1 Timothy 6:6-11
Better than Wealth

Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

New Revised Standard Version

This is one of those passages that could have been written last week, it is so relevant and modern. The author, Paul, knew wealth, as he was born into a privileged family and traveled in the right circles. He was a strong, dynamic personality that frequently set up successful businesses in new towns to support his preaching ministry. In fact, Paul went out of his way not to require financial support from the young churches he was nurturing.

That was not true of all preachers at the time. In the verses just before these, Paul warns his student, Timothy, that there were many preachers active at that time who had chosen the profession as an easy way to make money, not because they had been called by God.

But Paul went beyond criticism of false teachers to the heart of the issue of greed. We can hear the aged wisdom in Paul as he reminds us that we "can't take it with us." But it isn't just the misguided impracticality of gathering wealth -- Paul says there is "great gain" in being content.

In contrast, those who are devoted to money have inflicted many pains on themselves. In pursuing the "happiness" that they look to money to obtain, they get the opposite.

Paul is clear -- pursuing wealth leads to "ruin and destruction." As a wise teacher, Paul couples a "don't" with a "do." We are to pursue "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness," and in doing so, open ourselves for the blessings God will give!