Dynamic Life Baptist Ministries - Pastor Victor Clay

Sermon Title: The Servant's Relationship to Riches and Duty
Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 6:3-21
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to fulfill their duty in proclaiming and promoting Godliness in the household of God.
Sermon Proposition: There are 5 instructions provided for the leaders and members of the household of godliness.

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. 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. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:3-21 (NKJV)

1. The instructions for the contaminators of Godliness. v.3-5

   • The teaching of the diseased teachers. v.3 (Acts 20:27-32; 2 Corinthians 2:17)

   • The 6 traits of the diseased teachers. v.4-5

   • Their attitude is diseased. v.4a (Acts 8:9; 2 Peter 2:18; Colossians 2:18)

   • Their mentality is diseased. v.4b (Romans 1:22; James 3:15)

   • Their outworking is diseased. v.4c-5a

   • Their core is diseased. v.5b (Romans 8:7; Romans 1:28; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16)

   • Their condition is diseased. v.5c (Hebrews 10:26-31; Jude 4; Jude 15)

   • Their motive is diseased. v.5d (Acts 20:33; 2 Peter 2:15

   
   

2. The instructions for the contentment of Godliness. v.6-10

   • The divine view of seeking wealth. v.6-8 (Matthew 6:33)

   • The destructive view of seeking wealth. v.9 (Proverbs 11:28)

   • The dangerous view of seeking wealth. v.10

   
   

3. The instructions for the contenders of Godliness. v.11-16

   • The reaffirmation of the pursuit of His consecration. v.11 (2 Peter 1:21; Deuteronomy 33:1)

   • The reaffirmation of the pursuit of His calling. v.12a

   • The reaffirmation of the pursuit of His commitment. v.12b

   • The reaffirmation of the pursuit of His commission. v.13-15a

   • The reaffirmation of the pursuit of God's control. v.15b-16

   • God is the creator of all things.

   • God is the sustainer of all life.

   • God is the protector of His own.

   • God's ability to give eternal life to all who believe.

   
   
   

   The Puritan John Flavel pointedly observed, "Brethren, it is easier to declaim against a thousand sins of others, than to mortify one sin in ourselves" (cited in I.D.E. Thomas, A Puritan Golden Treasury [Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1977], 191).
   
   John Owen added, "A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more" (cited in Thomas, A Puritan Golden Treasury, 192). (John MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1 Timothy, [Chicago, Moody Press, 1995],263)
   
   

4. The instructions for the comfortable of Godliness. v.17-19

   • The wealthy are to hope in God instead of uncertain riches. v.17

   • The wealthy are to demonstrate appropriate behavior to God's generosity. v.18

   • The wealthy are to focus on eternal wealth, based on faithfulness. v.19 (Matthew 19:21; 2 Timothy 4:10; Deuteronomy 8:11-18; Job 1:21; Matthew 6:19-21; Jeremiah 9:23; Romans 12:13; 1 Samuel 2:7; Proverbs 11:24-25)

   
   

5. The instructions for the commander-chief of Godliness. v.20-21

   • The duty to fulfill. v.20a

   • The danger to avoid. v.20b

   • The development to consider. v.21