“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” ( 1 Timothy 6:6-7).

Listen to this. Too many seem to think that they can take whatever it is with them.  We are blessed to have what we have.  God grants as God grants.  All these things are gifts.  Sure, we work and scrimp and save, but all of this does not mean that we will not leave them behind after our last day.  Act with equanimity and be fair to all.  You will leave everything behind, be it small or large.  Be cheerful in your giving.

Lord, I do hoard and think of all these things as mine alone.  Help me shift my thinking so that I treat all things as Yours.  They are and the difference is my attitude.  Guide me, Lord, in the right way of thinking about these things so that I may have a mature and proper attitude of stewardship.  In You is all hope and through You alone is salvation.  Guide me to not just hear these things, but to do them.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us by the example of Your life with an indifference to ownership.  You did not accumulate things, yet You never did without.  You lived in the provision of the day.  Help me to learn from Your example so that I might now and always look to You as the true source who has already provided all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may be a good steward and know I own nothing.  Amen.

“He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4b-5).

There are those who love to stir the pot.  Always seeking to be excited about something, they do not settle for what the Lord has given them.  These are the signs.  Do not ignore them, but realize they are symptoms of the disease of sin.  Inoculate them with the love of Jesus as a doctor would with a physical disease.  Do not allow the cancer of sin to grow.  Many congregations have allowed the cancer to grow and then wonder why they have failed.

Lord, help me to be bold in seeing things for what they are.  Let me always be gracious, but also willing to stand the right ground against the sins of those who would hurt Your body.  Guide me, Lord, to know when to stand and when to sit down.  Guide me to know the difference between a tough love that says no, and an even tougher love that sees but does not yet act.  You know what is necessary.  Guide me.

Lord Jesus, how hard it is for You to always walk this line with us sinners.  You walk it so that those who will come to know You will have the grace to reach the right place.  Help me to be like You so that I do not battle with others but love them enough to bring them to where they need to be.  Help me in and through all things to be led by You and to do things as You direct them to be done.  Amen.

“Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:2a-4a).

This world is filled with people who want to do what they think is right in their own mind.  We are called to listen to the Lord Jesus and do as He directs.  More than suggestions, He has given us the words of eternal life.  Come then and be rid of your arrogance and puffed up attitude.  Live into the life you have been given by grace.  Know that in the Lord there is hope and an eternal life.

Lord Jesus, You know the difficulty of navigating life in this world.  You know that there are those who think more highly of themselves than they ought.  Sometimes that is me.  Help me to be truly honest and to teach what You have given me to teach.  Help me to imitate Your life as the godly life.  Help me to move from understanding nothing to knowing that You are Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, though You are above everything, You acted as no one special.  You through whom all things have their being, humbled Yourself, even to death on the cross.  Lead me, Lord, in this example to not see myself as anything other than one of Your redeemed and to teach what is godly and true.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You have established and help me never to veer from the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved” (1 Timothy 6:2).

In our day, we think of ourselves as equal to everyone else.  It is much better to think of yourself as the servant of all.  The attitude you adopt reflects the intent of your heart.  If at first you are unable, try to act as if you were able.  The Lord always works with a contrite heart.  Treat others with respect and dignity, no matter their position, and live the kind of life that emulates how our Lord lived on earth.

Lord, You know how difficult it is in the face of arrogance and self-superiority.  Lead me, O Lord, to live into the life You have given me so that I would forever hold fast to this life of faith and grow in Your likeness.  Do not allow me to fall into the trap of the wicked one, nor let pride rule my heart, attitude, or mind.  In all things, lead me to be humble that I would learn to be like You.

Lord Jesus, You died because of our failures.  You did so willingly, knowing that I could not be what I need to be without You.  Take me and make of me what I need to be and begin with the attitude I carry around every day (unless You need to begin elsewhere).  Lead me in Your goodness, O Lord, and help me through the obstacles that get in the way.  In and through all things, allow me to see where I am wrong and where I have not respected others as I should.  Amen.  

“Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled” (1 Timothy 6:1).

Perhaps as many as one-third of the Roman Empire were slaves.  Christ has not called us to throw off the yoke of this world’s bondage but has freed us for eternity by dying for our sins.  In the vein of that reality, we are not to be belligerent, rebellious, or angry, but live the life we have been given.  Some have and others do not.  Some are able and others are not.  In all of this, we are called to live for Christ.

Lord, there are things in my life I would like to have changed.  I do not understand these things, but You have a reason as to why what bugs me remains.  Whatever the case, help me turn to You so that I may live the life You have given me and grow in Your likeness throughout all circumstances.  Teach me to honor as You honor and live as You live knowing that all things are in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You came to save us.  You willingly allowed Yourself to be subjected to all kinds of things in order that we might have grace and gain salvation.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of truth and guide me according to Your goodness to live as You lived.  Help me honor all who are in my life, even those who have subjected me to bondage.  Let me not revile, but love and learn to live freely.  Amen.

