Key to contentment: (6:6-10):
For any believer, the sufficiency comes from God. Godliness combined with inner God given sufficiency which of course does not depend upon the material or prosperity is indeed a great gain. This is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfilment. We should honour God and be content with what He is doing in our lives. Apostle Paul’s testimony in regard to content in (Phil.4:11-13): “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
It is true that material possessions or property itself does not corrupt us.
We can easily understand why contentment is obtained through being rich or through money:
- Wealth does not last long: (6:7): We brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing when we die. The wealth we amass would either go to our heirs or government or to charity or to someone else.
- God meets our necessities: (6:8): When God created us He sustains us also. When we depend upon Him, He provides all our needs. God’s promise is with us. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to us as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt 6:33-34). Even the lion cubs may go hungry, but those who depend upon him would lack nothing.
- It is a folly of the greedy heart: (6:9-10): The desire for riches is far more dangerous than the riches themselves – and it isn’t only the poor who desire to be rich, it is the rich who want more riches. Poor does not mean godly and rich does not mean ungodly. There are many remarkably godly men in the Bible, who are unbelievably rich, such as Abraham, David, and Solomon. But “if riches increase do not set your heart on them” (Ps.62:10).
- Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation: (6:9): This desire for riches tempts our heart and takes us away from eternal riches. It is a trap to ensnare us in which many godly servants have yielded themselves. When the desire to be rich is satisfied in Jesus Christ, then everything else falls short.
- The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: (6:10): There is no sin that cannot be committed for the sake of money. Such people are piercing themselves with many sorrows because they are not satisfied with what they have. We sometimes want the opportunity to find out if riches can satisfy, but we should trust the Word of God and the experience of many godly persons from whom we get enough counselling. We can only find contentment when our hearts are rooted in eternal things and contentment is essential because it shows we are living with an eternal perspective, not trying to feather an earthly nest. Every believer must learn to content in whatever situation he or she is in. “Pleasures, and preferment, many times meet with perdition and destruction, that is, with a double destruction.” (Trapp)
Exhortation to godliness: (6:11-12):
Paul gives a 4-pronged tool to keep one in godliness. Timothy was an young, person whom Paul loved him to be his spiritual son. He had many challenges to face in Ephesus. The church had members believing wrong doctrines, Timothy needs to be tough while facing the elders. The 4-pronged tool Paul gives is very useful to all believers of young and old.
- Flee: (6:11a): Timothy has to do the opposite of fleeing from all unrighteousness but chase after personal virtues that are of eternal value. Timothy has to flee from the proud arguments of the elders and temptations of young man. It is a very good attitude for any young person to flee from the source of sin. Many young people wantonly get involved to test their self-control and finally yield to the temptations. Satan brings temptations in very attractive perspectives for young people. So we must learn to flee from the sin.
- Pursue: (6:11b): Timothy must chase after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance The list may be compared to the “fruit of Spirit” (Gal.5:22-23).
- Fight: (6:12a): It is an athletic or military language. Paul was asking Timothy to give best effort for the furtherance of Gospel. Some think that Christianity is defensive and passive to act upon. But in actual we must be active, aggressive and take courage to face the situation for the cause of the upright values. We must take the full armour of God (Eph.10:13-17). Let’s not be timid in doing things. We need to be proactive in our faith, religion and in actions.
- Take hold: (6:12b): It is holding fast of our faith and committing to others. We are called for eternal life and we must prepare others to follow Christ. Timothy’s good confession in the presence of many witnesses could refer to his ordination but more likely speaks of his baptism. During baptism, we make a public confession to follow Christ and bring others too.