1 Timothy 6:17-19 – Charge of Generosity

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – Charge of Generosity

Intro:

"ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU..." – John F. Kennedy

On January 20, 1967, John Kennedy took the oath of office to become the 35th president of the United States of America. His inaugural address was short, only 1,355 words had one of the most remembered statements in world history. It set afire many youth and invigorated Americans into a can-do attitude that normalized the suffering of one American for the need of another American. His vision of human selflessness sparked a worldwide love for the US and the community of the world. He stated: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” … then followed it up with… “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

Today America is different. There is no longer a since of world community, nor a sense of American community. Each person is after what ever they can get off the other. We have sold out the souls of our children to make dime. Our conscience is seared by our overindulgences in sexual perversions, adulteries, pornography. We consume, and consume, and consume.

Where we look to see a difference, we hope would be in the church. But that is not so. Many churches have lost their sense of unity in Christ. They have allowed themselves to fall prey to false doctrines introduced by snakes and devils. They have left the message of the Gospel and sought after schemes to rape the innocent of their monies. They do these things in the name of the Lord God; they build mega churches. Some have their own private planes, and their pastors live in extravagant houses. Building up treasures here on earth, claiming that it is for the Kingdom of God. They are deceiving devils with forked tongues. They do not seek the glorification of Jesus, they seek to glorify themselves and use his name in vain.

Jesus warned us, the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world. It is far superior to the things of this world. We should not seek riches or fame, or the assurances of this world. The Christian is to seek the Kingdom of God. Jesus says, “For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:30-33).

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – Charge of Generosity

17 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;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The bottom-line up front: Those who have wealth should place their hope in God, not in money, they should enjoy what God gives them, and be generous with what God has generously given them. Riches given by God are a chance that God gives us to be like him, kind, giving, and self-sacrificing. Putting the needs of the less fortunate before our own.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul instructs the young pastor Timothy to “charge them that are rich in this world”. Charge them that they may not be so high-minded. They should not think so much of themselves of their money.

James tells us, “But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” James 1:10

The pride of the rich and the dependency on their money will cause them to die in their sin. For they cannot see the need they have for the blessed savior. Luke 18:25 – Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”

· Money does not last.

o Matthew 6:19 - “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

· Money does not satisfy your longings.

o Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

· Money in Greed leads to destruction.

o 1 Timothy 6:9 - But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

o Ecclesiastes 5:12 – 13 - The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

· Money does not save you.

o Proverbs 11:4 - Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

We should be content in Christ – Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

For this Paul says, …, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; …

As a Christian you are called to abandon all for Christ. Not to make money from his name.

We are not to seek for ourselves. We are to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Our lives should no longer be consumed with worldly concerns. We are not to worry about what we shall eat, or how well we are dressed. We are to keep an eternal perspective.

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Jesus said, Luke 12:33 - “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.”

We are too, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Matthew 6:4 - That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

Conclusion:

We are called to be generous, and we are called to encourage generosity within the church, and to demonstrate generosity towards our Christ, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and towards our neighbors, and work acquaintances, the poor, and even our enemies. We do this out of the generosity shown to us by God the Father, through God the Son (Jesus), with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.