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提摩太前书［第六章］
Book of 1 Timothy 6

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提摩太前书［第六章］|Book of 1 Timothy 6

【持守纯正福音的牧养】

主讲：陈炎明牧师

29/05/2024


引言：

你为什么读圣经？真理要我们成为对的人，以便作对的事，成为荣神益人的见证！

一、作个谦卑恭敬者（6:1-10）

1.合乎真理的主仆（V1-2）

在初期教会的年代，奴隶制度是很普遍的事，因此关乎奴隶与主人的身份是很不同的。但是信主之后却变成都是神的儿女，是主内的弟兄，因此就形成一种错乱。到底还是主仆关系吗？还是同为弟兄？从这经文可见，仆人不但依然是仆人，而且要变成更积极主动，作个加倍敬重主人的好仆人。反过来说，作主人的也要以弟兄的爱去善待仆人，这岂不是更美好的生命见证吗？

同样的，应用在现今的员工与老板、上司与下属、长辈与晚辈的互动上也是一样的原则！

2.合乎敬虔的信徒（V3-5）

神期待我们成为顺服基督，传讲和活出敬畏与虔诚的真理信仰者。否则就难免生出一堆罪行和丑恶的问题，即使是表面的敬虔也可能有不良的动机啊！

3.敬虔又知足的人（V6-10）

真敬虔还要加上知足，这才是最大的利益？这话好像有点矛盾，世界会说你如果没有野心就不可能做大，不做大又如何赚更多？如果得不多又怎么说是“最大的利益”呢？所谓人心不足蛇吞象，明明蛇并没有大象的鼻子大，但是却想要把整头大象吞进去，这就是人的心态。如果人没有知足的心，其实就会显出贪婪，尤其当人贪财的时候，最后就会脱离真理，且被愁苦给刺透啊！

二、作真信徒打美仗（6:11-16）

1.一场信仰的属灵战

属神的我们要逃避不敬虔和贪婪的事。进而追求六样积极正面的信仰生活，从里到外都显出生命树的生命特质。公义就是公平、正直、没有偏袒。敬虔就是凡事以神为念。信心是得胜的要诀，爱心是最美的见证，忍耐是和平处事待人的关键。温柔学像基督的最大属性。原来这不是自然的本性，而是一场信仰生命的属灵争战。得胜就是活出这样的信仰见证。

2.美好见证无可指责

主要我们学习像祂，毫无玷污，无可指责。而且不是一时而是一世，直到见主面。那时基督将要作王掌权，我们就是期待那日的到来，因此存这盼望好好过活，活出最美的见证。如何才能无可指责呢？第一不要做错。第二错了要快快悔改。第三没错也被作恶的人指责又当怎样呢？像6:11所说的信心相信神在看、爱心包容人之过、忍耐不作任何反击、温柔回应当说的话。这岂不是无可指责的状态吗？

三、富人要谦卑行善（6:17-19）

这一段经文特别要提醒有钱人！你是在世有钱而富足的人吗？有钱的定义有很多种，你若知道自己是有钱人，你就要留心这经文要对你的提醒。

第一要谦卑不自高，知道万有都从神来，多托付给你必有神的美意，因为神要你成为多人的祝福。你更有条件行善、施予他人，叫人因你而归荣耀给神。

第二不要依靠无定向的钱财，这是说明钱财是会“跑来跑去”的，例如百元钞票这时在你手中，下一分钟就去到另一个人手中。有钱人通常是善于赚钱，也懂得理财，但是世事多变难以意料。神的话提醒我们要依靠的是赐我们所有东西的神，而非其他东西。

“这样，就为自己在来世积聚财富，作美好的基础，好叫他们能够得着那真正的生命。”（新译本V19）善于世界的投资，可以让地上的银行资产丰富；但是按神的心意行善乐捐，则是为永恒的生命积攒财富啊！这不是最有价值的投资吗？

总结：神仆人要忠于所托！（6:20-21）

你若对准真理，你就是神的仆人、神的孩子。无论仆人或孩子，我们都要忠于主人和为父者所托付，我们就要一生经历神同在的厚恩。


1 Timothy Chapter 6: Be the right person who aligns with the truth
GK611 Morning Devotion
29 May 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction:

Why do you read the Bible? The truth wants us to be right so that we can do right and be a witness for the glory of God and the good of others!

