Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Once again we see the Apostle Paul giving us a warning about obsession with money. In fact as you read through the New Testament Jesus spends a great deal of time warning about the dangers of money and letting it become your idol. As Jesus said “It will be easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than a rich person to enter the Kingdom ofHeaven” (Mark 10:25) Why will it be impossible according to Jesus for a rich person to enter Heaven?
Consider what the Apostle Paul says under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “don’t trust or hope in the uncertainty of riches or wealth, but trust in the living God” If someone is rich, typically they didn’t become rich by accident. Money has become an idol for this person, they labor and slave to this wealth all day. Instead of focusing on God they are continually forced on their wealth, which is all temporary and will eventually fade away.
Secondly they put all their trust and hope in their bank account instead of God our provider. While its Biblical we should work and provide for our family, we shouldn’t rely on our wealth to be our god. When disaster strikes , the rich person believes they will just buy their way our of it, or if a health issue occurs, they believe I’ll just hire the best doctors to cure me. They never turn to Christ as their Lord, money actually has become their Lord
The Apostle Paul here makes another profound statement “ God who gives us all things richly to enjoy” We as fallen humans like to believe we are in total control of everything, this is one of the illusions wealth creates. Buts its God who gives us all things, as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6 “Look at the birds of the air, they never sow nor reap, nor gather in barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26)The rich man will take credit for providing for his family, when actually it was God who provides for us and our family. Yes its a difficult concept for our minds to grasp, the sovereignty of God, yet this is what our Lord reveals to us.
Now with that being said , its not that the birds don’t do anything. The birds don’t sit in their nest all day and wait for food to fall in their mouths. No they go out and build nests and gather food and take care of their young, however God is the source of their provision. Jesus is telling us the same things, go out and work and provide for your family but keep God first and nothing above him!
I want to just end with more wisdom by the Apostle Paul “storing or laying up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” Are you building a good foundation for eternity? Or do you have a carnal and temporal perspective on life? Prepare for the Kingdom of God , which is at hand. Don’t worry about this temporal world which is fading away, put your faith and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ, our true Provider, Amen
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