Ira Baptist Church
August 23

      • Psalms 147.1-4NIV2011

      • Psalms 147.5-8NIV2011

      • Psalms 147.9-11NIV2011

  • Grace Greater Than our Sin
  • Christ the Sure and Stead Anchor

      • Isaiah 40.1-3ESV

      • Isaiah 40.4-5ESV

      • Isaiah 40.6-8ESV

      • Isaiah 40.9-10ESV

      • Isaiah 40.11ESV

  • Behold Our God
  • "What do you want to be when you grow up?”
    Ever been asked that question?
    By show of hands, how many of you can say in one way or another, what you wanted to be when you grew up came true?
    How many would say, in stead, I realize now I had no idea what I wanted or needed in life when I was a child?
    Expectations can be a consuming thing for all of us.
    In premarital counseling, we always spend a good deal of time talking about how unmet expectations are bound to come about, and can be one of the biggest points of frustration in a relationship.
    The same is true in life in general, in our station or context.
    The puritans had a concept of this, they referred to it as vocation or calling. They believed, and I tend to agree, that for each Christian there was a general call - the call to believe and follow Christ, and a special call - the call to whatever a person’s vocation or station in life might be.
    “do not be discontented with your calling. Whatever God has made your position or your work, remain in that, unless you are quite sure that He calls you to something else. Let your first concern be to glorify God to the best of your ability where you are. Fill your present sphere to His praise, and if He needs you in another, He will show it to you.” - C.H. Spurgeon.
    As we come to 1 Timothy 6, the section from verse 1 down through verse 10 really have to do with contentment in general, and the purpose of that contentment is as a means of displaying godliness.
    The Bible has a lot to say about how our attitudes in life can be a point of witness or testimony to what Christ has done.
    1 Peter 3:15 ESV
    but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
    Colossians 4:5–6 ESV
    Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
    Matthew 5:16 ESV
    In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

    Contentment in the context of life in which God has placed us is difficult, but it is a virtue we learn by grace in Christ.

    A Word on Historical Context

    The opening two verses here have direct reference to those in the church who were “under the yoke.”
    The term specifically is “doulos,” which typically referred to a bond-servant, or the class of people in general who were in one form or another slaves.
    This passage takes a lot of flack from critics, because here and in other places, the Bible teaching addresses the hearts and lives of those who were slaves, but doesn’t address in these places slavery itself as being a problem.
    I think we will see, in this context and as we apply the Bible outward to our lives, that the point being made here is that more important than our temporary station in life is how we adorn the gospel, how we represent Christ within our particular station.
    But for the sake of context, we should understand that in the Greco-Roman world...
    1/3 of the population were in this class of “slave” or “bond-servant.”
    One could be a slave by
    birth
    by becoming a prisoner of war
    by debt or wrongdoing
    Different than the chattel slavery that exists and existed even here in the 18th century
    These slaves often preferred this condition over freedom, because of the security it provided
    They were often working in skilled trades, important positions, even in as doctors or scribes.
    Many, when afforded their freedom or reaching the end of their agreement, would rather choose to bond themselves permanently to their master.
    Not to belittle, but the average slave in that day would be more like the lower middle-class or working class person in our day, in terms of social status.
    We note then, how that in this context, the call in these passages is not a call to social revolution, to change the fabric of society to make a condition of following Christ more easily, but to first and foremost honor God and adorn the teaching of Jesus Christ within the fabric of society.
    In Jesus’ Day...
    Many were looking to him for a political or social reform, but his message in stead was to follow him, and to be the light of the gospel in the world around them instead.
    In our day...
    We may be tempted to see the gospel as a means of social transformation first, rather than a means of heart transformation.
    In the worst cases, the gospel get’s tacked on to political endeavors to amass a following or to rally a particular contingent of voters, but as we can see in many contemporary examples, that is in the best case a distraction, and in the worst cases outright blasphemy.
    So this passage is a good exercise in looking at scripture in its original context, and bringing out of it application for our different set of circumstances, because while the circumstances are different, the heart issues and temptations are always the same.

    Honoring God by Honoring Those we Serve - vs. 1-2

    1 Timothy 6:1 ESV
    Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
    Worthy of all honor...
    Romans 13:7 ESV
    Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
    Romans 12:18 ESV
    If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
    Why?
    1 Timothy 6:1 ESV
    Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
    So that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
    Religion as an excuse for laziness
    Spiritual loftiness in the place of diligent work
    Causing the name of the Lord and the practice of Christianity to be slandered.
    Colossians 3:23 ESV
    Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
    Here, then, is an opportunity for all. Regardless of your vocation or station in life, to honor God and the teaching of God’s Word by your good conduct toward those who are over you.
    1 Timothy 6:2 ESV
    Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
    Disrespect on the ground that they are brothers...
    Rather, serve all the better because the one whom they benefit are believers and beloved.
    This takes love to a new level, and can be applied in several meaningful ways.
    In general terms, how much time do you, as an employee, spend thinking about and devoting effort in your work diligently because of the benefit it brings to others?
    Matthew 20:26–27 ESV
    It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
    This is a theology of the Cross coming out, where self-sacrifice and an attitude of service is exemplified in all areas of life.
    Now that is the general principle, but Paul is speaking specifically here of when the person in charge is a believer.
    How might we disrespect or disregard someone in that position?
    I know he will cut me some slack, because we’re brothers.
    We’ve got a connection much deeper than these unbelievers, I don’t have to worry about being diligent.
    In other fields of life...
    That police officer is a Christian, I know he won’t give me a speeding ticket if I get pulled over - after all, we’re brothers!
    In Hiring Help
    That guy has a business and I need his services - I bet he will give me a discount because we’re both believers.
    In all those examples, there is the assumption on our part that we are to receive a benefit in the relationship because the person is a Christian.
    And what Paul is saying, really restating the principle we saw from Jesus, is that rather, because they are Christians too, then we should have even more reason to serve and benefit them - to make their job easier, to not put them in an awkward position.
    In the broadest of terms, the attitude of a Christian in every station of life should be this: Not how my relationship with Christ can benefit me, but how I can be used to bless and benefit others as a testimony to the work of Christ within me.
    Colossians 3:23 ESV
    Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
    Colossians 3:24 ESV
    knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
    Now that is radical thinking. And it does not negate that injustices do take place in employer/employee relationships. And it does not negate that social reforms do and have often taken place as a result of the Gospel changing the hearts and minds of people - but our first focus should not be how we can be bettered personally by the blessings of Christ, but how we can serve.

      • 1 Peter 3:15NIV2011

      • Colossians 4:5–6NIV2011

      • Matthew 5:16NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 6:1NIV2011

      • Romans 13:7NIV2011

      • Romans 12:18NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 6:1NIV2011

      • Colossians 3:23NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 6:2NIV2011

      • Matthew 20:26–27NIV2011

      • Colossians 3:23NIV2011

      • Colossians 3:24NIV2011

  • Day By Day

      • Colossians 3.23-24NIV2011

Ira Baptist Church
1 member