“Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share. In that way they will put riches away for themselves. It will provide a firm basis for the next life. Then they will take hold of the life that really is life.” (1Timothy 6:17-19 NIrV)
I received this message recently (October 2008) from a young missionary family currently serving in Indonesia. I first met them (when they were students at a local Bible College) during a Missions Conference when Tamara and I sat down to have lunch. As we shared our experiences as missionaries, they shared their plans to serve abroad. They have been serving abroad now for more than two years with their young children. What a blessing and encouragement they have been to me as they continue to share their experiences. I believe this message will encourage all of us:
What a crazy time for our home country to be going through and we're on the other side of the world! The verse below comes to mind and reminds us that our REAL life is not about money in this world. It's about loving, sharing, and looking forward to that future of an eternal home where the city itself, as well as the streets, will be pure gold (Revelation 21:18,21). And in case you don't consider yourself to be "rich in this present world," come on over here to Indonesia and you'll get a taste of the fact that even lower-middle class Americans are very wealthy compared to the majority of the world's population who are trying to scrape by on pennies. Let's thank God that He takes care of us, and let's continue to share our blessings with those who are needy!
I personally have learned to view money as simply a tool for ministry. As my friend says above, if we know the Lord and especially if we live here in America, we are by far richer than most of the worlds’ population. Yet we have forgotten our first love. We instead have fallen in love with money. But as Paul told Timothy and as we are finding out in rather rude way, wealth is so uncertain. Paul tells Timothy to COMMAND THE RICH to put their hope in God; to do what is good, and to give freely! It wasn’t a choice, but a command! Wow!!! I would assume the same goes for us today?
It’s a simple message throughout the Bible. Jesus taught it as well and He lived it out. We must be looking forward to heaven, where the streets are made of gold! For goodness sakes, if the streets are made of gold in my home, why am I hoarding coins and bills here on this journey? As I learn to give freely and share all that I have, I am sending up treasures for when I get home. As I give and do good things here on earth, I am also taking hold of what life is really about as God designed it to be. God is love; we must love. God is good; we must do good. God is merciful and gracious; we must be merciful and gracious. God gave that we might live. We must give, so other may see Him and live! Real life is in Christ!
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