Do not put your hope in wealth

I Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

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.  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.

It seems rare, very rare, that a very wealthy person is humble.  Oh, yes, there are exceptions, but on the whole, those who are rich tend to be arrogant.  Arrogance is basically self-sufficiency, self-dependency, and self-elevation (pride).  Such arrogance puts too much hope in wealth, and, as has been learned in the past year with so much economical downfall, such hope is uncertain and outright false.

Note the contrast about where to put your hope………not in wealth, but in God.  Indeed, hope in wealth contradicts and undermines hope (trust) in God.  Recall what Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

I once visited Eastern Star Baptist church in Indianapolis where I heard its pastor, Jeffrey Johnson, criticize his congregation like this (and I’m paraphrasing):  “I see your six figure homes, your new cars, your fancy clothes, the nice vacations you take, all the other nice things you have, and then I see you put a couple of dollars in the collection plate!”  He was blunt, but he was right.  His congregation, typical of most congregations, had put more hope in their materialism than in God.       

As has been emphasized many times, converting your hope in things to hope in God can be done only by accepting the fact that all your wealth comes from God.  (II Corinthians 8:15).  He richly provides you with all things to be enjoyed.

  

Besides the command to convert where to put your hope, this passage also has the command to “be rich in good deeds”.  The outcome of genuine faith is to be generous with the material wealth God has given you.  The rich are to assume a healthy attitude of detachment toward your wealth and to use it to help others.  The result of this attitude and action has eternal implications.  Paul applies the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:20.  Your generosity stores treasures in heaven that is a firm foundation for the coming age.  That is, you are securing your future hope in eternity where you are exchanging the temporal material wealth of this life for the spiritual wealth of your eternal life.  

How does this passage challenge you?  What one change can you make?