1 Timothy 6:11-19

By Isaac Matshidisho Moloabi

With God’s people, the Lord will make “poverty history.” Paul who has written to Timothy about being content with life and not setting his mind on worldly riches, now says to him: “But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness take hold of the eternal life.” He then leaves a “commandment” for Timothy and therefore to our world that includes the following: “to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.”

Truthfully, the resources of our day are such that each person in the world could have enough; poverty could become history. But we all know that everywhere in the world those who have more than enough desire to possess even more. We may acknowledge the concern of sharing the abundant resources of the world among God’s children, but our need to live above others and to control their destiny to keep others as our tools­ makes us unwilling to share. We have given up stewardship and taken possession of God’s world and of God’s wealth.

Paul does not condemn money itself. However, he does speak of the love of money as the root of all evil. The love of money leads to all sorts of selfish acts on the part of those who love it. In a world in which the rich are becoming richer and the poor poorer, we need to hear these words. If we become generous and share our riches, we store up for ourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future. Only then may we take hold of the life that is really worth living.

PRAYER:

Lord, prepare us to listen to and to hear those whom you send to us. May we hear their words of challenge as we learn to share of our wealth and ourselves. Amen.