“The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.  Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed” (1 Timothy 5:274-25).

Jesus told us that by their fruit we would be known.  This is not to say that we, or anyone, should judge others as to whether they are in the salvation of Christ.  But it does mean that we can see things and recognize whether one is doing as they say or doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord.  If the church would stop ignoring the obvious, it would be better for us all.

Lord, help me to be discerning in order that I may see what there is to see.  The one who does evil needs prayer, edification and encouragement all the more.  All of this is for the sake of those who are willing not to perish, but to come into new life.  Lead me, Lord, in the right direction to see these things and then, when You give direction, to act upon Your command.  Keep me from  thinking I know what the outcome is.

Lord Jesus, You died for all of us sinners.  You love us each equally and the Father desires that none would perish.  Yet, there are fruits that are evident that point one way or the other.  Lead me Lord to see what I need to see and yet to do so without making pronouncements even in my mind as to what I see and what it means.  Through all things, lead me to love my neighbor and care for all equally and impartially.  Amen. 

“No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Timothy had maladies.  We each have our issues and the Lord provides.  More important than that, this is a principle which the church developed into the idea of temperance.  It is to develop balance in this life and in this age.  We fight against puritanical temptations because on the one hand we know sin is all around us and on the other, we would rather be where there is none.  Be balanced and do what is needed to have the best temperament.

Lord, You know the temptations of this world.  You know how we are tempted in one direction and then the next.  Guide me, O Lord, to see that I too need to do what is needed to have an even temperament and stay the course You have set before me.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life and teach me to hold fast to the course You have set me upon so that I may grow in this gift of faith and know You that are true as You know the truth of me.

Lord, You have given the promise in Scripture that the day will come, when we shall stand before You, and we shall know even as we have always been known.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth in order that I would forever hold fast to You and do what needs to be done, not letting other things  get in the way.  Let me be neither compulsive, nor exclusive, but balanced in all things.  Amen.

“Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin” (1 Timothy 5:22).

We live in a time when the expectation is that we will help all people in whatever way they want to be helped.  Listen!  True help comes in loving your neighbor, not in just giving them what they want, but seeking for what they need.  In a culture that does not want to invest time, energy, or true money in another, we who follow Jesus are called to a different place.  Be willing to invest in others, but also be wary to invest wisely.

Lord, teach me to listen to You so that I will be wary when I need to be wary and willing where I need to be willing.  Guide me to see that these things are important.  Many have fallen away from their upbringing and do not look to You.  Let me not be one who causes another to stumble, but instead, one who invests rightly in the lives of others.  Lord, You showed how to be merciful, so guide me in the right way.  

Lord Jesus, You did not do everything for everyone.  Those who hate You use this as an excuse to continue hating.  You have called us to love, but to love responsibly.  Guide me, Lord, to know that only You understand the outcome of these things.  Teach me to listen so that, in obedience to You, I may be guided to do what is right always.  Lead me, O Lord, and give me faith to follow where You lead.  Amen.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality” (1 Timothy 5:21).

Without bias is the instruction.  That is a hard thing to do which is why an elder needs to be all of the things we have heard in this Epistle.  All for the sake of the church and the one with whom these things are true.  Temperance is needed and an eye for what is right and true.  These are not trivial or even temporal matters, but are a matter of eternal life for the ones for whom these things apply.

Sometimes Lord I trivialize what is important and make important what is trivial.  Help me understand that You are dealing with forever.  I cannot even understand this fully, but help me prioritize these matters such that I do not let the trivial things have more weight than the matters that impact Your bride, the church, and the sheep that are influenced by all that I say or do.

Lord Jesus, You have come to guide me into all righteousness.  Lead me this day in the way of truth so that I would do what is right and apply the principles You have been teaching me.  Let me do these things without partiality or bias.  Help me look to You in all circumstances so that I would do what is right according to You and the Word that You have given.  Lead me day by day to become more like You.  Amen.

“Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning” (1 Timothy 5:20).

Jesus gives us the principle of confrontation in Matthew 18.  The church has understood these things with the overarching principle of getting the one in trouble to repent and get back on track.  If they will not, then, so that others do not think that blatant sinning is okay, rebuke the flagrant one publicly.  Many will not do that in our day and so the church slides into ineffectiveness.

Lord, teach me that it is loving to discipline one who needs it.  Guide me, Lord, to be temperate in such things, but also to realize that such things are necessary.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may practice what You would have me practice.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth that I would accept rebuke when it is mine to receive and be willing to love my neighbor as I would want to be loved.

Lord, You rebuked Peter in love.  He received it and continued on.  Help me to receive rebuke when it comes.  Help me to rebuke when it is needed.  In and through all things, lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go so that I may walk in humble obedience to You.  Through all things Lord, continue to teach me what I need to know.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life that I may dwell with You forever.  Amen.