It’s no doubt I’ve had many people offer “Biblical” instruction to me over my lifetime. When you have the name Timothy like me, you’re just begging for those who have “been there done that” to come and offer their free advice, whether I’ve asked for it or not.
Regardless of the not-so-helpful advice I’ve been given, I am thankful for those who have taken the time to speak into my life from a place of sincerity and concern. As I’ve learned to pick out the nuggets of truth and wisdom present in the words they’ve spoken, I’ve also learned the value present when expressed from a place of experience.
In this post, we’ll examine the words of instruction that were written to Timothy from his mentor Paul as he was growing in his faith and his stewardship of the wealth and people entrusted to him.
Contentment is Great Gain
Everybody loves gains. Whether you are getting them in the gym or in your brokerage account, we love to see improvement and increase. However, the Bible is clear about being aware of what you are actually trying to gain. 1 Timothy 6:6(NKJV) reads, “godliness with contentment is great gain”. This is followed further down in the chapter by verse 10, which many of us are familiar with “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” There is a stark contrast in these two verses about the motive behind the gain. While verse 10 describes the pitfalls of loving money, verse 6 illustrates just how much better it is to be content, going as far as to say “great gain”.
While I don’t ever believe we should become as passive or lackadaisical as to not pursue a better financial position, it is important to maintain an attitude of contentment as it relates to gaining wealth. Paul also wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:11-13(NLT). How freeing it is to be in a place that circumstances around you don’t dictate your attitude! If we live from an attitude of contentment, we can safeguard our motives and live independently of a lustful relationship with money.
Pursue Eternal, not Natural Wealth
It can be easy to justify the pursuit of physical wealth in many different ways. Whether we decide that “we’ve earned it”, “it’s for the kids”, or another form of justification, the issue of the matter still lies within our heart. In 1 Timothy 6:11(NKJV), Paul exhorts Timothy to “pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” Again, while it might be tempting to chase our physical needs first, the approach Paul describes is the exact opposite of what our flesh and culture will tell us.
Evaluate Your Treasure
Paul further instructs Timothy to a higher level(anyone else notice a trend here?) by directing him to teach others about how to evaluate their version of their treasure. In 1 Timothy 6:17-19(NKJV), he writes, “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.”
We see yet another exhortation from Paul to Timothy in examining his own heart as he gives him all of the reasons why we should be more concerned with our actions and behavior than about increasing our bottom line. He drives the point home even further when he describes these works as “storing up their treasure”. We may not always associate generosity and using our money to do good as treasure, but it is clear that Paul experienced first hand the benefits of choosing heavenly treasure over earthly possessions.
Safeguard Against Opposition
The final instruction Paul gives to Timothy is in 1 Timothy 6:20(NKJV), when he says, “guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.” While Paul may have not been specifically talking to Timothy about money, the same principles apply to our vigilance with money as well.
Just as is in Paul’s day, we have plenty of people who are willing to “share” the next speculative investment or secret to getting rich quick. However, we need to exercise caution, diligence, and prudence when putting at risk the resources God has entrusted us with. If someone is opposing wise counsel or a proven, disciplined investment strategy, you should be sure to safeguard against any suggestions to do otherwise.
Conclusion
Though it might be a small chapter, 1 Timothy 6 provides some of the most meaningful and deepest-reaching instruction towards our attitude, heart, motivation, and actions with money. By applying the principles Paul describes so clearly in these passages, we can live out of an eternal mindset and not be swayed by temporary, earthly desires. Furthermore, we can lay up treasures that are worth so much more than any earthly possession could promise. Lastly, by learning to safeguard against those who don’t truly have our best interests at heart, we can be sure to remain fruitful in our own lives and become the best stewards of the resources God has entrusted us with.
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