
Apostle Paul, and, in 2 Peter. It is a term that describes “a reverent faith
that expresses an awe of GOD”, that is coupled with “a desire to be obedient to
GOD at all times”.
Here in First Timothy 6, after reminding
Christian servants that they should always show respect for their superiors in
the workplace (whether their superiors are believers or non-believers), and
always work hard and put forth their best effort on the job (Vs.1-3), Paul
moves on to give young pastor Timothy a final warning concerning the
ever-present threat and reality of false doctrine, that had indeed, already
infiltrated the newly founded Christian network of believers.
The Greeks of the first century, just as we
are here in the twenty-first century, were fascinated by fancy speech from
entertaining preachers and speakers. They loved to hear expertly trained
motivational speakers, who, could deliver on a good topic, or word that could
make them feel good about the sinful life that they were living, and not put
pressure on them to change. And it was against this backdrop of selfishness
that false teachers came preaching their own religious ideology to the Church
in Ephesus, where Timothy was now residing as pastor.
The Christian Church, both wittingly and
unwittingly, gave these savvy speakers a new forum in which they could work
their magic charm, while, at one and the same time, making themselves rich and
famous. They cared nothing about, and knew nothing or very little, about the
sound doctrine of CHRIST JESUS that Paul had birthed the Church with. They were
simply there to promote and glorify themselves, while under the guise of being “Holy
men GOD”.
Paul warned Timothy that, anybody who
taught anything different than what he had already been taught by him, was
both, conceited, and, ignorant. Such people possess an unhealthy desire to
argue over words that would lead to jealousy, slander, and evil suspicions. Their
minds were corrupt, and they were only looking for power and prestige in the Christian
Church. To them, religion is just another way to get rich, and, to increase
their selfish evil influence.
Paul tells us in verse 6 that true religion
with contentment is great wealth. We didn’t bring anything into this world, and
it is a certainty that we can’t take anything of a material nature out of this
world when we die. We have to allow ourselves to be content with having enough
for our daily needs. This must be the attitude of the true Christian, as having
any other mindset puts us at a greater risk of being tempted by satan into
abandoning GOD’s plan. And if we move away from GOD’s plan, we can be sure that
we will be pierced with many sorrows as a result (Vs.6-10).
The Christian who is willing to leave
material things behind, in their pursuit of an experiential relationship with
GOD, stands to gain far greater treasures than the earthly perishables that he
or she has long become accustomed to valuing and desiring. When we choose to go
the way of CHRIST JESUS, we obtain insurmountable spiritual gains, such as the
following;
·
We
gain a personality that begins to exhibit GOD’s transforming works in our lives
to others.
·
We
begin to share the mind of CHRIST in our thinking, as we are, more and more,
attuned to the things of GOD.
·
We
gain a heart that beats more and more in sync with GOD’s OWN heart.
·
We
gain a will that shapes all of our choices, so that we may glorify GOD more, and
glorify ourselves less.
·
We
store up spiritual gains that are waiting for us, when we are forced to part from
this world of material lures, and the evil influences from the people of this
world.
In verses 11-16, Paul urges young Timothy
to shun, or, turn his back to the evil influences of the world because he
belongs to GOD. People who truly belong to GOD are interested only in pursuing
GODly lifestyles that include love, faith, perseverance, and gentleness. We have
to “fight the good fight“, for what we believe in, and begin to defend the
Gospel of CHRIST with our whole life. Then, at the right time, CHRIST will be
revealed to us by GOD the FATHER, as being the KING of all kings, and, the LORD
of all lords.
In verses 17-21, Paul closes this pastoral
letter with a warning to the rich people of this world. Here he instructs
Timothy to tell all who are rich, not to be proud, and not to trust in their
wealth, which might soon enough be gone. The rich should instead, put their
trust in the LIVING GOD, WHO, is richly willing to give to, even the poorest of
men, everything that he daily needs.
The apostle goes on to say that, the rich
should use their money to do good works, and to always show a willingness to
give generously to those in need. That way, they will not only be “storing up
treasures in Heaven”, but they will also be establishing a solid foundation for
themselves and their children’s children, here on earth.
And finally, Paul urges Timothy to guard
what GOD has entrusted to him, and to avoid GOD-less, foolish discussions with
people who oppose the LORD with their so-called knowledge. For some people have
actually wandered away from the faith, and instead, chose to follow their own
foolishness, all the way to the grave.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
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