1 Timothy 6:17-19 -- Laying up treasures

To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV):

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. [18] Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. [19] In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

Most of us wouldn't consider ourselves "rich." People that I would consider rich would not consider themselves rich. The thinking is: If I just hoard a little more, I would be rich. They get that "little more," and then they have another goal: Well, if I just had a little more, I would be rich. It's a never-ending, elusive goal.

The fact is that if you live in the U.S., even in the very lower ranges of the income bracket, you are rich compared to the entire world. If you have a roof over your head, you have great wealth.

It's easy to dismiss this passage near the end of 1 Timothy because it is for the rich, not for me. But consider yourself rich, as 90% of the earth considers you, and take to heart what this passage says to you.

1. Don't "be arrogant" (v. 17). Don't act as if you deserve your wealth. You don't. It is a gift from God. (And He can take it away if He wants to.) Everything belongs to Him, and He's just letting you manage it for a short time. (See also 1 Corinthians 4:7-8; 1 Samuel 2:7.)
2. Don't put your "hope in wealth, which is so uncertain" (v. 17). Wealth is so transient. We all know stories of people who have lost it all. With the downturn in the economy, we know several people we might have considered rich who have lost so much. You can't depend on riches. But you can depend on God.
3. Put your "hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (v. 17). God is the only One we can depend on. We can put our hope and trust in Him and not be disappointed. He is the Source of all we have, and He has given it for our enjoyment.
4. Do "good," "be rich in good deeds," and "be generous and willing to share" (v. 18). Paul tells us all to not be rich in money, but to be rich in good deeds, doing good, being generous, and sharing. That's where true wealth comes from.

Paul says that if we do these things, we "lay up treasure" (v. 19) for ourselves in heaven. (See also the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:33-34; 18:22.)

This eternal treasure becomes "a firm foundation" (v. 19) for the future. (See also Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49.) Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

This enables us to "take hold of the life that is truly life" (v.19; see also v. 12). When we stop hoarding and start giving, we start to find out what life is really all about. It shifts our focus away from this short physical life to the eternity of heaven and hell. And we begin to become more like Christ, who gave away His very life for us and who loved us when we were unlovable.