August 19, 2010

1 Timothy 6.2b-21 (Good News Translation)

Embodying Hope and Encouraging Others in Faith

Introduction

1 Timothy 6.2b-21: The author discusses the richness that faith brings to life-not monetary riches, but rather spiritual fulfillment. He warns against the temptation of desire for wealth and the danger of trusting in wealth rather than in God. Sharing God's resources generously will lay the foundation for a rich future.

Today’s Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.

Today’s Reading

²Slaves belonging to Christian masters must not despise them, for they are believers too. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their work are believers whom they love. You must teach and preach these things. ³Whoever teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching of our religion ⁴is swollen with pride and knows nothing. He has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words, and this brings on jealousy, disputes, insults, evil suspicions, ⁵and constant arguments from people whose minds do not function and who no longer have the truth. They think that religion is a way to become rich. ⁶Well, religion does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. ⁷What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! ⁸So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. ⁹But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows. ¹¹But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. ¹²Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses. ¹³Before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who firmly professed his faith before Pontius Pilate, I command you ¹⁴to obey your orders and keep them faithfully until the Day when our Lord Jesus Christ will appear. ¹⁵His appearing will be brought about at the right time by God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. ¹⁶He alone is immortal; he lives in the light that no one can approach. No one has ever seen him; no one can ever see him. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen. ¹⁷Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others. ¹⁹In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life. ²⁰Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call “Knowledge.” ²¹For some have claimed to possess it, and as a result they have lost the way of faith. God's grace be with you all.

Reflect

Some false teachers wanted to make lots of money by teaching religion. But the author says that being part of the church is not about wealth, and that those who love money cause trouble. What do you think it means to love money? Is having money inherently bad? How can money get in the way faithful living? How can wealth be used in positive ways to serve God?

Pray

Gracious God, all we have is yours. I want to use your resources wisely, but sometimes my mind is clouded with my own desires. Open my eyes to the ways in which I can use the resources in my care to serve your people. Amen.

Prayer Concern

Non-profit organizations