1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NRSV)
Read 1 Timothy 6:6-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; Verse 7for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; Verse 8but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. Verse 9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. Verse 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. Verse 11But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Verse 12Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Verse 13In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you Verse 14to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, Verse 15which he will bring about at the right time-he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Verse 16It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. Verse 17As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Verse 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, Verse 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Devotion
It’s an all-too-common occurrence in the world of sports. An athlete makes it to the NFL. Then a foolhardy act interrupts his dream. For Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was riding a motorcycle without a helmet. For Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, it was betting on dogfights.
You don’t have to be a football player to stray from the godly path. Pursuing what the world offers can lead anyone down the rocky road of temptation and destruction.
Today’s reading exposes the danger of loving money and chasing after things that harm us. But there is hope. The writer reminds us of the faith in Jesus Christ into which we were baptized, the faith we continue to confess. He urges us to press on in that faith, so we can stop wandering, return to God and “take hold of the life that really is life.”
Prayer
Eternal God, bring us back to our baptism and the gifts you have given us: the forgiveness of sins, newness of life and the promise of eternal life with you. As we await the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, guide us in your path of godliness and peace. Amen.