It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Advice for the Rich, a Reflection on 1 Timothy 6:13-19

Verses 17-19
Paul's advice to Timothy is not only to him as an individual Christian but also to him as a leader of a Christian community. He tells him, "Live it and teach it. In your congregation are those that are rich. Tell them not to be so proud of their achievements. After all, none of us have any guarantee that our wealth will last. What we can be sure of is that God is eternal and that God will continue to provide us with what we really need. Rather than spending your effort building up your personal wealth, instead be generous with your time and money."

Paul said that we bring nothing into the world and take nothing out of it. He also said that what we do between that coming in and that going out of the world matters: Doing good, being rich in good works, will provide us with a treasure surpassing what money could have bought for us. This treasure will be "a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life."

Verses 13-14
Here's a quote from Preaching the Letters without Dismissing the Law, by Ronald Allen and Clark Williamson:
Sandwiched between the discussions of money in 6-10 and 17-19 are Paul's other instructions to Timothy in verses 11-16. The center of the discussion is in verses 13-14: "I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ." The commandment is the content of the entire letter--Paul's instruction that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith" (1:5)....

No comments: