A Firm Foundation

Series on I Timothy

VI Worth

C Firm Foundation, Text: 6:17-21

Title: A Firm Foundation

Introduction

Have you looked at a piece of paper money lately? U.S. currency says on it, “In God we trust.” That’s a great motto and a wonderful sentiment to have on your money, but one wonders whether there isn’t a little irony in the placement of these words. Obviously there couldn’t be a better place to say “In God we trust,” but I wonder how often people read it or more importantly take it to heart. You see there is an all important decision in life that is poignantly portrayed on our dollar bills. It is the choice between trusting money and trusting God. Richard Dehaan of the radio bible class once told the story of the British ship Britannia wrecked off the coast of Brazil. It was carrying a fortune in Spanish gold coins. As it went down the crew attempted to retrieve the barrels of money but the ship broke up so fast they abandoned their efforts. In the lifeboats they discovered one man missing and a midshipman was sent back from the last lifeboat. The man was sitting in the middle of the deck surrounded by piles of Spanish doubloons. He said ‘I was born poor, I lived my life poor, and I’m determined to die rich.’ We react by saying that’s foolish and fatal, but it is the way that millions of people live their lives. Which do we trust? Almighty God or the almighty dollar? In Paul’s closing words to Timothy he reflects on this and urges us to consider: the wealth of the world is vain, the wealth of the wise is invested in heaven, and the wealth of the Word is our true treasure.

I The Wealth of the World

In verse 17 those that are actually rich are addressed rather than those who hope to be rich as in verse 9, Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Their great temptation is to set their hope on such riches which are at best uncertain. What is certain is that God cares for us. He is dependable. As James says in 1:17, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights who does not change like the shifting shadows. This is not a guarantee that Christians will be prosperous, or even that they will not pass through hard times. One of Jesus’ most memorable parables is the story of the rich man and the beggar in Luke 16. The beggar was a believer, The rich man who ignored him sitting at his gate ended up in hell, while the beggar was in heaven. But whatever the beggar received from passers-by he received as a gift from a benevolent heavenly Father and he enjoyed it as Paul says here. God gives us good things to enjoy. The concepts of wealth and poverty are relative, but the enjoyment of God’s gifts is real. He is dependable because He is our Father. He is our Father because He has chosen us in Christ and sent His Son to die for us. He will therefore take care of us. It is critical to our faith that we trust on a dependable God revealed to us in the gospel, and not on uncertain riches.

II The Wealth of the Wise

Paul goes on by pointing out what those who are rich should do with their money in verses 18 and 19, Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. They should be rich in good deeds. Notice the play on words here pointing out the riches that count. They are who are rich should realize that God richly provides, and also that they like Him should richly provide for others. The emphasis is on the generous character of God. Misers can never be godlike. If we share we will be like God who sends his sunshine and rain, and bestows his bounty on the just and the unjust. Those who learn this lesson lay up treasure in heaven. This is an amazing concept. The Bible is relatively silent about the world to come and our place in it, with one notable exception, the way we use our resources. Here we are assured that the way we spend our money has eternal consequences for us as well as for others. Our reception in heaven is affected by our stewardship. Jesus said to the rich young man, Sell whatever you have give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. This is a foundation for life. We must pause to reflect on our assurance of salvation, our boldness and confidence in the day of judgment. We diminish that assurance when we live selfishly. My friends, there is no lack of theological advice on how to be sure and it is all valuable, but a life invested in the future makes the future real in a way that no theology can.

III The Wealth of the Word

In accordance with the theme of riches and wealth Paul gives his final counsel to Timothy in verses 20 and 21 by reminding him that the gospel is like a bank deposit, Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. It is a treasure which God has committed to Timothy’s care as a trustee. Here is true wealth which must be guarded carefully. If we run after material wealth, and do not share, an additional consequence is that we undervalue other things in life. The world has long recognized this principle as in the old popular song, “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” But the principle has special significance for Christians because as the song, “How Great Thou Art,” puts it, we see not only the beauty of the earth and the majesty of the starry heavens as glorifying God, we see the gospel as glorifying God above all. As the stars and the trees are free, so is the grace of God in Jesus Christ. The gospel is to be understood in the broadest sense. What has been committed to Timothy is the Word of God and it is riches of wisdom and truth beyond measure. The wealth of that Word can be seen only as it is summed up in Christ, but it is extraordinary wealth. This is what Timothy must guard, and you do not guard the truth by hiding it in a safe deposit box but by turning away from falsehood, and pretensions of knowledge which are in the world and filling your mind with God’s wisdom. The world is full of profane or unclean empty jabbering which tries to pass for knowledge or wisdom but we know the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Conclusion

Do not trust in material riches because they are uncertain. Their only real value is in helping others and laying up treasure in heaven. They will obscure the true wealth in life which is knowing God and sharing his wisdom as revealed in the gospel. Remember that verse that says, Where your treasure is there will your heat be also. Where is our treasure today? i have concocted a scenario. We are in a remote village in China. There is a house church there unapproved by the communist government. When the believers enter they are asked to surrender one of two things, the money they have saved or their Bibles. That’s it! Your bank book or your Bible. Naturally they give up their bank books. But how do you think that would work in the USA?