Young People’s Blog

“For the love of money is the root of all evil…But thou, O man of God, flee these things” (1 Timothy 6:10-11).

Yesterday we saw that the things of this world do not satisfy, but that great gain comes from godliness combined with contentment. Today we are warned that the love of money is the root of all evil, and then we have the expression “man of God.” If we wish to be men or women of God, we are to “flee these things.”

The expression “man of God” occurs a number of times in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Actually, it occurs more than 70 times in the Bible, and only two of the references are in the New Testament; all the rest are in the Old Testament. Can you find the other reference in the New Testament?

The phrase “man of God” is always used to describe someone who faithfully follows the Lord, when many others are being unfaithful. It ought to be your wish and mine to be one of them.

“Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

When I was young, an older brother, now with the Lord, used to remind us that every advertisement was designed to make us discontent with such things as we have. This is true, and today some advertisements even tell us that “you are worth it,” or “you deserve it!” Even if we have to go into debt to get something, the world will tell us that we are entitled to it.

In our verse today, we are reminded that there is great gain in contentment, but it does not stop there. We need godliness as well. Why is this? Why are we not simply told to be content?

It is because godliness gives us an inner joy that lasts, while anything in this world will eventually only make us want something more. When we have Christ in our hearts, the enjoyment of Him is much more than anything riches in this world can give. When we live in a land where riches are within our grasp, there is a real temptation to go after them. But there is something much better than the things of this world.

“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong…but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

At first glance this verse might seem hard to understand, but if we think about it, we realize that it is true. The fastest runner does not always win the race, for he may fall, or trip, or get a muscle cramp, or simply run out of energy. Likewise, historical battles have not always been won by the biggest army. Alexander the Great won battles several times when he had the smaller army, because of his superior strategy. Yet in the end, he died at the age of only thirty-two, from an illness.

The Lord orders things in this world, and often has intervened using weather changes, strategy, and other factors to control the outcome of battles. At the same time, even those who were victorious had to remember that they too would die one day, in spite of their success.

How good it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and to know that whatever happens to us in this world, we will spend an eternity with Him forever, because of His suffering and death on Calvary’s cross.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

What a practical verse! It is important not to waste our time! We should do our work to the best of our ability, and in order to get it done. Sadly, some young people today have not learned to work, and then, when they get a job, they do not seem to know how to do it well. But a sloppy and poorly done job is not worthy of a Christian; we should do our work as unto the Lord, and as if the Lord Himself were watching us.

Quite a few years ago, when I was in university, I sometimes worked in heavy industry during the summer. At that time, if a man worked a little too hard, the other men often told him to slow down, as his hard work was “showing up” the rest of them. Many of those men did not work very hard, and did not want a hard worker to do more than they did. But it is good for a Christian to be known as a hard worker, and a good worker. Not only will our employer like it, but it will also honor the Lord.

“Jesus answered and said unto him [Judas, not Iscariot], If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).

On Saturday, our verse said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions.” In the original language of the New Testament (Greek), the word “mansions” and the word “abode” in today’s verse are the same. This word is not used in any other place in the New Testament. It has the thought of our living in a place continuously, for a long time.

In a coming day, when we leave this world, we will enjoy the many mansions in the Father’s house. But God wants us to enjoy something of that house now. What will make the Father’s house a home to us? It will be the presence there of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. But according to today’s verse, if we obey the Lord’s words, we can enjoy the presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in our everyday life, even before we get to the Father’s house.

After He went back to heaven, the Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit down to indwell every true believer, and it is the Holy Spirit that gives us joy in our hearts, as we walk with the Lord, in obedience and faithfulness.

“Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27)

As we mentioned yesterday, the Lord Jesus had told His disciples that He must go to the cross, and that after that He must go away from them for a while. However, He was going to leave something with them; He was going to leave peace with them. What does this mean?

