1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Abundant Indeed

Well, today the wealthiest American citizen is Elon Musk. But approximately 100 years ago, it was a man named John D. Rockefeller.

At one point, Rockefeller’s oil company controlled 90 percent of all the oil in the U.S. As a result, he became America’s first billionaire. And it’s been said that he had three simple rules for anyone who wants to become rich: 1. Go to work early, 2. Stay at work late, and 3. Find oil.

If only it were that simple!

Most people wouldn’t mind having plenty of money. You might keep your same lifestyle – perhaps with a few more perks – but you’d probably be content to no longer have to worry about getting money. I mean, who wouldn’t enjoy being rich?

When you read a passage like this one in 1 Timothy, where Paul references “the rich,” you may not think of yourself as part of that group. But Paul had in mind those who possess more than what is necessary for daily life – those who have a measure of material abundance. You may not consider yourself “rich” but some standards, but if you have more than food and clothing, you have an abundance.

And if that’s the case, you’re prone to trust in it more than in God.

Scripture doesn’t condemn having plenty of earthly wealth. It’s not a sin to have money. But because we all possess a sinful nature, an ungodly relationship with money and possessions comes naturally to us. You don't have to be rich by today’s standards to relate sinfully to earthly wealth. When you envy what someone else has, or worry about not having enough – when you measure your security by what’s in the bank, or hold too tightly to what God has given you – your sinfulness is revealed.

In one way or another, we all have thoughts, desires, and actions  related to money and possessions that condemn us before God. And so we need a Savior with the ability and willingness to live a life in holy relationship with earthly wealth.

Only Jesus Christ is such a Savior.

In Matthew 4, Satan offers Christ “all the kingdoms of the world,” but He resists. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul writes that Christ “was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.” Christ joins His people to Himself in a spiritual, life-giving union, and He possesses an abundance – a wealth of power to transform us within.

In union with Him, we can have a truly godly relationship with our wealth. Through this union, His character and ways are formed within us, so that we begin to think and feel about riches as Christ does, and we begin to handle riches in an increasingly Christ-like way.

Paul describes the results of this inward transformation. Notice the outline. As Christ is formed in us, our haughtiness turns to humility (v.17a), our hope moves from earth to heaven (v.17b), and our appreciation for true wealth grows (vv.18-19).

Now as I’ve said many times, this is a pastoral letter. The apostle Paul wrote directly to Timothy, who was the minister in Ephesus. But at the same time, the letter was read to the whole congregation. So, the written Word of the apostle authorized the spoken words of the pastor. Preaching and teaching still functions that way today.

See again the apostle’s words in verse [17] “As for the rich in this present age.” For those with an abundance in this world, for those with more than enough right now, Paul tells the pastor to, “charge them not to be haughty.” In other words, “Command them not to regard themselves as better than anyone else.” Why might they think they're superior?

Well, they have more. Perhaps they came from families that were well off financially. Or maybe they had worked hard and saved well, or they had used what they had wisely, or took very good care of what they had. In any case, they would be inclined to look down on others. For example, it’s normal to think, “I have what I have because I made good decisions. If they had made better decisions, they’d have what I have too.”

We fail to see that our ability to work, save, plan, and prosper is itself a gift from God. We can fail to realize that two people who end up in different places in fact did not start at the same place. Perhaps one had good parents, good health, good opportunities, good timing, good counsel, and even the good sense to listen to it. But all of those are the gracious providence of God.

When has your abundance resulted in a haughty attitude? When have you looked down on someone as you compared your possessions to theirs? All who possess an abundance fall into this trap. But as Christ is formed in us, our haughtiness turns to humility.

Now notice the next command. “nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches.” An abundance of possessions can feel permanent without actually being permanent. A job that feels secure can disappear. A once-strong business can fail. Markets can crash, medical bills can consume our savings.

What looks solid today may be gone tomorrow. Christ warned about this. It’s good to have an abundance. It’s a blessing to have wealth. Our earthly needs are real and valid, but our abundance must not be our hope.

Think about an umbrella. When it’s raining, an umbrella is a useful thing to have. You depend on it to keep you dry. But what if there’s a hurricane? You would quickly discover the limits of your umbrella, wouldn’t you?

Wealth is like that. It’s a real provision from God, and we depend upon it for many things. But it can’t bear the weight of our hope. In Luke 12, Jesus says, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

There is a hope that is reserved for God alone. There is a need in every soul for security that is not measured by worldly standards.

This is why Paul says that instead of setting your hopes on your abundance, set your hopes “on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” As I said before, all of your abundance is from Him. All that you have is from God. Your wealth – in its entirety – is the result of His graciousness toward you.

Do you recognize that all you possess and enjoy is His abundance toward you? We take time for this when we gather for worship on the Lord’s Day. We pray and give thanks, we give to God as an act of worship, and He shapes our inner being to be more like that of Christ.

We begin to see all we have as a gift from God. It’s a perspective that begins not with the possessions but with God Himself – with Christ, who is now seated at the Father’s right hand in heaven. It’s the difference between hope fixed on earth versus hope fixed in heaven.

As Christ is formed in us, our hope moves from earth to heaven.

Look again at the verse. Who is “us”? It’s those in union with Christ the Son. Though we are here on our earth and He has ascended to heaven, we have a real, spiritual union with Christ by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. And by His Spirit, His abundant life flows to us.

Now look at verse [18], “They are to do good, to be rich in good works.” We’re naturally generous toward ourselves. Christ spoke of being “rich toward God.” As Christ is formed in us, we become open-handed toward God and others. We become “generous and ready to share.”

Think about how easy it can be to spend money on ourselves. We can quickly talk ourselves into a purchase of something we don’t technically need. But are we just as eager to be generous toward someone else? It’s easy to serve ourselves or do good to and for ourselves. But are we as eager to do good for God and others?

The Lord Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” What do you treasure more: the experience of receiving or giving? How does the change begin to occur within us so that we feel blessed to give? You can make a concerted effort to give something to someone, but only Christ can change your heart.

As He is formed in us, our appreciation for true wealth grows. And there is wonderful fruit that results, verse [19], “Thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. That which is “really life.” That which is “life indeed.”

Imagine learning that tomorrow the currency in your wallet will become worthless, but today you can exchange it for a currency that would never lose its value. You wouldn’t hold tightly to what you had. You would exchange as much of it as you could while you had the opportunity.

That’s something like what Paul is describing here. The Christian learns to handle present wealth with the future in mind. In Matthew 6, Christ said, “[19] “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

As Christ is formed in us, our love for true wealth grows. Our hope in true wealth grows. As His life flows to us, that true and everlasting treasure becomes increasingly precious to us.

Christ transforms us within through the means He has appointed – through Word, sacrament, and prayer. He gives the life that He alone controls and distributes. What results is not simply acts of generosity that are self-driven, but a generous heart that is Christ-given.

Psalm 62 says, “If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Yes, we need money and possessions in this life, and yes it is a blessing to have an abundance. But the life that is in Christ and the life that flows from Him – well, that’s truly life That’s a “good foundation for the future.” That’s a secure and certain place to set our hopes “so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

That is abundance indeed – an abundance of grace, from our God who is “rich in mercy.” As we come to His table now, look to Christ to transform your relationship with all your earthly abundance.

Let’s bow in prayer.