Rich in More Ways than One

Read 1 Timothy 4:1–6:21

12. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. . . .
15. For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. . . .
17. Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.
18. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.
19. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 1 Timothy 6:12, 15, 17-19

Sharing can be a measure of love. People who love each other willingly share all they have. Conversely, when sharing becomes a chore, love is at low tide.

Just as couples in love share with one another generously, so should Christians. In this reading, Paul admonishes believers to share their wealth with those in need. But he does not stop there. He tells Christians to give happily, from the heart, and not merely out of duty to the law. How does your giving compare to Paul’s admonition?

In this section, Paul also advises young leaders on how to win the respect of older people, and he reveals the source of true contentment.

Timothy lived and ministered in Ephesus, a large and wealthy city. His church probably had many wealthy members. Paul’s instructions to Timothy included the charge to teach the believers how to manage wealth (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Having a lot of money, he wrote, carries great responsibility. The wealthy must be generous, but they should not be arrogant just because they have a lot to give. They must take care not to hoard their money for security instead of finding their security in God. And they should take encouragement from the fact that their giving stores up “treasure as a good foundation for the future” (6:19).

If you have a surplus of money, the opportunities to do good with it are almost endless. Rather than keeping all of it for yourself, ask God how you can use the resources he has given you to build up treasures in heaven. If money is scarce, you can still be generous with what you have. Just be sure to ask for direction to help you share what you have wisely.