Title: LAYING UP TREASURES

Focus: Being a good steward of God’s gifts is part of fighting the good fight of faith.

Function: To encourage the people to discern God’s will for us in the stewardship of our resources.

Text: I Timothy 6:3-21

 

INTRODUCTION

            A number of months ago, my wife and I attended some seminar sessions on financial planning. The sessions were informative and instructive and therefore helpful. One of the things that struck me was the orientation of the financial planners. They made it clear that each one of us is a steward of the resources we have. But stewardship should focus primarily on the “nest-egg approach;” that is, the more money and assets we can build up and lay aside for our retirement, the better.

 

To be sure, I think it’s wise to plan for the future, including retirement, but I was frustrated with the limited focus on the here and now, as if this present age, including retirement should be our only focus in life. Also, underlying the financial planners’ orientation were two basic assumptions: “Life is about you: life and all it has to offer is about and for you.” And “You deserve it.” I struggled with these assumptions, and I question the basic orientation of a “nest egg” approach to our lives.

 

I know that I am not alone. Anyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus must learn to ask hard questions about one’s role as a steward of the resources God gives us. For that’s what we are—stewards, and that’s what is involved in stewardship—struggle. The apostle Paul encourages Timothy, the young pastor-evangelist in the church of Ephesus, to “fight the good fight of the faith” (vs. 12). Literally, Paul says: “agonize,” “wrestle,” “engage in struggling” when it comes to the whole matter of embracing Christ’s teachings.

 

Being a Christian always involves struggles of faith. And being a good steward of God’s gifts is part of fighting the good fight of faith. Since each one of us here must manage money and all kinds of resources, we do well to take note of God’s Word today: children, listen carefully as you save and spend your pocket money; teenagers, take note as you have a zillion options to spend your hard-earned money on; all of us, young and old, rich and poor—do well to listen to some sound, biblical advice.

 

AN OVERVIEW OF THE PASSAGE

            In his pastoral letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul addresses many issues and challenges in the church. In that process, Paul also issues a number of charges to all kinds of groups and people in the church. This becomes clear in chapter 6 (cf. John Stott’s commentary) where Paul issues five charges:

1. A charge about false teachers:

(vs. 3-5). These teachers are intent on financial gain as they teach false doctrines and do not embrace sound instruction from the Lord Jesus. These teachers fleece their students and they think that “godliness is a means to financial gains.” Paul has no kind words for them.

 

2. A charge to the Christian poor:

(vs.6-10). Here the apostle reminds us all that contentment with the basic necessities in life is a proper pose to strike in life. Take Breanne Elizabeth, for example. She reminds us that we enter the world with nothing, and we can take absolutely nothing out of this world.

Ruined and destitute, plagued by boils and in deep sorrow over the loss of his children and wealth, Job said it so well: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart” (Job 1:21). Our birth and our death should give us pause. Living a godly life with contentment as God provides us with daily necessities is a good antidote to possible covetous impulses within us.

 

3. A charge to a man of God: (vs. 11-16).

Here Paul addresses Timothy (and all others who are charged with spiritual leadership among God’s people).  In contrast to these false teachers in the church who are quarrelsome, disobedient to Christ’s teachings, and covetous in seeking financial gains as part of their godliness, Paul instructs Timothy (and us, pastors, elders, deacons, and other ordained leaders in the church) to flee from such approaches to life.

 

4. A charge to the Christian rich: (vs. 17-19).

Whereas in verses 6-10 Paul address the Christian poor in Ephesus, here he addresses the rich in the church of Christ. He issues a warning and he lays out the duties of being rich: “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 for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

 

5. A charge to Timothy himself: (vs. 20,21)

Here at the very end of this chapter, Paul addresses Timothy personally, by name. “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.”

 

            All these charges to different people or groups in the text should help us to hear God’s Word correctly. Some of the charges may apply to us more directly than others. A careful listening to the text with its various charges will also help us to avoid mistaken notions that are NOT found in the text. Notions such as: “All Christians must renounce wealth.” Or “Christians cannot be rich.” Or “Poverty is a wonderful thing, far more desirable than riches.” Or “Money is evil.” Such notions do not rise from this text, but from careless and thoughtless reading.

