1 Timothy - 03.21.24
SCRIPTURE -1 Timothy 6:17 TPT
“To all the rich of this world, I command you not to be wrapped in thoughts of pride over your prosperity, or rely on your wealth, for your riches are unreliable and nothing compared to the living God.
Trust instead in the ONE who lavishly supplies us with all good things, fulfilling our every need.”
OBSERVATION
Your riches are unreliable, Trust instead in God.
God pointed this scripture out to me and followed it up with the next verse.
“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.”
(1 Timothy 6:18-19 NIV)
Jesus spoke many times about the principle of giving. HE especially wanted us to grasp that everything we have BELONGS to God. We in fact are not owners of our finances, time, resources, or gifts. We are “managers” or “Stewards” of what God has entrusted to us. Jesus told many parables to explain this principle.
When I stand Before Jesus, I want to hear Him say that I have been Faithful with what He has entrusted to me. The biggest misconception Christians have is that when we give money away to a Church or Ministry—it’s gone. Once it leaves our hands, we believe it has no further connection to us, no further implications relevant to our lives.
But Jesus said HE keeps track of every cup of cold water we give to one of His needy. HE Promises us He will reward us in Heaven because we help the poor and needy who are unable to pay us back for what we do for them. We are investing in eternity.
“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”' (Matthew 10:42 NLT)
APPLICATION
Making Spiritual Investments
Christ invites us to Choose our Treasury. Will we invest in treasures on earth and lose them when we die? Or will we invest our treasures in Heaven, where they will be our for an eternity? It’s not that Christ rejects wealth-on the contrary-God has an investment mentality. Wealth is worth seeking. The question is, what IS True and Lasting Wealth?
Christ simply teaches us that we can trade temporal possessions we can’t keep
To Gain eternal Possessions we can’t lose!
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21 NIV)
In the Book of Luke Jesus tells the Parable of a King who calls Ten servants together and gives them each a mina and tells them “Do Business with this until I “RETURN”.
A mina was a Greek silver Coin equal to approximately 3-months wages. When the King RETURNS, He calls the Servants and demands an accounting.
““The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’” (Luke 19:16-17 NIV)
““The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’” (Luke 19:18-19 NIV)
““Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’” (Luke 19:20, 24 NIV)
One day I will stand before God and give an accounting for how I managed God’s resources. The resources include money, time, talents, AND the Gospel. And, Jesus will determine what kind of Steward I have been just as we read in the Parable in Luke.
If I have been a recipient of the Good News and I am a Christ Follower—
Then I am also a steward of the Good News and God will expect me to have a showing for how I managed that resource, along with my finances and gifts, and time.
Jesus made it very clear that we cannot serve two Masters. When Jesus became my Savior, He also became the Lord of my Life. How can I not choose to Love and Obey the God who saved me out of darkness and gave me the assurance of eternity with Him? May I hear and Obey Him freely for Everything He asks of me.
PRAYER
LORD Jesus,
Help me to remember that Heaven is a very Real place. You say we are citizens of Heaven and to set our sights on the REALITY of Heaven. That Heaven should FILL our thoughts. LORD, I Pray You would FILL My Thoughts with Heaven. May I be so Heaven Filled that I would not be bound by earth. May my heart be Filled with Your Holy Spirit and Guided by Your Presence everywhere I go.
May Your Love permeate me and motivate me to Love what you Love and who you Love and do the good works You planned for me. May I be prepared to freely Give whatever You ask of me Knowing You are my Supply and my strength. May I remember there is a Heavenly bank account that never runs dry, rusts, or can ever be destroyed. May my heart be there-where You are. In Jesus Name.
Here I am Lord, Send me.
Tina L Kudelka