The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 6:18-19,
"Command them [the rich in 'this present world'] 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."
In this part of his letter to Timothy, Paul instructs him on the direction he is to take with those who are wealthy under his charge within the fellowship, the "one percenters". They are to live their lives in view of "the coming age." And, come it will. This age that we live in will draw to a close. Likewise, our lives here in this age will draw to a close, and for the most, we will pass from this life before the new age dawns. Either way, there is the next life to consider. A rich fool is one who orders his life without regard to the next. Likewise, it might be said a poor fool, or a middle-income fool is one who orders his life without regard for the next as well.
From 6:6-19, Paul's focus is on the folly of living this life without regard for the next. Paul reminds Timothy, "we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." Verse 7. This is his reasoning for what he had to say in the previous verse, "godliness with contentment is great gain." He goes on to say, "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." Possibly these griefs will be encountered in this life (and probably so) and certainly in the next.
Throughout this section Paul has in mind how we should live our lives in light of what is next, what is coming for all people. He has, as his focus, the coming age and our decisions and choices in this life with the next in view. A thought that comes to mind, as I quickly approach those "retirement years", is how fleeting this life is. The older I get the faster the years seem to zip by. The reality is that most of us may live seventy or eighty years, or even longer, but compared with the next life, it is not even a drop in the ocean. Eternity is a long, long time. It literally never ends. My tenure here is going to be a blink of the eye compared to my tenure in the next, as it will be for us all. Why make decisions that may provide gratification for so little when it may cost substantially for eternity? A life filled with toys, sensual gratification, self-seeking fulfillment here at the expense of our eternal outcome is hardly wise.
This, I am certain, is one of the many reasons why the Scriptures refer to fools and to the wise. Fools elbow others out of their way so they can get "theirs" in this life without concern for the next. And, what they get is paltry, trivial, measly, pitiful and wretched compared to what those receive who order their lives with eternity in view. These, the wise, will say with David, "You [Lord] make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11. These are the ones who "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."
"Command them [the rich in 'this present world'] 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."
In this part of his letter to Timothy, Paul instructs him on the direction he is to take with those who are wealthy under his charge within the fellowship, the "one percenters". They are to live their lives in view of "the coming age." And, come it will. This age that we live in will draw to a close. Likewise, our lives here in this age will draw to a close, and for the most, we will pass from this life before the new age dawns. Either way, there is the next life to consider. A rich fool is one who orders his life without regard to the next. Likewise, it might be said a poor fool, or a middle-income fool is one who orders his life without regard for the next as well.
From 6:6-19, Paul's focus is on the folly of living this life without regard for the next. Paul reminds Timothy, "we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." Verse 7. This is his reasoning for what he had to say in the previous verse, "godliness with contentment is great gain." He goes on to say, "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." Possibly these griefs will be encountered in this life (and probably so) and certainly in the next.
Throughout this section Paul has in mind how we should live our lives in light of what is next, what is coming for all people. He has, as his focus, the coming age and our decisions and choices in this life with the next in view. A thought that comes to mind, as I quickly approach those "retirement years", is how fleeting this life is. The older I get the faster the years seem to zip by. The reality is that most of us may live seventy or eighty years, or even longer, but compared with the next life, it is not even a drop in the ocean. Eternity is a long, long time. It literally never ends. My tenure here is going to be a blink of the eye compared to my tenure in the next, as it will be for us all. Why make decisions that may provide gratification for so little when it may cost substantially for eternity? A life filled with toys, sensual gratification, self-seeking fulfillment here at the expense of our eternal outcome is hardly wise.
This, I am certain, is one of the many reasons why the Scriptures refer to fools and to the wise. Fools elbow others out of their way so they can get "theirs" in this life without concern for the next. And, what they get is paltry, trivial, measly, pitiful and wretched compared to what those receive who order their lives with eternity in view. These, the wise, will say with David, "You [Lord] make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11. These are the ones who "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."
This life is not "truly life". This life is short, this life is temporary, this life is simply an obstetrics ward in the hospital of God's agenda of building his kingdom. The good stuff, real treasure, fulfilling and meaningful life comes when we graduate from this life into the next!
How are you ordering your life?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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