5and constant friction betwee...

5and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

- P87

9Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
- P87

When reading these verses about slavery, it is important to understand that the situation during the days of the Roman Empire was very different from our general understanding of slavery. This passage addresses the difficulty of how Christians should interact when there is a social hierarchy in the relationship. - P88

Today, we may find ourselves working for people who are believers, but that does not mean that we should take advantage of the relationship. - P88

We should continue to serve each other well, regardless of our social status. We remember that, ultimately, we are all working in service to the Lord. Each of us is called to be faithful in our work, showing our respect for God as we show respect and care for one another. - P88

We should continue to serve each other well, regardless of our social status. We remember that, ultimately, we are all working in service to the Lord. - P88

Each of us is called to be faithful in our work, showing our respect for God as we show respect and care for one another. - P88

Dear Lord, the world offers many distractions and temptations that pull me away from You. More than anything else, I want to be satisfied with pursuing godliness. - P89

Help me to fix my eyes on You so that I might look more like You each day. In Your name I pray, amen. - P89

Slaves should consider their masters worthy of full respect, and they shouldnot disrespect believing masters. Those who do not agree with the teachingsof Jesus are conceited and understand nothing.  - P87

They think godliness is ameans to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For webrought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. - P87

Paul wants Timothy to teach the value of godliness over the pursuit ofwealth. Some think that godliness is a means to financial gain, but Paulexplains that godliness itself is a great gain.  - P88

A healthy church is one that isfocused on Christ, but the love of money can derail a church, distractingbelievers and plunging them into destruction and all kinds of evil.  - P88

We maybe tempted to look for security in our bank accounts and possessions, butPaul warns of the allure of these temptations.  - P88

It is easy to wander from thefaith when we pursue money rather than God. May we be satisfied to havegodliness with contentment, which is a far greater investment for now andfor eternity. - P88

"[God] owns a hundred percent of our possessions, but he graciously enables us tosteward itScott Marshall - P88

Spending money-even when we do so unwisely-makes us feel free and powerful,
at least for a moment. We naturally love this feeling, and that is why we often turnto money when we should turn toward God. Cut all non-essential spending for aday, and resolve to be comforted by God alone.
- Pastor Sam An - P89

17The elders who direct the a...

17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

18For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."

19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.

- P82

24The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.

25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

- P83

Elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,
especially those who preach and teach.  - P83

Accusations against elders require twoor three witnesses, and elders who are sinning must be rebuked in public asa warning to others.  - P83

Paul urges Timothy to keep these instructions withoutfavoritism. - P83

When leaders are committed to serving with integrity and humility, churches can flourish. Paul knows the importance of laying this foundation for the young leader, Timothy. - P84

He provides three principles: honor elders who serve, especially if they teach and preach; maintain high standards of holy living for the leaders; and avoid playing favorites. These principles help the church maintain a healthy environment where faith can flourish and lives can be transformed by the gospel. - P84

When elders lead the church with integrity, it builds trust, and believers can honor and respect those who lead. - P84

When there is no favoritism, cliques and factions are less likely to develop and divide the church. We should all work to create a healthy church family. - P84

Dear God, I want my church to be a healthy church, one that is free from favoritism and strives to maintain physical and spiritual health. - P85

Keep me free from the entanglements of sin. May I instead be focused on good deeds to build up Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P85

Paul continues to offer practical guidelines to Timothy, He emphasizesthe importance of maintaining purity and avoiding sin, which can haveobvious consequences in the moment or ones that appear much later.  - P84

Paulalso encourages Timothy to look after his physical health, which affects hiswork for the church. Our physical and spiritual health is important, butthis does not mean that we should be judgmental when others falter orfail.  - P84

None of us are perfect, but because of God‘s grace, we experience Histransforming power. Instead of sinning against God and His people, we canfocus on good deeds that build up His kingdom and continue to be diligentin maintaining our physical and spiritual health. - P84

As we strive to live with integrity, let us avoid hypocrisy in our own livesand lean on God‘s grace as we pursue godly living and allow Him to cleanseus from the inside out. - P85

1Do not rebuke an older man h...

