Do good.

November 11, 2021 (Thursday)

 

Let’s face it, sometimes the only defense we have against sin is to flee. Paul advised his young apprentice, “But as for you, man of God, run away from all these things. Instead, pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.” [1 Timothy 6:11 CEB] Notice the image of running away verses pursuing. Each involve effort and endurance.

 

What is Timothy to run from? Let’s dig into a few things. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul warned, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.” [CEB] We need to be clear, making and having money is not wrong, sin, or evil. The love of money is trouble. Pursuing money drains energy better used elsewhere. The trouble with the love of money is it lures people way from the faith. Craving money ends badly, in a lot of pain.

 

The reality as Paul explains to Timothy is, “But people who are trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” [1 Timothy 6:9 CEB] Temptations are portrayed as traps. Falling for them, inflaming our passion for more, are painted as “stupid” and “harmful.” Again notice, it does not end well for those that are trapped.

 

Paul’s philosophy sounds simple, “Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have.” [1 Timothy 6:6 CEB] Godliness with contentment is the perfect place to be in this life. Some might accuse Paul of lack of ambition, but seriously, “We didn’t bring anything into the world and so we can’t take anything out of it.” [1 Timothy 6:7 CEB] Or as the bumper sticker theologian once quipped, “He who dies with the most toys, still dies.”

 

There is another danger associated with the love of money. “There is constant bickering between people whose minds are ruined and who have been robbed of the truth. They think that godliness is a way to make money!” [1 Timothy 6:5 CEB] The road on the love of money is filled with constant bickering, ruined minds, and being robbed of the truth. The love of money can create constant tension between people, blind our ability to think, and make us dumb.

 

Money has a deadly poison called pride, “That person is conceited. They don’t understand anything but have a sick obsession with debates and arguments. This creates jealousy, conflict, verbal abuse, and evil suspicions.” [1 Timothy 6:4 CEB] What you get with an arrogant (conceited) person is someone who wants to argue. You can see it when they continually start arguments. Paul notes this is a “sick obsession.” Paul, having debated the religious elite in Jerusalem and Athens had a good understanding. Again, these things do not end well.

 

For those who are “rich” (relative to context), Paul advises, “Tell people who are rich at this time not to become egotistical and not to place their hope on their finances, which are uncertain. Instead, they need to hope in God, who richly provides everything for our enjoyment.” [1 Timothy 6:17 CEB] Trust God, not finances (or anything of this world). He continues, “Tell them to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be generous, and to share with others.” [1 Timothy 6:18 CEB] Please notice, this is based on and in proportion to the generosity of God.

 

Do good. Sounds too simple to be a rule for life, but there it is. Whoever we are, whatever our resources, we all have the potential to do good where ever we find ourselves.