Today’s concept of Life Success.
We live in the global village— the fast-paced globalization, heavily materialistic, and consumerist world. People believe that life success, future personal security, and family legacy depend on the accumulation of wealth, movable and immovable properties, investing in bonds, deposits, share markets, and insurance policies.
Christians also have developed a faulty, unbiblical concept of wealth and future investment. Some pastors, crusade preachers, and tele-evangelists enslave wealthy immature generations with their prosperity-preaching. They twist assorted Bible verses out of the intent of the original authors. What is the true life success?
Paul’s instruction to Timothy.
In his later days of ministry, Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus, with the intention to instruct them to set the churches in order as the Household of God, the pillar and the support to the truth (1 Tim. 3:14-16). Paul deputes them to appoint mature elders and structure the churches as a strong family (Titus 1:5-2:15).
In 1 Timothy 6, Paul cautions Timothy to be content and beware of the greed of money. He instructs Timothy to command the church, particularly the rich, and correct their faulty philosophy of money and future life success. Please read 1 Timothy 6:17-19.
17 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. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 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.”
Paul exhorts Timothy to disciple the rich, by commanding (a military term) them…
- not to be arrogant, lofty-minded, and self-projecting.
- nor to put their future hope in wealth, which is uncertain. Riches have wings. A Tamil poet compares the riches with the pits and piles of sand in a river.
- but rather (a sharp contrast), to put their hope in God, the Giver of all good things. Any iota of substituting the Giver with the given things is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5).
It is true that God provides all good things for our well-being. However, acknowledging the Giver, we need to utilize it with thanksgiving, rather than worshiping it, and becoming arrogant. We should humble ourselves to the generosity and graciousness of God.
Riches are not meant for irresponsible personal enjoyment. Remember Jesus’ parable of a foolish rich man (Luke 12: ), the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:), and the sad rich young ruler (Luke 18: ).
Interestingly, the word “enjoyment” is used twice in the New Testament. Here, it is used positively but followed by the condition. In Hebrews 11:25, it is used negatively that Moses declined to enjoy the privileges of an Egyptian prince.
Timothy should continue to command them so that they may cultivate the good habits of heart. The true enjoyment of riches is…
- to do good and to be rich in good deeds. Paul contrasts to “riches in the present world.”
- to be generous and willing (be ready) to share their wealth with the needy.
The word “to share” in Greek is derived from “fellowship” (koinonia, Acts 2:42ff). Since the Early Church rightly understood the family concept, they shared everything they had.
The end result is amazing. Paul concludes that this is the way to true life success, in which you can build your legacy. You will be…
- laying up treasure for themselves.
Your legacy will be remembered after you are gone. The Kingdom lifestyle is different. It is laying up treasures for yourself, by giving them away to the needy (Matthew 6:19).
- laying a firm foundation for the future. All other securities are uncertain. This will never fail you.
- taking hold of the life that is truly life;
This is what Jesus promised as “Life to its fullness” (John 10:10). Full life is not how long or how rich one lives, but how godly he/she lives.
A Quotable Quote:
“When God blesses you financially, you should not raise your standard of living; instead, you should focus upon your standard of giving” (Mark Batterson).
(to be continued)