A follow up to our Moth & Rust financial series

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy chapter 6, “17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

‘As for the Rich in this present age’ -  most of us would read that and right away – some verbally and some just by attitude – dismiss this charge as something which does not apply to us for we are not rich.  Others are rich – we see this because they drive better cars than us, live in larger houses than us, wear more expensive clothes than us and travel to better places than us for their vacations.  But we are not rich – few of us would concede this point.

Well let me start by strongly encouraging you to go to this site http://www.globalrichlist.com/ and type in your annual income and see if you are ‘rich’ or not!  Go ahead – click on it right now – this article will still be waiting here upon your return.  I think it is vital that we check ourselves to see if we are in the group Paul is addressing in 1 Timothy.

Welcome back!  So are you now ready to hear Paul’s command with ears that are more open and a heart, which is more committed to apply what he says now that you realize you are rich?  

The leadership of the church was to ‘charge’ - strong word – command, insist, boldly proclaim, call with urgency for action – charge the rich (remember this is me and you) to:

• Not be haughty - conceited – means to ‘think lofty’ or ‘to have an exalted opinion of self’.  Does not our world teach – actively and aggressively teach that we SHOULD be this?  God reminds us here to remember that it is all His and we are just stewards so why would a steward get all puffed up when the riches are not there because of what he/she has done.
• ‘Set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy’.  Our security does not come from our RRSP’s, our line-of-credit, our credit rating, our investment portfolio, our job or career nor our smarts or education or even street smarts.  Our only sure and certain hope is God the only One who knows and controls all things.   And notice what Paul says – God is rich toward us providing many wonderful things of this world for our enjoyment.  God is not a killjoy who wants us to be miserably spiritual.  He is joy and wants us to be filled with joy!
• We are to be ‘rich in good works’ – every servant truly lives to serve their master and others.  We are to be all about serving – helping others, doing good for others.  A servant doesn’t say, ‘what about my needs and my wants’.  Rather they find their fulfillment in helping others and so should we – especially with the riches God has provided for us.
• And we are to be ‘generous, ready to share’.  Do you share financially with others and with God?  Are you always ‘ready to share’?  This has the idea that you have God’s riches in your hand in an open manner holding it out quick and ready to share as needs arise.  Many of us might better be pictured as having our money clasped firmly in our fists, which are shoved way down in our pockets and we give anyone we think might want some of our riches a cold and ‘back off’ sort of stare.  After all we need to protect our future and besides that we worked very hard for it – they can work like us if they want some of it.

Notice Paul’s closing thought in verse 19, “thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

Wow, what an amazing and transforming truth if only we could grasp it.  Right now with how we handle the riches (remember you ARE rich!) God has graciously poured out in our lives we can lay a ‘good’ (meaning terrific) foundation for eternity.   Talk about some inside info into the best stock deal you could ever invest in – and you can’t get charged with insider trading!    Be generous, be quick to help others, don’t think highly of yourself, and don’t trust in your money or stuff but rather use it to be all about God and His kingdom and those in need and by doing this you will fund the greatest retirement plan mankind will ever see.  You will literally live like a king forever and ever if you obey His call now!

Well some might be thinking – not sure I want to sacrifice so much now and pay such a huge cost now with my money for a future benefit … I am more of a here and now sort of person so why would I want to obey this teaching of God’s?  Paul also addresses this when he says, so that you may take hold of that which is truly life’.  I think this does not just apply to the future life, heaven, and eternity.  I think it also applies to the here and now.  So many are passionately pursuing happiness, joy, fulfillment, pleasure here and now and they are using 100% and many are using 110% and 150% of their current riches to do this.  But they keep coming up empty – the happiness lasts about as long as their last tan.  The pleasure soon turns to boredom and the fulfillment is far less full than they thought it would be.  What are they missing – they keep spending and buying and trying and just can’t figure it out. 

Well as we concluded our four-week series on finances (called Moth and Rust) you save by giving.  It is the great paradox, which so few Christians have discovered and yet is taught over and over in Scripture.  Only when you embrace using the riches God has graciously entrusted you with to give and give abundantly and consistently will you discover that which your soul truly hungers after.  Give and you get – not give TO get but give and you WILL get for God rewards those who obey Him.