Glory to God! Hallelujah! The Lord has been good to us all for our entire life up until now, which testifies that He will remain faithful to fulfill all that He promised to us. This means, God will continue to be good to everyone who call upon His name for the rest of their life here on earth as well as in eternity because God is good and what He does is good, as one of the Psalmists stated: You [God] are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees (Psalm 119:68; also refer to Mark 10:18). God is good in His nature and He is good in His words and He is good in His deeds. There are tons of examples recorded in the Scripture that describes the goodness of God shown even to worst of the worst transgressors. For instance, God forgave Adam and Eve and took necessary steps to keep them alive when they disobeyed and committed sin against His will (Genesis 3:1-24) – that is the goodness of God to Adam and Eve that we are talking about. Another example is Manasseh who succeeded his father king Hezekiah as king in Judah for fifty-five years (2 Kings 21:1; 2 Chronicles 33:1-2). The Scripture points out that king Manasseh did more evil in the sight of the Lord than any other kings who ruled in Judah/Jerusalem (2 Kings 17:17; 21:2, 16). In addition, he led Jerusalem and the people of Judah astray and caused them to do more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites (2 Kings 21:11; 2 Chronicles 33:9). Some of his wicked deeds are mentioned below for our information based on that which are described in 2 Chronicles 33:2-7. Manasseh the king of Judah …

• • … did evil in the eyes of the Lord (33:2a)
  • … followed the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites (33:2b)
  • … rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished (33:3a)
  • … erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles (33:3b)
  • … bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them (33:3c)
  • … built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever (33:4)
  • … built altars to all the starry hosts in both courts of the temple of the Lord (33:5)
  • … sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (33:6a)
  • … practiced divination (33:6b)
  • … practiced witchcraft (33:6c)
  • … sought omens (33:6d)
  • … consulted mediums and spiritists (33:6e)
  • … did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing His anger (33:6f)
  • … made images of the gods/goddesses of the nations around them (33:7a)
  • … took the image he had made and put it in the temple of God, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever (33:7b)

As a result, the Lord raised the Assyrians against king Manasseh and the people of Judah, as it is mentioned in the Scripture: The Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon (2 Chronicles 33:11). While he was in Babylon as a captive, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors (2 Chronicles 33:12). When he acknowledged that the Lord is God and repented of his failures and sins he committed against the God of Israel and pleaded with the God of his fathers, the Lord forgave his transgressions and he was reinstated (2 Chronicles 33:12-13) – that is the goodness of God to king Manasseh that we are talking about. Another example we are about to discuss is the crippled person who was lying helplessly at the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years (John 5:1-15). In fact, this person was placed there even before Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1). However, Jesus knew about the person and his life-situation and He went to him and healed the crippled person instantly (John 5:8) – that is the goodness of God to that person that we are talking about. Let’s discuss about one more example from the Scripture, that is Saul of Tarsus. He was counted among the people who strongly opposed Jesus’ teachings and the Gospel of Grace. Being a Pharisee and son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), Paul tirelessly did everything humanly possible to stop the advancement of the gospel. He went after people who followed the Way (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22) and even arrested and killed some of the saints who followed Christ and preached the Good News of salvation, which is available for anyone and everyone through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 7:58; 8:1; 9:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:15). However, when he realized the truth about Christ Jesus and His gospel (Acts 9:1-22), he repented and prayed to God for forgiveness and God forgave him and chose him to be one of the finest ministers of the gospel (2 Timothy 4:7-8) – that is the goodness of God to Paul that we are talking about. It is God’s promise to us that He will hear our prayers from heaven and will forgive our sins and transgressions and will heal us and the land we live in, as it is mentioned in the Scripture: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Apostle John stated that If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It is also mentioned in the book of Proverbs that Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

After Paul became a follower of the Way (Acts 9:20-22; 24:14), he turned out to be a true Israelite who worshiped the God of his ancestors as a follower of the Way [the Lord Christ Jesus] (Psalm 32:2; John 1:47; Acts 24:14). He dedicated His life fully for the ministry of God (2 Timothy 4:7-8):

• • he became one of the undefeated defenders of the Way – the Lord Jesus Christ
  • he turn out to be one of the profound preachers of the Gospel of Grace
  • through his ministry many people came to know the Lord and placed their trust in Him
  • through him many churches were started and established
  • untold number of believers were taught in the way of Christ and strengthened in their faith
  • many were invited and equipped for the ministry the Lord God called them for
  • many were trained and appointed to be the shepherds of the people of God; and so on.

The Scripture passage we chose for our meditation this week (1 Timothy 6:11-16) is also part of the lectures Apostle Paul gave to young Timothy who was one of the minsters of the church/es at that time-frame and to the believers under his care in order to guide and strengthen them in the Lord. Through his advice, Paul urges young Timothy (the minister) and the church (the believers) to keep away from the false gospel workers and not to follow their lifestyle nor their way of engaging in the ministry of the Lord. He specifically noted some of the attitudes and approaches of those false teachers as they carried out the ministries (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

• • The false gospel workers do not agree with the sound instruction of Lord Jesus Christ (6:3a)
  • The false gospel workers do not comply with the godly teachings (6:3b)
  • The false gospel workers are self-centered and conceited (6:4a)
  • The false gospel workers do not understand anything about the ways of God (6:4b)
  • The false gospel workers have unhealthy interests in controversies (6:4c)
  • The false gospel workers engage in quarrels for no reasons (6:4d)
  • The false gospel workers’ actions are derived from envy and covetousness (6:4e)
  • The false gospel workers causes strife and conflicts among the believers (6:4f)
  • The false gospel workers engage in malicious and disrespectful talk (6:4g)
  • The false gospel workers spread the seed of evil suspicions among the believers (6:4h)
  • The false gospel workers cause constant friction between people of corrupt mind (6:5a)
  • The false gospel workers deny the truth of the gospel (6:5b)
  • The false gospel workers use godliness as a means to financial gain (6:5c)

