Paul the
apostle wrote concerning “the rich in this world” as he
began to close his first letter to Timothy. He desired for Timothy to
“charge” the “rich” to not be “high-minded,
nor trust in uncertain riches”. He knew “God has given us
all things richly to enjoy”, and therefore they should “do
good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing
to communicate;”. In chapter six and verse nineteen, Paul give
the reason why the “rich” should be about such things
where we read:
Laying up
in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they
may lay hold on eternal life.
The verse begins,
“Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation
against the time to come,...”
As a result of being about “good works, ready to
distribute” and “willing
to communicate”, Paul
concluded the “rich”
would be “Laying up in store”
or “putting away, treasuring and storing up abundance for
future use” “for themselves” which refers to “their
own selves” “a good” or “beautiful, handsome,
excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable,
commendable, admirable and magnificent” “foundation”
which literally means “to put something down” and is a reference
to “beginnings, first principals and institutions or systems of
truth”. Paul added, “against” or “towards, for among”
“the time to come” which means “to be about, to be on the
point of doing or suffering something or to intend, have in mind and
think towards”. In other words, when the “rich” are
about “good works”, distribution and communication or
sharing their possessions, they make for themselves a beautiful
foundation towards future intentions and sufferings.
The
verse goes on to say, “...that they may lay hold on
eternal life.” As a final
though toward the “rich in this world” Paul
added, “that they may lay hold on”
or “take in addition, lay hold of, take possession, overtake and
attain” “on eternal”
which means “without beginning and end and that which always has
been and always will be” “life”
or “the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate”
and refers to “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous,
devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those
who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be
consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and
to last for ever.” By being active in the promotion of others
through their “good works”,
distribution and sharing, those who are “rich”
in this world will not only have a sure foundation for this life, but
also for the “eternal life”
to come.
We
have often heard it declared, “there are no U-Hauls behind the
hurst that carry our belongings with us when we die”, and it is
indeed true that we cannot carry one material thing with us when our
life is over. According to Paul, however, there is a way to have
riches stored up for us before we go. Jesus said in the gospel of
Matthew in chapter six and verses nineteen through twenty-one:
Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupts,
and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
As
we think through Paul's last words to the “rich”, perhaps
we should meditate upon Jesus' words as well and examine whether we
are being obedient to Paul's charge. Do we do “good works”?
Are we “willing to distribute”? Are we willing to
“communicate” or share with others? Let us allow the Holy
Spirit to bring to our minds that which will be profitable not only
as a “good foundation” for this life, but also for our
“eternal life” to come.
Next
time Paul begins his final words in this letter to Timothy, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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