 

INSIGHTS FROM THE PASSAGE

Let me try to capture some of the Scripture’s insights together with you. I want to begin by pointing to the framework of “this present age and the coming age.” Earlier, I mentioned the financial planning seminar with its emphasis on retirement, on living the good life right now and in particular when you stop working. The Bible, however, calls us to expand our focus and include the age that is to come. There is more to being rich and being content in this present age. There is also a future age for which we must make investments. That is, Paul calls us to “lay up treasures” for ourselves “as a firm foundation for the coming age” (vs.19). What we do with our resources and monies matters not only in this life, but also in the life that is to come. Christians do not simply invest for a life time here on earth, but for eternity. We must take this truth into account as we live out our faith. Being good stewards investing for a lifetime and for eternity is part of fighting the good fight of the faith.

 

Also, in our struggles with Christian stewardship today, we do well to ponder and adopt the Scripture’s teaching that godliness with contentment is gain. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita force us to think about very basic things: Many people have lost their homes, livelihood, and all their assets. Retirees who had plenty to live on are back to where they begun with at birth—with nothing. Middle class and upper class people are back to financial square ONE.

These hurricanes force us to face some very basic questions which we tend to take for granted in our prosperous society. What do we work for? How much income is enough? How much should I share with those who are destitute? What brings joy to life today? What really matters as God calls me to live as a disciple of Jesus?

 

            These questions are part of fighting the good fight of the Christian faith. The apostle Paul helps us to get a handle on this struggle by emphasizing three things.

 

            First of all, we may have to flee: In verse 11 he says: “But you, man of God, flee from all this….” Now Paul is referring to these false teachers in the church who demonstrate a spirit of covetousness, of wanting to become wealthy and thus exposing themselves to temptations and traps, to foolish and harmful desires. Again, remember that Paul spoke directly to these false teachers and to Christian poor. But he also speaks to wealthy Christians. And he warns us “not to be arrogant nor to put our hope in wealth, which is so uncertain.” So, whether we think of ourselves as rich or poor, we all may have to flee from certain attitudes, ranging from covetousness to being arrogant.  Christian stewardship is part of fighting the good fight of the faith. And that may include flight—a fleeing from certain attitudes, desires and assumptions.

 

            Secondly, Christian stewardship includes a pursuit, a chase. Listen (vs. 11) “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.” These are virtues produced within us by the work of God’s Holy Spirit. These we must pursue in our daily affairs and in acquiring, managing, and in spending our resources. These virtues embody the teachings of Christ; they stand for and highlight the Christian faith. And chasing after these virtues is part and parcel of living in this present age. In fact, such a chase involves “doing good.” Such a pursuit demonstrates itself in “being rich in good deeds, in being generous and willing to share.” This is what every Christian—rich and poor is called to do with the resources that God has entrusted to us. Pursue! Chase!

 

            Finally, as we as Christian stewards fight the good fight of faith—sometimes fleeing, always pursuing—we learn to take hold of the eternal life. Paul says: (vs. 12b) “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession….” This eternal life is heavenly life: that is, you and I must live a life that is ruled by the Lord Jesus, the King of heaven. When our lives here on earth begin to reflect the life that is normative in heaven for all eternity—a life of love and obedience, joy, justice and contentment—then we are taking hold of eternal life. That is something we must do today—in this present world. For Paul says that we must take hold of the eternal life to which we were called when we made our good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Our baptism and public profession of faith are voices from heaven calling us today to live by the drumbeat of eternal life as found in heaven.

 

In fact, when we do so, we lay up treasures in heaven. For says, Paul, “In this way (you) will lay up treasure for yourselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that you may take hold of the life that is truly life” (vs. 19).

 

Being good stewards of God’s gifts to us is part of fighting the good fight of faith.

May God give us all much wisdom, especially in light of so many disasters and hardships experienced by so many today.

 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.