1 Timothy 6

In this passage we have yet another example of how the Christian life is not just something you do on Sunday morning. As you walk in the Spirit, Jesus begins to have an effect on every area of your life and gives you a brand new worldview; a new way of seeing and relating to everything: work, play, socialising, our relationships, and money. The majority of students I talk to in college indirectly agree with what Paul says about money; it can lead to greed, a breakdown of relationships and can “pierce the heart with many grief’s.” And yet for so many people, life is simply about making money.

 

Now money and material possessions are good things! Gifts which God has given us; but the problem arises when they become an “over desire”. We think we need them, we cannot live without them and we find our ultimate meaning and satisfaction in them.  Here are three things in this passage which point us to a greater freedom, hope, security:

 

1. Verse 7 states we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it. In the Psalms it says the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.  All that we own actually belongs to God! He has given each of us a measure of time, a unique set of talents and sufficient treasure to carry out His will for our lives.

 

1. The Lord will provide all we need. Jesus reiterates it a few times: ‘Your Father in heaven provides.’  In Psalm 23 it says ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.’ In God we have all our needs met, who ‘richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.’ (v17)

 

1.  Where we invest our money effects the priorities of the heart. As Jesus says: ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’  When we invest our treasures in God and other people, we also invest our heart; our whole lives! We are commanded not to put our hope in wealth but in God and to be rich – in good deeds and be generous and willing to share (v18). This is so freeing and the real joy of heaven – to have love, security and hope in something far greater than money!