This peace refers to our having peace with God about our sins, because of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. All of the disciples (except Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord) already had new life in Christ, but they did not yet know the real peace of having all their sins forgiven, and that they had nothing to fear from God’s judgment for sin. After He had suffered for sin on the cross, the Lord would leave with them that wonderful peace—peace that the whole question of sin had been settled once and for all. And we now have the peace and joy of knowing His Father as our Father. If we are truly saved, you and I can enjoy that same peace. Have we thanked Him for it?

“In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you” (John 14:2).

At the time that the Lord Jesus said these words, His disciples were very concerned because He had told them that He was going away from them. He was going back to heaven—back to His Father. They had hoped for an earthly kingdom, but the Lord told them clearly that this was not going to happen at that time. But then He told them something better.

He told them that instead of an earthly kingdom, they would spend eternity with Him in the Father’s house—the place where He lived. What a wonderful prospect that is! It is really more than we can understand. God the Father, and His Son the Lord Jesus, love us so much that they want us to spend eternity in the Father’s house.

This is the only time in the Bible that the expression “My Father’s house” is used in connection with heaven, but it is enough to show us how much God loves us. He wants us to enjoy His presence for all eternity, in His home!

“The doctrine which is according to godliness” (1 Timothy 6:3).

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he impressed upon him “the doctrine which is according to godliness.” Not only was Timothy to learn this for himself, but he was to teach it to others.

In our Christian life, it is important to have a basis for all our actions, and the doctrine (or teaching) of the Word of God forms that basis for us. All the teachings of the Bible, if they are followed practically in our lives, will result in a godly walk. Then what we teach and what we do will be according to the Word of God. If a Christian is walking in a disorderly way, he cannot say that the Bible told him to act that way.

All this is most important, for false religions may teach some good things, and perhaps some good moral principles. However, they are always mixed with other things that are not good, and we can readily see the results in the practices of those who follow these false religions. The next verse in our chapter (1 Timothy 6:4) tells us that those who ignore the teaching of Scripture end up exhibiting pride, envy, strife, etc. But the Word of God always results in that which glorifies Christ.

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Timothy 5:20).

When I was in high school, I remember that one day, when our principal made the announcements, he remarked that for the first time in eight years, he had felt compelled to use the strap on a boy. He further remarked, “I have a good mind to tell you his name, and why I did it.” He did not tell us his name or why he strapped him, but at the time, no one thought this remark was unusual. Yet today it is considered wrong to rebuke anyone publicly for bad behavior or wrongdoing. Which is the right way?

According to our verse for today, there are times when it is right to administer a public rebuke, so that others will realize the seriousness of sin. It may be embarrassing to the individual, but that is part of the punishment for wrongdoing. Also, if we learn from the experience, it is worth it, and perhaps it will keep others from doing wrong things. This scripture was written to Timothy, who was to be a help to other believers. Obviously we are not called to rebuke every sin in the life of an unbeliever.

However, as in everything, we need wisdom from the Lord in applying this scripture. Sometimes a private word with someone is more helpful than a public rebuke. The important point is that sin should not be ignored, either in our own life, or in the lives of others.

“And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh” (Genesis 47:10).

“And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better” (Hebrews 7:7).

As we saw yesterday, Jacob had to admit that his life had not been a happy one, and we saw that this was because he had tried to get God’s blessing by his own efforts. But then it is recorded that he blessed Pharaoh—the king of the mightiest country in the world at that time. How could this be?

It was because Jacob realized that, in spite of all his failures, he was a child of God, and thus was superior to those who did not know the Lord. Yes, it is true that Pharaoh had seen the power of the Lord displayed in Joseph, who had saved Egypt from disaster by interpreting Pharaoh’s dream correctly. But sadly, it appears that Egypt continued on in idolatry, and at times even the Israelites were affected by it.

By this time in his life, Jacob had realized the grace of God in spite of his failures. His favorite son Joseph, whom he thought was dead, was alive. His happiest years were ahead of him, and he could confidently bless Pharaoh, for surely “the less is blessed of the better.”