20160916 Friday, September 16 2016
1 Timothy 06: Who Did Paul Tell To Mind Their Own Business?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business ... And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing"

Many of the most-righteous people of the Holy Bible became very prosperous. For example, consider that Abraham (see the 8-study biographical series for Abraham from A Biography Of Abraham: From Ur To Canaan) became very wealthy and had hundreds of employees - in contrast to some other wealthy people who were evil e.g. Nabal (see The Meeting Of David And Abigail) and the rich man who let a beggar starve to death at his gate (see What Was Lazarus Doing At The Rich Man's Gate?).

"13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." (Genesis 13:2 KJV)

14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan." (Genesis 14:14 KJV)

Many people wonder then how and why the famous verse "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" could apply because, after all, isn't Satan the root of all evil?

Answer, yes. But consider how Satan's corruption happened. First the narcissism ("Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness") and then the crooked business ("By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned"):

"28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee." (Ezekiel 28:13-17 KJV)

Financial means is a necessity and a Commandment ("Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work"; see Which Commandment Is Actually Two Commandments?). It's only when wealth becomes a "god" (i.e. "the Almighty Dollar") that it becomes self-destructive (see the Fact Finder question below to understand what "mammon" and "lucre" mean in the Word of God).

When Paul taught "mind your own business" ("12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 12:11 Not slothful in business" Romans 12:10-11 KJV), he was referring to all aspects of the term ("4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing" 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 KJV).

"6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:1-10 KJV)

If the accumulation of money becomes an obsession, or an addiction, it causes people to commit all sorts of evil, including idolatry (see "mammon" in the Fact Finder question below), violation of the Sabbath (working on the day when work is not to be done), lying (false advertising), coveting, theft and murder. Hence the reason why, not money, but the love of money, is the root of all evil: "The love of money is the root of all evil."

"6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 6:21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana." (1 Timothy 6:1-10 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is "mammon"? What is "lucre"?
See The Mammon Of Past And Present and What Does The Bible Say About Lucre?