Today’s reflection concludes 1 Timothy. As he rounds off the letter, Paul employs the use and meaning of money, both substantial and metaphorical, once again to teach the truth about God and his desire.

¹⁷ 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. 

Being rich is nothing wrong. But as discussed above in vv. 9–10, when money and material possessions are a representation of the message that man lives on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Deut 8:31), i.e., Christ (John 6:41, 51), who fulfils the desire of God, the more you have it, the more disadvantaged you must be in not wanting to recognise it as you should. You put your hope in the sign rather than the essence it is pointing to. God has asserted to us time and again throughout the Scriptures that in the essence itself there is more richness for us to enjoy (1 Pet 1:3–5).

¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 

Being good and being rich in good deeds always starts with washing their garments in the blood of Christ (cf. Rev 7:14). In this context, it should equate to recognising their material as a sign for the word of God that man’s life depends on. Therefore, the material carrying the message should proceed to prosper, that is, divide, penetrate, and judge just as it should according to its nature: alive, active, and sharp (cf. Heb 4:12). It should serve its purpose of sustaining people so that they come to know the truth and live!

¹⁹ 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.

God’s word that penetrates not only the heart and attitude of the recipients but also that of the giver will testify to the fact whether they, the rich, have treated their wealth properly and recognised it rightly as a sign for the will of God: Christ and the Spirit at work. Therefore our Lord has said as recorded in the Gospels:

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

John 6:27

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matt 6:20, cf. Luke 12:33

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 

As opposed to ‘godless chatter’ and ‘false knowledge’ in which there is no essence, Timothy is called to guard the truth, the legitimacy, that is only initiated, planned, commissioned, and fulfilled by God as a true son (1:2).   

²¹ which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.

1 Timothy has been about knowing the desire of God, who wants all people to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved (2:4). For this, Timothy is called to teach people to live prayerful lives in words and deeds (Ch. 3); to seek holiness that enables prayerfulness only from God and not from themselves in any way (Ch. 4); and to distribute and apply such content of the gospel to all without discrimination (Ch. 5). May we never depart from this faith and attitude and remain under the grace of our almighty God, our Father.

Gracious and wise God, our Father, Thank you for your words. Thank you for yourself. You came into the world to let us know you and your desires. And you commission us to spread the word and live out the life you give. Lord, give us wisdom and grace that we may, as humble clay pots that we are, carry this treasure well. Lord, let us practise treating the money and material we have in our possession as a sign and a token that we live on every word that comes from your mouth. Let us use it for ourselves and others in the way that it makes us know and re-know your desire for all people and come near to it. Never let its abundance or lack diminish its true and legitimate meaning. Let us never make it our god. Let us never make our desire to look right our god. Only you make us right. Only you are our God. Let us praise and revere you all our lives and beyond.

Image: The Miracle of the loaves (Jesus feeds the five thousand), Abraham Bloemaert, 1593, Scottish National Gallery. Artwork photographed by Antonia Reeve. Creative Commons CC by NC