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. 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. 1 Timothy 6:17-18
Not much melts my heart more than when my niece or nephew offers to share something they view as valuable with me. This does not happen often, but occasionally they will offer to share something truly special to them. Their generosity in these moments is heartwarming, and it reminds me that generosity was never meant to be kept to ourselves. You see, God is generous with us so that we can spread that generosity to others. This is exactly what Scripture commands us to do. We, as followers of Christ, are called to live generously.
Paul urged the church to live generously in his letter written to Timothy. When talking about money, he said, “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” (verse 17). When we think about finances, Paul expressed the importance of not putting our hope in money. Money, Paul taught, is unreliable. Our financial situation changes, the value of the dollar goes up and down, and gas prices increase and then decrease. All of these things change and prove how unreliable money is. Instead of putting our hope in money, Paul instructs us to put our hope in God, who always gives us what we need. He is the one who is reliable and never changes.
When we put our hope in God rather than money, something remarkable happens. We can be generous with what we have, trusting God to always take care of us and provide when we need it. That is why Paul continued teaching in 1 Timothy 6, “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” (verse 18). We are not blessed and given good gifts from God in order for us to keep them to ourselves. We were meant to give generously. We were meant to do good for others with what we have been given.
My friend, God has given each one of us good gifts. He has been incredibly generous with us. The question is, what are we going to do with His generosity? Will we take His generosity and use it to be generous and rich toward the people around us? May we practice the same extraordinary generosity God has shown us, and may we point people to our generous Heavenly Father through that generosity.
God has been richly generous toward us. The question is, how are we responding to that generosity? Let’s commit to outrageous generosity. After all, God has been outrageously generous towards us. Who is one person who you can be generous toward today? Maybe you know someone who needs encouragement. Can you send them a coffee or a gift card to their favorite coffee shop? Maybe someone you know is struggling. Take them a meal. Maybe you know someone who is struggling financially, and their child has a birthday coming up. Can you purchase some gifts for that child? Whatever the case, make a plan to be outrageously generous today.
1 Timothy 6:1-11 (NLT)
But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 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. He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.
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. 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. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.
May God’s grace be with you all.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
