1 Timothy– Chapter Six XIII

by Ed Urzi

“useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself” (1 Timothy 6:5).

1 Timothy 6:5 continues with a list of three characteristics that can help us identify those who are likely to inflict spiritual injury upon their listeners…

  • Useless wranglings: One commentary summarizes an appropriate response to this characteristic: “Paul told Timothy to stay away from those who just wanted to make money from preaching and from those who strayed from the sound teachings of the Good News into quarrels that caused strife in the church. A person’s understanding of the finer points of theology should not become the basis for lording it over others or for making money. Stay away from people who just want to argue.” (1)
  • Destitute of the truth: Whether these individuals reject spiritual truth or never possessed it at all is an open question. One certainty is that their actions demonstrate that they have no acquaintance with sound doctrine. As Jesus taught in Mark 4:25, “For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
  • Who suppose that godliness is a means of gain: Unlike the type of leaders mentioned here, Paul the Apostle reminded the Thessalonian church of his commitment to financial transparency in 1 Thessalonians 2:5: “God knows we never tried to get money from you by preaching” (NLV). Paul also told the leaders of the church at Ephesus, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me” (Acts 20:33-34).

So unlike those who “…think that religion is a way to become rich” (GNT), Paul rejected such behaviors. He also declined  to leverage his spiritual authority to secure greater financial or material wealth. For Paul, the knowledge that his daily choices and decisions were made in the presence of a holy, righteous, and virtuous Creator helped him avoid the trap of financial impropriety. This was especially true in regard to the ministry that God entrusted to him, and those who follow Christ would be wise to adopt a similar mindset.

Finally, Jesus provided us with a similar warning regarding covetousness that helps reveal the misguided philosophy of those who are driven to accumulate wealth and/or possessions: “…Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

(1) Life Application Study Bible [1 Timothy 6:3-5] Copyright © 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004 by Tyndale House Publishers Inc., all rights reserved.