1 Timothy 6:11-14
Ps Paul Cheng
“…it all boils down to this one fundamental question…”
~6 min read
Dear Bethelites,
Men are called to be leaders of the church and the home, and once they fail in their duties, the church and the home would become dysfunctional. If there be no fatherly role models at home, how can the children be guided in the path of righteousness and away from this untoward generation? If there be no leadership role models in the church, how can the next generation be taught and equipped to lead based on godly and not worldly principles?
There are only two occasions in the New Testament in which this term man of God appears, in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 1 Timothy 6:11. But in the Old Testament, this term appears more than 70 times. Moses, Samson, Elijah, Elisha and David were all called a man of God. It is a technical term that applies to someone who spoke the Word of God or a spokesman for God. In a broader sense, it applies to someone who belongs to God; someone whom God has called to be His child and the man He wants him to be, perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. The opposite of a man of God is a man of the world.
Even if this man of God is taken only as a reference to ministers like Timothy, it should also be the standard by which every child of God would aspire to be. Just as the qualifications for elders and deacons may be primarily for those offices but they also serve as the standard by which every child of God would aspire to be. For example, an elder is to be the husband of one wife, and it does not mean that since you are not an elder, you can have many wives.
Often people would ask, “Am I a good husband? Am I a good father? Am I a good leader? Am I a good minister?” And the list goes on and on. I believe it all boils down to this one fundamental question, and if we are able to answer it positively, then all the other questions would naturally fit in, Am I a man of God? You can always tell the difference between a man of God and a man of the world, by his characteristics. A man of God would live faithfully by the truth of God’s Word and that is what sets him apart. I would like to take two pastoral chats to discuss the four characteristics that reflect the man of God in 1 Timothy 6:11-14.
A Fleeing Man
O man of God, flee these things (v.11a).
The man of God is known by what he flees from. The word flee (pheugo) is from which we get the English word for fugitive. It is in the present imperative which means it is to be a continual action. But what are we running from? The first thing we need to know is to avoid danger. Good soldiers do not knowingly and carelessly walk into a minefield. They would flee from danger. When we know that a particular conversation is getting us nowhere or a particular action will only lead us into an adulterous relationship, will we walk into it carelessly? Most certainly not! We will flee!
Throughout the Bible, we have been commanded to flee from many things. Flee fornication (1 Cor 6:18), flee from idolatry (1 Cor 10:14), flee from youthful lusts (2 Tim 2:22) and we are to flee from false teachings, myths and foolish genealogies, filthy lucre, gossips, malicious slanders, etc.
Here in 1 Timothy 6:11, we are commanded to flee these things. To understand what are these things, we need to go back to the preceding verses, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (vv.6-10).
True godliness is marked by contentment. We brought nothing into the world and definitely we are not going to take anything out either. If we have food and covering, we should be contented. Money, in and of itself, is not evil but it is the love of money that is the root of all evil; a preoccupation with wanting more. Out of this love for money will come jealousy, discontentment, greed, anger, theft and all kinds of evil! We do not want to get caught by all these temptations and traps that will plunge us into the destructive path of material greed.
The man of God understands all these things, and he refuses to allow the love of money to cloud his heart. As such, he will be fleeing from the love of money all his whole life. Indeed, God has blessed us with more than what we need. Are we contented? Have we been using those resources for the glory of God? Are we running away or toward the love of money? You cannot be both a man of God and a man of money (cf. Matthew 6:24).
A Following Man
And follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (v.11b).
As the saying goes, “You cannot run from unless you run to.” You cannot run to nowhere, you must run to somewhere. When you flee from the love of money, you follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. The Christian life is a constant effort to run from evil and to pursue God. As Proverbs 15:9 says, God loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
We live in a world where success, fame, self-esteem, promotion, money and popularity are the priorities of life. Man pursues after these things, sadly even at the expense of God. The man of God knows the difference between spiritual and physical, worldly and heavenly. He flees from worldly philosophies and follows after spiritual virtues. He flees from temporal values and follows after spiritual values.
Righteousness — His life is set in the direction of doing that which is righteous. He is fleeing from what is wrong and running with all his strength towards that which is right.
Godliness — It has to do with what goes inside. It is not simply about doing what is right but it is also about thinking what is right; it is about the heart. The man of God does what is right because he thinks rightly. His life is right because his thoughts are right. He has cultivated godliness in his own heart and that is why he is able to live righteously.
Faith — The man of God is a man of faith for he puts his trust in God and he is unshakeable. He is confident in God for everything. He is faithful to God, His Word, His purposes, His plans and His promises. In one word, he lives by this book (the Bible).
Love — He is marked by a love for God and a love for the people. It is easy to recite the greatest commandment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But do we really love God and the people?
Patience — This virtue has to do with steadfastness and it comes from the Greek word “hupumone” which means endurance or to remain under. In times of trials, services, afflictions, chastisements and fruit bearing, the man of God has the ability to endure and to hang in there. Disappointments, struggles and persecutions may come but he is able to abide still.
Meekness — The man of God is not proud but humble. There are times when he is misunderstood and the situation may be frustrating but he is able to remind himself, “I must not allow my emotions to take control and run all over me. I must be humble.”
A man of God is someone who follows after all these virtues, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. Are you such a man?
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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