1 Timothy 6:17

1 Timothy 6:17 says, 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;  Timothy was to also charge the rich to not be high minded or to trust in their riches but to put their faith in God alone.  I believe this means that the rich are not to live like they are entitled to more than anyone else and are to use their riches in obedience to God's word.  Earthly riches are but a temporary thing.  

Verse eighteen adds, That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;  Still continuing to speak to the rich, Timothy was to tell them that God expected them to be rich in good works, helping those in need, and speaking to all people the same way. This still applies to people today.  

Verse nineteen continues, Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.  Paul told Timothy that if the rich followed God’s commandments that they would lay up a good foundation in His kingdom.  They were not promised any more than anyone else who obeys God’s word, no matter what their status in the world might be.  Our work for God in obedience to His word will not get us to heaven, since only faith in Jesus Christ will, but we are still expected to do good works for His glory and to help all those that we can.  

Verse twenty states, O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  God then called on Timothy to keep the commandments of God and not to be pulled astray by the vain babblings of others.  We need to be just as committed to obeying God’s word today, from preachers and teachers to all Christians.  

Verse twenty-one adds, Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.  Paul warned Timothy that some people professing to believe in God’s word had erred in their understanding of what His word teaches.  They had erred in the faith.  There are still people today who profess to be Christians, but they are not obedient to God’s word.  We don’t need to be led astray by them.  Paul also asked that God's grace be with Timothy, and we as Christians are always under the grace of God.  Paul then closed his letter to Timothy with an amen, or so be it.  God’s word will always be true, so we must put our faith in it and live by its standards.

1 Timothy 6:11

1 Timothy 6:11 says, But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  God through Paul told Timothy that he as a man of God was to flee these things.  He was instead to follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. As Christians, we should be men and women of God, and these should be the things we seek today instead of chasing after wealth and power.   

Verse twelve adds, 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.  Paul told Timothy that he was to fight the good fight of faith, which he had professed before many witnesses and that he was to lay hold of eternal life.  We as followers of Christ today should have professed our faith to Him publicly and are now in a battle against evil in the world.  We need to fight the good fight by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.  We can never win by our own power but can only win by allowing God’s power to bring us victory today and an everlasting victory when our life ends or when Jesus Christ returns in victory.

Verse thirteen continues,  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;  Paul said he was going to give Timothy a charge in the sight of God to be a good witness just as Jesus Christ was before Pilate.  He also said that God was the One Who gave life to everything and He alone was worthy of our worship.  As Christians, we have the charge, or commission, from God to be a good witness for Him, since He gives us everlasting life with Him and to stand by faith even if we are brought before the rulers of the world to defend our faith.  

Verse fourteen states, That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Paul also told Timothy that he was to keep this commandment without blemishing it.  This should still be our charge today, even though we may often fall short of doing so.  

Verse fifteen adds, Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;  Paul said that Jesus Christ was the only true Potentate, or ruler, and would one day return to reveal this to the whole world.  

Verse sixteen continues, 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.  Paul said that those who lived in immorality, or without accepting God's gift of salvation, would not see God.  The only way the lost can see God today is when He calls them to salvation, and if they reject that call, they will never see the glory of God until it is too late.  

1 Timothy 6:6

1 Timothy 6:6 says, But godliness with contentment is great gain.  Paul told Timothy that Godliness with contentment was great gain.  He did not say that Godliness with a lot of material blessings or anything else was great gain, but that if people were Godly, or obeying God, that they would be content no matter what.  This is still true today.  As Christians, we should be content no matter what our lot in life may be.  

Verse seven adds, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  Paul told Timothy that just as no one brings anything into this world, no one would take anything out.  No matter what we may amass in life, when we die, it will all be left behind.  

Verse eight continues, And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  Paul told Timothy that if people had food and clothes that they should be content.  He did not say if they had a fine house or a fine chariot that they should be content, but only food and clothes.  Christians today often have a fine house and a fine car but still are not content.  

Verse nine states, 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.  God said riches could lead people to destruction because riches would make them foolish, which I believe means failing to put their faith in Him.  Riches themselves were not the cause of the destruction and perdition of people, but their worshipping them instead of God was.  

Verse ten adds, 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.  Though often quoted as money being the root of all evil, it is the love of money that is.   A person does not even have to be rich for this to apply.  Anyone who puts the love of money above a love of God is guilty of this.

1 Timothy 6:1

Timothy 6 :1 says, 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.  Paul said that those Christians who were under the yoke, which I believe may have referred to slaves, were to honor their masters as worthy of all honor.  This might have been hard to do, but it was to be done to bring honor and glory to God.  As followers of Christ, we may not be slaves, but whatever our job is, we should do it to the best of our ability, no matter how bad our boss or employer may be so that God may be glorified.  

Verse two adds, 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.  Paul said that Christians were to especially do their jobs to bring honor to their masters who were Christians, because they weren’t just their earthly master but were also brothers in Christ.  Paul said Timothy was to teach all these things to those around him, and so should we today.  

Verse three continues, 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;  Paul then began to speak about those who taught anything other than what had just been stated.  This warning still applies today.  

Verse four states, He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  Paul said that those who would not obey God’s word were full of pride, and this resulted in envy, strife, railings and evil beliefs.  

Verse five adds, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.   Paul continued to add to the things that resulted because of men’s unbelief.  He told Timothy to withdraw himself from such people.  Even though we are to share the gospel with everyone, we are not called on to be caught up in their disputes and unbelief, but if they continue to live by the values of the world and not the truth of God, we are warned not to allow their unbelief to cause us to live the same way.