Supracultural Principle 91 - A Proper Focus

BIBLICAL BASIS

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. - 1 Timothy 6:10

Paul concluded his letter to Timothy with a series of warnings against the negative impact of materialism. Much of what he wrote echoes what Jesus taught and what James later wrote in his epistle. Unfortunately, all of us-both Christians and non-Christians­ are tempted to love material things. But we need not submit to this temptation. It's possible to maintain a proper balance. God has pro­vided a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) if we will only trust him to help us find it and then act on what we know to be his will.

The following teachings are clear cut and self-explanatory, especially in view of other scriptural exhortations and illustra­tions we've already considered with in this study:

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:9)

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. (1 Timothy 6:17)

Command them [the rich] 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. (1 Timothy 6:18-19)

Supracultural Principle 91

A PROPER FOCUS

Focus on godliness and contentment rather than on riches, which often bring discontentment.

Paul wasn't saying that poor people are always content and wealthy people are always discontent. This would contradict scriptural teachings, not to mention observable reality. Scripture teaches that poverty brings with it a lot of difficulties (Proverbs 19:7; 14:20; 19:4).

Having but little of this world's goods can be a painful exis­tence. Perhaps that's one reason there are so many exhortations in Scripture not to mistreat the poor. But many proverbs also warn about the problems that can come with wealth. In fact, there are far more exhortations of this nature than those that deal with the plight of the poor:

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

Riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. (Proverbs 27:24)

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:5)

The more we study God's Word, the more we understand that it teaches balance. Certainly this is the goal of Proverbs 30:8-9: "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dis­honor the name of my God."

When we set our goals to become rich rather than to become godly, we're headed for serious trouble. Ultimately, we will not find contentment. And if our focus is on wealth, we won't be able to resist the temptations that invariably come our way; we'll eventually find ourselves in a trap, controlled by many "foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9). It's in this context that Paul says, "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10).

If, on the other hand, if we set our goals to be godly people­ to seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, everything else will come into focus. As Jesus said, "All these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). If God brings wealth and prosperity, he will also enable us to handle the temptations that come with these blessings-provided we use what he gives us not to only meet our own basic needs but also to invest in his eternal kingdom.

Extracted from Dr Gene Getz’s Rich in Every Way