Stewardship of Possessions

GOLDEN TEXT: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” —I Timothy 6:17

I TIMOTHY 6:6-12, 17-19

FREQUENTLY we hear it said that “money is the root of all evil.” What Paul wrote to Timothy was that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” This is a very different thought. Money in itself, as a medium of exchange, is not an evil. However, because the possession of an abundance of money gives a certain sense of security, as well as influence and power, it is easy to “love” it, even to the extent of allowing it to replace God in the heart. This is always happening in the world:

Truly dedicated Christians, however, will not permit the love of money to become dominant in their lives. Indeed, while realizing the value of money, their love will be for God, who they know will permit them to have just the amount of this world’s riches which will be best for them as new creatures in Christ Jesus. These will be content with whatever the Lord’s providence permits them to have, and will feel rich because of the assurance that God is blessing them.

The Lord’s consecrated people will ever remember that they brought nothing into the world, and will not be able to take anything out of the world, and they will be content with the Lord’s provision of food and clothing while they are here. When Job was stripped of his possessions he said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”—Job 1:21

To be overly anxious about the material needs of life is not wise for a Christian. As Jesus reminded us, the Lord knows of what we have need, and will supply our needs according to the abundance of his grace. “They that will be rich,” Paul wrote, “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Christians who do this are the ones illustrated in The Parable of the Sower as those which grew up among thorns which eventually destroyed them.—Matt. 13:7,22

“But thou, O man of God,” Paul wrote, “flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” (vss. 11,12) These are the true values of a Christian’s life—the only things worth striving for. But it requires a “good fight of faith” to acquire them—faith in God’s love and care, faith that what he provides is best for us. But we can rejoice that in fighting this good fight we are laying up treasures in heaven.

While the Bible teaches, and history has proved, that not many rich have been called by God to walk in the narrow way of sacrifice, there have been some. Jesus taught that it would be difficult for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of heaven—as difficult as for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. (Matt 19:23,24) At least this is the way it is stated in the Common Version. It is believed that the “needle’s eye” reference is to a small gate in the walls of Jerusalem called the needle’s eye, and that a camel could go through this gate only if it kneeled down, its load was removed, and it was helped through.

It is an appropriate illustration. The rich can enter the kingdom, but they cannot take their riches with them. These riches they are admonished to use, distributing them in doing good. As stewards of what really belongs to the Lord, provided they have made a full consecration of their all to him, they are exhorted to be “rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” (vs. 18) Thus they store up against the time to come, when, if faithful, they will lay hold on eternal life.

These admonitions apply to all the Lord’s people, not merely to those who are rich in this world’s goods. Jesus commended the widow who gave her two “mites,” her all, indicating that what is really pleasing to the Lord is the giving of our all, regardless of how little or how much it may be. (Mark 12:42; Luke 21:14) None of us should suppose that because we do not have very much, the Lord does not expect us to give anything.

The Golden Text presents an important thought. Regardless of how much any of us have, let us not be high-minded, neither put our trust in possessions, but in God. With him we have everything.

QUESTIONS

Is money the root of all evil?

What should be the attitude of Christians with respect to riches?

How can those who are rich obtain a position in the kingdom of heaven?

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