Apostle Paul pointed out some of the dangers the false gospel workers cause in the church and in the community around them (1 Timothy 6:3-5). He also urged the believers to live a life that is worthy of their calling and encouraged them to worship the Lord truthfully and give due respect and honor to everyone who deserve it (1 Timothy 6:1-2), so that:

• • no one would slander the name of God [who sent His One and only Son to this world to die and redeem the sinful humanity for Himself] (1 Timothy 6:1a); and
  • no one would slander the name of Jesus Christ who submitted His life to fulfill the Will of God in and through His life (1 Timothy 6:1b); or
  • no one would slander the apostles who willfully left everything behind and followed Jesus Christ in order to preach and teach the Gospel of Grace to the untold number of people, including believers and non-believers (1 Timothy 6:2a); and
  • no one would slander godly brothers or sisters who dedicated their lives for the ministry of God and are leading an exemplary life before God and the church (1 Timothy 6:2b).

Apostle Paul also tries to bring awareness among the ministers of the gospel as well as among the believers about who we are in the Lord and how we, as Christ’s followers, need to live a contented and fruit-bearing life in this world (1 Timothy 6:6-8):

• • Godliness is the means for godly / righteous living (6:6a)
  • Godliness with contentment is great gain (6:6b)
  • Nobody brings anything into the world when they are born into this world (6:7a)
  • Nobody takes anything out of this world when they die and depart from this world (6:7b)
  • Everyone, especially the followers of Christ, ought to be contented with whatever the Lord blesses them with (6:8a)
  • Everyone, especially the followers of Christ, ought to be contented if they have food and clothing and shelter – the basic needs for living (6:8b)

In addition, Apostle Paul was trying to warn those people who were trying to get rich in this world using their abilities and tactics (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

• • Those who intend to get rich fall into temptation (6:9a)
  • Those who intend to get rich get ensnared into various traps (6:9b)
  • Those who are rich (which means, those who have acquired wealth more than what is required for their living) fall into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge some people into ruin and destruction (6:9c)
  • The love of money is a root cause of all kinds of evil (6:10a)
  • The love of money may cause some people to wander away from the faith (6:10b)
  • Eagerness to get rich caused some people to pierce themselves with many griefs (6:10c)

Once again, let us read the Scripture passage we chose for our meditation (1 Timothy 6:11-16), analyze and study it, so that the Lord would help us to understand the spiritual truth that is hidden in it, which will build up our faith in Jesus Christ and strengthen our walk with Him.

• • The followers of Christ are asked to flee from all ungodliness (6:11a)
  • The people of God are asked to pursue righteousness (6:11b)
  • The devoted people are asked to pursue godliness (6:11c)
  • The believers are asked to pursue faith and exercise it in everyday life (6:11d)
  • The people of God are asked to live in love and practice it as we deal with others (6:11e)
  • The godly people are asked to have endurance in life (6:11f)
  • The people of God are asked to show gentleness to everyone else (6:11g)
  • The people of God are asked to fight the good fight of the faith (6:12a)
  • The people of God are asked to take hold of the eternal life to which they were called when they made their good confession in the presence of many witnesses (6:12b)
  • God is omnipresent and He is present right in our midst at all times (6:13a)
  • God is the One who gives life to everything (6:13b)
  • Christ Jesus, the God-incarnate, is present in our midst at all times (6:13c)
  • Paul’s charge for Timothy’s ministry is applicable to each one of us too (6:13d)
  • Jesus’ return is sure and it is imminent (6:14a)
  • It is every follower of Christ’s call to keep His command without spot or blame until His appearing (6:14b)
  • The Lord God will fulfill what He promised to us in His own time (6:15a)
  • The Lord God is the blessed One (6:15b)
  • The Lord God is the only Ruler of the universe (6:15c)
  • The Lord God alone is the King of kings (6:15d)
  • The Lord God alone is the Lord of lords (6:15e)
  • The Lord God alone is immortal (6:16a)
  • The Lord God alone is able to live in unapproachable light (6:16b)
  • No one has ever seen the Lord God (6:16c)
  • No one can ever see the Lord God in the present scenario (6:16d)
  • To the Lord God be honor and might forever (6:16e)

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, as true and faithful followers of Christ, we need to do a few things in order to improve our spiritual life. Also, in the light of our meditation, we need to put into practice the below-mentioned suggestions, so that we can have a genuine day-to-day walk with Jesus Christ who is our Lord and Savior:

• • we need to stop chasing after all kinds of worldly passions, unhealthy interests, controversies, evil suspicions, and so on;
  • we need to stop completely all kinds of quarrels, envy, strife, malicious talk, and so on;
  • we need to put an end to all kinds of frictions within the family, church, community, including people with corrupt mind;
  • we need to stop using godliness as a means for personal benefits, especially for financial gain;
  • we need to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness;
  • we need to fight the good fight of the faith;
  • we need to take hold of the eternal life to which we are called;
  • we need to keep the righteous laws and decrees and commands without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;
  • we need to live a life that is worthy of our calling until the Lord returns.

As the devoted followers of Christ, we can do the above noted matters and improve our spiritual walk with Jesus Christ for the glory of God. Let us pray to our Heavenly Father to give us wisdom and knowledge and understanding and power and strength and ability to hold on to the teachings of Jesus Christ our Lord without compromising them until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ despite the strenuous and challenging life-situations. The Lord God is good and He is faithful to fulfill all that He promised to us. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!