1. Be humble and respectful (6:1-10)

(1) Master and servant in accordance with the truth (V1-2)

In the days of the early church, slavery was very common, so the status of slaves and masters were very different. But after conversion, they became all children of God and brothers in the Lord, thus creating a confusion. Is it still a master-slave relationship? Or are they all brothers? From this passage, it is clear that a servant not only remains a servant, but also becomes more active and becomes a good servant who honours his master twice as much. And conversely, is it not a wonderful testimony of life that the master should treat his servants with brotherly love?

The same principle applies to today's interactions between employees and bosses, supervisors and subordinates, and elders and juniors!

(2) Godly Believers (V3-5)

God expects us to be believers in the truth who obey Christ, preach and live with reverence and godliness. Otherwise, a host of sinful and scandalous problems will inevitably arise. Even outward godliness may have bad motives!

(3) The godly and contented (V6-10)

What is the greatest benefit of true godliness coupled with contentment? This seems like a contradiction in terms. The world would say that if you are not ambitious, you can't get big, and if you don't get big, how can you make more? And if you don't get much, how can you call it “the greatest good”? As the saying goes, the heart is not enough for the snake to swallow the elephant. Obviously, the snake is not as big as the elephant's trunk, but it wants to swallow the whole elephant. If a person does not have a contented heart, he will actually be greedy, especially when he is greedy for money, he will end up detaching himself from the truth, and will be pierced through with sorrow!

2. Fighting the beautiful battle as true believers (6:11-16)

(1) A spiritual battle of faith

We who are godly are to flee from ungodliness and covetousness. In turn, we pursue six positive and active lives of faith that reveal the life-giving qualities of the tree of life inside and out. Righteousness is fairness, integrity, and lack of favouritism. Godliness is having God in mind in all things. Faith is the key to victory, love is the most beautiful testimony, and patience is the key to dealing with others in peace. Gentleness is the greatest attribute of Christlikeness. It turns out that this is not a nature, but a spiritual battle for the life of faith. To be victorious is to live out such a testimony of faith.

(2) A good witness is blameless

The Lord wants us to learn to be like Him, undefiled and blameless. And not just for a time, but for all time, until we meet the Lord. At that time Christ will reign and we are looking forward to that day, so we live in hope and give the most beautiful testimony. How can we be blameless? First, don't do wrong. Secondly, repent quickly when you do wrong. Thirdly, what if you are accused by evil-doers even though you have done nothing wrong? Trusting with faith that God is watching, bearing with love on the faults of men, Be patient without doing any attack, responding to what should be said with gentleness, as 6:11 says.Is this not a state of blamelessness?

3. The rich should humble themselves and do good (6:17-19)

This passage is a special reminder for the rich! Are you one of those who are rich and abundant in the world? There are many definitions of rich, but if you know that you are rich, you need to pay attention to the reminders that this passage has for you.

First, be humble and not self-exalted, knowing that all things come from God, and that it will be God's good will to entrust much to you, for God wants you to be a blessing to many. You are in a better position to do good and to give to others, so that they may give glory to God through you.

Secondly, don't rely on undirected money, which means that money can “run away”, for example, a hundred-dollar bill is in your hand one minute, and the next minute it's in the hand of another person. Rich people are usually good at making money and managing it, but the world is unpredictable. God's Word reminds us to rely on the God who gives us all things and nothing else.

“ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (NIV V19) A good investment in the world can make the earthly bank rich in assets; but to do good and give cheerfully according to God's heart is to lay up wealth for eternal life! Isn't this the most valuable investment of all?

Conclusion: The servant of God is to be faithful to what has been entrusted to him! (6:20-21)

If you are aligned with the truth, you are a servant of God and a child of God. Whether a servant or a child, we are to be faithful to what is entrusted to us by our Master and Father, and we are to experience the graciousness of God's presence all the days of our lives.