1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,

2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

- P78

Paul instructs Timothy to treat older men as fathers, younger men as brothers,
older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters. The church mustcare for widows truly in need, who have no family left to provide for them.
Those who do not provide for their relatives are worse than unbelievers.
Younger widows are advised to marry. - P79

16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION

- P79

Paul encourages Timothy to treat everyone in the church as if they were family members. This is a model for us to follow as we interact with other believers, who are members of the same spiritual family. Some people may speak harshly to their family members, but we are to care for one another in the church and treat everyone with respect regardless of age or gender. When we see believers as fellow members of God’s family, we tend to treat them differently. - P80

We have a familiarity and loving connection with them. We are willing to do more for a family member than we might do for a stranger. We should treat each other like family because we are family, united in Christ for eternity. - P80

In the early centuries, widows were vulnerable to economic and physicalharm. Without the financial support and protection of a husband or otherfamily members, widows were easily taken advantage of. They could fallinto poverty or worse.  - P80

Paul makes clear that the church is to support andcare for the vulnerable and needy. When we help believers in need, weare doing God‘s work. Those who are able to care for their own familiesare encouraged to do so without demanding more assistance from thechurch. This allows the church to focus their resources on those who havethe greatest need. In this way, the most vulnerable receive all the love, care,
and support the church can provide. - P80

Heavenly Father, I am reminded of how important it is that everyone in Your family is treated with respect and receives Your love - P81

I confess that I sometimes struggle to see my spiritual brothers and sisters as family. Help me to love them as Jesus does. In His name I pray, amen. - P81

6If you point these things ou...

6If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.

- P74

10That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

11Command and teach these things.

12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

- P75

14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

- P75

Paul tells Timothy to train in godliness. Though young, he must set an examplefor the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity,  - P75

He is to devotehimself to public Scripture reading, preaching, and teaching, not neglectinghis gift. Paul urges him to persevere, watching his life and doctrine closely, forby doing so, he saves both himself and his hearers. - P75

Paul urges Timothy to stay firm in the truth, guarding the church againstfalse teaching while focusing on his own godliness. Rather than gettingcaught up in empty debates and distractions,  - P76

Timothy is encouraged toengage in disciplines such as studying Scripture, which have value for hislife on earth and for his eternal life. Timothy is reminded to be a model inhis speech and conduct, demonstrating love, faith, and purity.  - P76

Though heis young. Timothy should not let anyone look down on him. He shouldteach with confidence, showing that godly character is not a matter of agebut of commitment to Christ. This passage encourages all Christians towholeheartedly embrace growing in godliness.  - P76

With perseverance and afirm commitment to the gospel, we can engage in spiritual disciplines suchas prayer and reading Scripture that equip and strengthen us to be faithfulwitnesses of Christ. - P76

Dear Jesus, thank you for being the perfect example for us to follow. Help usknow You better and keep us so that our feet do not stray from Your ways.
Continue to teach us to be more like You. In Your name, amen. - P77

16Beyond all question, the my...

16Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. - P68

3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
- P69

Paul writes to Timothy on how God‘s people should live in God‘s household.
The mystery of godliness is great: Christ appeared, was preached and be-lieved, and was taken up in glory.  - P69

In later times, some will abandon the faithand follow deceiving spirits. These false teachers forbid marriage and certainfoods, but all God‘s creations are good when received with thanksgiving. - P69

Paul reminds Timothy that his instructions are meant to establish order in the church, which belongs to God. The church is not to be rooted in human wisdom or traditions but in the life, death, resurrection, and reign of Jesus Christ. - P70

As the pillar and foundation of this truth, the church should hold up the gospel message and be grounded in it. - P70

The church is able to do this because God’s people recognize where true godliness is found. They acknowledge the incarnation of Jesus, His vindication by the Spirit, the proclamation about Him to the nations, and His ascension into glory. - P70

Jesus Christ is central to our faith, and we must be anchored in Him in order to reflect His character and serve Him well. - P70

In the last days, some will abandon the faith and follow deceptive teachings.
These false doctrines do not come from God but from deceitful spirits andhuman distortions of the truth.  - P70

In order to ensure that we are not led astray,
we must remain unwavering in our commitment to Christ and His Word.
- P70

The best defense against false teaching is a deep grounding in Scripture.
- P70

When we are well-rooted in God‘s Word, we can more easily discern whataligns with the gospel and what does not.  - P70

Paul reminds us that everythingGod created is good when received with thanksgiving and consecrated bythe Word and prayer.  - P70

Thus, we need to be firmly rooted in Scripture so thatwe can stay aligned with the truth. - P70

Lord Jesus, You are the foundation and head of the church. Help me to be grounded in Your Word so that I may reflect Your wisdom, grace, and truth. - P70

Strengthen me to remain faithful to the gospel and to confidently share it with others. In Your name I pray, amen. - P70