1 Timothy 6:11 Commentary and Bible Study

Paul gives his counsel, ‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things.’ Again, it is strong language: run away from them. Run from the first temptation: ‘Wouldn't it be nice to have this, to have that? Oh, if I get just another degree and another degree, then everybody will know what I am capable of. I will get a job which everybody will be surprised at. I will be able to afford this and buy that. If I have a car which is somewhat more substantial and nicer than the cars that all the other men and women have, then people will realise, ‘He must have more money, and he must be cleverer.’ As soon as these foul temptations, come from the devil, get running, flee these things. They are so dangerous, they are so ruinous. You nurture them, and you think, ‘I will just daydream of them for Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, and then I'll give them up on Thursday.’ It's like window shopping. I cannot have those things, but I can just pretend I have them for a while. What a dangerous activity it is! On Thursday you won't be able to stop. By then you may have fallen. I am to be thinking about the Lord. I am to be thinking about my spiritual duties. I am to be thinking of what I can do for him. I am to be thinking of my next act of witness. I am to be thinking of what I should be doing in my family, spiritually and physically for other people. These are the things that should fill my mind. Some of the modern translations capture it perhaps just a shade better here: ‘Pursue righteousness.’ Actively work to think of better things. ‘Righteousness’, obedience to the Lord, pleasing the Lord. ‘Godliness’ – It clearly draws attention to God-centred righteousness. In other words we add to obedience to the will of God, reverence, all things done in the presence of God. I don't want it to leave my mind that God sees me, that he watches me. He will deliver me from all trials; he will bless me and use me, but I want to keep him in view as he keeps me in view. I shall revere him and love him and think about him and rejoice in him. I will make him the focus of my life.‘Faith’. May the principle of faith be the hallmark of the life of every child of God. Trusting the Lord, praying to him for everything, consciously receiving answers to prayer, getting his strength, getting his blessing. That's the adventure of the life of faith. May faith shine brightly, not hankering after what I want, but accepting his will, praying to him for blessing in all things and having the experience of his power and his blessing in life. That’s what gives assurance. That's what lifts us up. And then love, patience, and meekness. That humble, mild, gentle servant spirit, the opposite of pride. May these things characterize us.