Serving with Honor
(Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)
All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited. 1Pe 2:17-20Eph 6:5-8Tit 2:5Tit 2:8-101Co 7:21-22Rom 2:24Col 3:22-25Mal 1:6 Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles. 1Ti 4:11Col 4:1Gen 16:4-51Pe 5:11Ti 5:12Pe 2:102Th 1:3Col 1:2
Reject False Doctrines
If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, 1Ti 1:31Ti 1:102Ti 4:3Rom 16:17Tit 1:92Ti 1:13Tit 2:1-21Th 4:8 he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, 2Ti 2:232Ti 3:41Ti 3:62Pe 2:122Ti 2:14Jud 1:101Ti 1:41Ti 1:7 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. 1 2Pe 2:32Ti 3:5Tit 1:112Ti 3:8Tit 1:15-161Ti 6:6Rom 16:17-181Ti 3:3
Godliness with Contentment
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. Heb 13:51Ti 6:8Php 4:11-13Pro 16:8Luk 12:31-321Ti 4:8Php 1:21Pro 15:16 For we brought nothing into the world, so 2we cannot carry anything out of it. Job 1:21Psa 49:17Luk 12:20-21Ecc 5:15-16Pro 27:24Luk 16:22-23 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. Heb 13:5-6Mat 6:11Mat 6:25-33Gen 28:20Pro 30:8-9Deu 2:7Ecc 3:12-13Deu 8:3-4
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 1Jn 2:15-17Pro 15:27Pro 28:20-221Ti 3:7Act 8:202Pe 2:3Mrk 4:19Eph 4:22 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. Pro 1:191Ti 6:9Psa 32:10Pro 1:31Tit 1:11Isa 56:11Jud 1:11Mic 3:11
Fight the Good Fight
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 2Ti 2:221Ti 4:122Ti 3:17Heb 12:142Pe 1:5-7Php 4:8-91Co 10:141Co 6:18 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. 1Pe 5:101Ti 1:181Co 9:25-262Ti 4:7Eph 6:10-18Php 3:12-141Ti 6:13Rev 3:3
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate: Jhn 18:36-371Ti 5:21Mat 27:11Jhn 5:21Rev 1:5Rev 3:141Sa 2:61Ti 2:5 Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2Pe 3:141Pe 1:71Th 5:23Heb 9:28Jud 1:24Php 1:10Tit 2:131Ch 28:9-10 which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time. Rev 19:16Rev 17:141Ti 1:17Jer 10:10Psa 47:21Ti 1:11Dan 2:44-47Jer 46:18 He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 1Ti 1:17Jhn 1:181Jn 1:5Col 1:15Psa 90:2Jhn 6:46Exo 3:14Isa 57:15
A Charge to the Rich
(Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. Pro 11:28Act 14:17Mat 19:231Ti 4:10Jas 1:9-10Pro 27:24Jer 9:23-24Jer 17:7-8 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, Heb 13:161Jn 3:17Psa 37:3Rom 12:8Gal 6:10Luk 12:21Pro 11:24-25Tit 2:14 treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. Mat 6:19-211Ti 6:122Ti 2:19Luk 16:91Pe 1:4Gal 6:8-9Pro 31:25Eph 3:17
Guard the Faith
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,” Col 2:82Ti 2:162Ti 1:12-142Ti 3:14-16Col 2:18Rom 3:21Ti 6:142Th 2:15 which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. 2Ti 2:181Ti 1:191Ti 1:61Ti 6:102Ti 4:22Col 4:18Mat 6:13Rom 1:7
Grace be with you all. 3