As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
“Who are the rich? What are riches? Paul gently teases his readers with four cognate terms (plousios, ploutos, plousiōs, plouteō): those who are “rich” mustn’t trust in “riches” but in God who provides “richly” and if they want to be “rich,” they should be “rich” in good works. The play on words poses a profound challenge: what do they really value, and in what or in whom do they truly trust?
It is in this regard that the “rich” have most need to receive from the “poor.” In the household of faith pictured in 1 Timothy 5, it is the one in the most severe material need, the real widow, left alone, who has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day (5:5). This is precisely what the “rich” must learn to do (6:17b)! For me, as a visitor from relatively rich New Zealand to economically poor parts of our region, one of the most profound enrichments has been to see and experience a deeper and more urgent life of dependence upon God.
One example might serve to illustrate this. I was in Kathmandu with the students of the Nepal Baptist Bible College. One afternoon a terrible scream rang out, and I ran to see what had happened. As I went two students met me and urged me to hurry. One of the young men had trapped his fingers in a heavy door; it had slammed shut, leaving his hand misshapen, and the young man was in extreme pain and great distress. “I have some medicine in my room!” I said, “I’ll fetch it as quickly as I can.” But as I turned to rush back to my room, I was topped by one of the students who had come to call me, an 18 year old girl. “Sir,” she said, “Thank you for the medicine, and we shall be glad to use it, but that’s not why we came for you. First would you please pray?” I was humbled and rebuked.
This crisis, minor though it was, had exposed something about each of us. I, the “rich” Christian, had instinctively responded to the need by reaching for what my wealth could provide: the medicine in my suitcase. She, the “poor” believer, had instinctively responded by reaching out to God. I stopped, and prayed, joining my prayers with the faith of the poor. Then I fetched the medicine, but when I brought it back, the young man was calm and smiling. He assured me that he didn’t need it; the pain was gone. Within the household of faith, each has something to give, and each has his or her needs met when they receive what others are able to give…
The call to the church, as the assembly of pilgrims, is to reorientate their existence towards God, to learn from God to live distinctively in the world. As “those who in the present age are rich” pray for rulers to act in a way that extends God’s loving care to all, they must scrutinize their own use of economic, political, and social power. They must consider whether their choices, actions, and inactions are together a participation in God’s saving rule in the world or serve rather to obstruct the benefits of God’s rule from reaching others. As “rich” pilgrims, they must especially heed the call to value that to which God invites us more than that to which might be acquired along the way. Christians must cultivate the richness of generosity, which is learned from our most generous God and from Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all.”
George M. Wieland in “As for those who in the present age are rich” (1 Tim 6:17): A reflection on mutual care within God’s household in the light of recent environmental disasters” in the Torch Trinity Journal, Torch Trinity Graduate University, Seoul, South Korea. TTJ 14.1 (2011): 67-69.
Since I’m in the South Pacific enjoying a day of rest before a full week of ministry, I read a great article by Kiwi scholar, George M. Wieland, on the charge to the rich. I was looking for fresh inspiration as I will speak on a radio show later this week and in the room will be about 30 wealthy clients of Prime Value.
They’ve asked me to answer the question: “Why be generous?”
I will call them to adopt a pilgrim perspective with their wealth because what we hold on to reflects where we place our trust. In this piece Wieland admitted his first thought was to trust in medicine to sort a crisis rather than God. What we hold on to actually gets its hold on us. The rich everywhere must learn to set their hope on God alone.
How do we learn this? By enjoying and sharing everything. We don’t figure it out until we live it out.
Father in Heaven, thanks that in You I have I have all I need, have ever needed, and will ever need. Help me show others your all-sufficiency and faithfulness through my humble obedience and generous sharing so they grasp life with me. Reorient my mind to have a pilgrim perspective by your Holy Spirit. Hear my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.