with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter, the Apostle Paul continues with the duty of servants to their masters, and of false teachers who suppose gain that worldly gain is godliness. The Apostle says true godliness is contentment, not to love money, to determine oneself to be rich and exploitive, to be able to distribute what God has given to you. So, Timothy is exhorted to fight the good fight of faith and to keep the charge delivered to him by ordination as given by revelation and majesty of God. He as leader was to exhort the rich to behave themselves well and how they are use their property in advancing the kingdom of God. He was to trust in the Lord and avoid profane babblings, and false science through which some have erred from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits of devils.
*1️⃣1 Timothy 6:1- 16: Of slaves(employees), trouble - makers and God's true servants.*
⏹️Although slaves(employees) have equal status with others in the church, it is not the same in households, industries where they worked. Paul helped to raise the status of slaves, and eventually to bring an end to slavery, by encouraging Christian slaves to work with responsibility and dignity. Employers should never think their employees as mere tools to use so that they may gain profits when their employees do not make ends meets. The prophet Malachi says, *"And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, said the LORD of hosts"(Malachi 3:5).*
⏫Employers should know that they and their employees are all children of God and that all are bring honour to the name of God by doing that which is right that befits believers in Christ. The Psalmist says, *"God looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God"(Psalm 53:2).*
⏭️When Christians employers mistreat their employees, the name of God and His doctrine will be blasphemed.Christian's imperfections are usually exaggerated by their enemies thus bringing repute on the honor due to God's name. The Apostle says, *"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God"(Colossians 3:22).*
⏹️The teachings of Christ were of a perfect life, His teaching are to increase of godliness and contentment. The employee should not love money to the point on cheating and stealing it or their service from their masters. The masters should not love money to gain it from not paying their employees enough to make them survive or to get a living. The love of money is the root of all evil. The wiseman says, *"Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith"(Proverbs 15:16).*
*2️⃣1 Timothy 6:17-21:Exhortations for the rich and wealthy.*
⏹️The danger with wealth is that when people have financial independence, they may not trust God as they should, for He is the giver of strength to get wealthy. The Lord encourages the rich and wealth not to hoard their riches but instead help others thus they will be investing in something far more lasting than earthly wealth. They will be building a life far more enduring than earthly life. The preacher says, *"A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eats it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease"(Ecclesiastes 6:2).*
⏹️The rich and wealth people are sometimes self conceited, selfish, high-mindedness and proud. Such pride refuse them to associate with those whose income is smaller and which will hold aloof from intelligent and religious men and women in order to cultivate acquaintance with those whose minds are shallow but whose establishments are costly and whose influence in the money market is great. The patriarch Job says, *"If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence; If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above"(Job 31:24-28).*
⏹️When science and religion clash, it is better to trust in the God of science than in the discovery of the science of mankind which is opposed to faith and belief. False science speak against God, it is at conflict with the true Word of God and the nature and her teachings as far as they can be understood and interpreted bring people away from trusting in Divine power leading mankind to trust in human discoveries. The Apostle says, *"But you man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness"(1 Timothy 6:11).*
*🅰️Appeal*
All things done in this world should remind us of Christ's second coming, so we should as the Apostle says Keep this commandment until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; keep it as long as thou live, till Christ come at death to give thee a discharge. Keep it with an eye to his second coming, when we must all give an account of the talents we have been entrusted with. Ministers should have an eye to this appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in all their ministrations and till His appearing they are to keep this commandment without spot and unrebukable. The Apostle says, *" Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein"(Hebrews 13:9).* Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704).
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