Charles A. Trentham: Potential

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:33

“Earthly riches must be regarded by Christians as having only one purpose. They represent the potential which one has for gaining abiding riches.”

Charles A. Trentham in Studies in Timothy (Nashville: Convention Press, 1959) 80.

Sometimes the shortest quotes are the best ones. Potential. That’s what money is. It’s the potential we have for gaining abiding riches.

That begs the question. What are you doing with your potential?

Today’s Tuesday in Denver. If you are in town and free between 6:30-8pm, come to my home. Reply to get the address. Jenni and I will host a Meet & Greet with Paula Mendoza, GTP Global Administrator from Guatemala.

She facilitates the global orchestration of our GTP work and leads our Spanish team.

In plain terms, that means that she serves to help Spanish speakers everywhere maximize this potential for our Lord Jesus Christ and to gain abiding riches in the process.

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. Command them 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. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

“Money in the long ago, even as today, was not merely money. It was wholesome food to eat and warm clothes and shelter for the children. It represented the ability to care for aging parents who could no longer care for themselves. It was the ability to provide books and music and good teachers for children. It was the ability to help others in distress. It was the prospect of an old age free from haunting fear and anxiety. Just because there are many things that money cannot buy, the New Testament never closes its eyes to the things that money can buy.

Anyone who has ever visited a slum knows what a horrible effect the lack of money has upon the moral and spiritual lives of its inhabitants. The Christian church must remember the positive words of the Master and of the Apostles concerning the high spiritual uses of our material substance. Christian pastors are unforgivably dilatory if they do not assist the wealthy members of their congregations to use their money to advance the kingdom.”

Charles A. Trentham in Studies in Timothy (Nashville: Convention Press, 1959) 79-80.

In the days in which we live, ministry workers must not be “dilatory” to rally people with resources to put them to kingdom use. Such behavior is truly unforgivably.

It motivates me every day to get up, read, and post something that will hopefully inspire someone, somewhere to give their lives with me in spreading the message of Christian generosity.

I shot the new header photo in Bremerton, Washington. My friend, John Frank, lives on one of those boats in the harbor. He loves Jesus deeply and our dinner together encouraged each other.

Then I spent Sunday then with my GTP colleagues and Rob and Bev Martin. It was priceless time together thinking about ways to mobilize people all over the world to put money to use for God.

Rob’s book, When Money Goes on Mission: Fundraising and Giving in the 21st Century, has become a GTP on demand course and a tool for rallying God’s people to “use their money to advance the kingdom.”

The focus of our discussions centered, at least in part, to discussing ways to mobilize language teams, starting with Spanish and Chinese, to encourage money to go on mission among their people.

Our work is in the proverbial harbor right not. Soon we will leave port and move to the deep water in this work. But not yet. We are going slow to go fast by praying, sharing, and discerning the way forward together.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:7-8

“Wealth is not essential to man’s ultimate well-being. “He did not have it,” says Paul, “before he came into this world, nor will he have it in the world to come.” The abiding treasure must, therefore, be seen in terms of Christlikeness. Whatever else we may have in eternity, of this we may be most certain, we shall have ourselves there. The goal toward which we should strive in life, should, therefore, be in terms of those qualities of the soul which make us Christlike. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7). Mere wealth is not ultimately essential to the well-being of the soul; why then should we center all of life around its accumulation or regard it as an end in itself? It is far, far better to major on cultivating the enlargement of the soul that we may ultimately receive the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”

Charles A. Trentham quoting Francis Peabody in Studies in Timothy (Nashville: Convention Press, 1959) 73.

I got to meet up with GTP staff (Paula Mendoza, Trevor Lui and his wife, Frances) and see a long-time friend yesterday, John Frank. It was so special. It reminded me of the priceless value of kingdom friendships.

So many people spend themselves to acquire things or accumulate financial resources. Do let that be you. Pursue the wealth of godly character and kingdom relationships.

Ironically, the pathway to such wealth is living, giving, serving, and loving generously coupled with contentment with having Christ who has promised to supply our needs.

I spend today with Rob and Bev Martin. I can’t wait to see them this morning. I will be priceless. I pray the wealth of wisdom in their minds and hearts fill ours richly.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

“Contentment has to do with the externalities of life. It is the cure for covetousness, which is idolatry. The gain toward which a Christian pastor and his congregation must, therefore, strive is to be defined in spiritual terms, godliness with contentment. The true gain which religion affords is never primarily material. It may be true that physical and material well-being are the by-products of a proper relationship with God and fellow man. Nevertheless, the emphasis of this passage is upon the truth that the primary gain bestowed by true religion is in terms of godly living, which gives a man a sense of adequacy that produces contentment. He is then trusting not in the abundance of things which he possesses but in the grace of God which is able to make him adequate to supply his own needs.”

Charles A. Trentham quoting Francis Peabody in Studies in Timothy (Nashville: Convention Press, 1959) 74.

I found this old commentary on the letters to Timothy on my shelf and realized that I had never read it. I am reading it linked to the passages on money, contentment, and generosity.

Today it reminds us that contentment links to externalities or things. When we think we need things, we will always be discontent. We will never find peace or experience well-being.

Such are the benefits of covetousness, which in plain terms is life that says, “I have not enough.” It’s not only idolatrous thinking, it’s a miserable way to live.

Alternatively, Trentham is saying the gift of knowing Christ is that we can say “I have enough” to live a peaceful, joy-filled, godly and productive life.

It does not mean we will always enjoy an abundance of physical and material blessings. It simply means we can rest in the truth of this verse from Hebrews, because we have Christ with us always.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Whenever externalities try to get you of track, just proclaim, “Enough!” You know the things that try to lure you of track. Don’t let it happen. You have enough when you have Christ.

I fly to Seattle today and back Monday. Connecting with a long-time friend and giver to GTP, John Frank, and his wife Leslie. But that’s only part of the reason for going.

I’m also connecting Paula Mendoza and Trevor Lui, who coordinator Spanish and Chinese teams for GTP, with Rob Martin and his wife Bev. Rob was a GTP founding board member and is a mentor to me.

Praying for a priceless time together.

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9

“The greed for gold often drags men down to destruction. Addressing the Harvard Chapel, Francis Peabody related Ruskin’s story of a man who attempted to swim to safety from a wrecked ship, with a belt containing two hundred pounds of gold tied to his waist. He could not leave the gold behind, nor could he make it to shore with his gold. They were inseparable. With it, he went down. Ruskin asked this question, “As he was sinking, had he the gold or had the gold had him.”

Charles A. Trentham quoting Francis Peabody in Studies in Timothy (Nashville: Convention Press, 1959) 74.

This fascinating story challenges all of us to ask ourselves is there anything apart from Christ that we deem as “inseparable” because whatever that is could lead to our demise.

I am serious here. Because we will let go of everything when we die, are we prepared to let go of everything now whilst we are living? Whatever we think you own, owns us.

Like the gold claimed Ruskin, what might try to claim you? I am enjoying doing research to prepare for upcoming talks and this story really caught my attention.

We must not let anything drag us down. We can’t take wealth with us to heaven, but we can send it on ahead of us through generous giving and sharing while we are living.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

“The actual gain that comes from godliness with contentment is not specified, for the author has already defined it earlier in the letter as “promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8), that is, as something that both enhances the present life and leads to eternal life.”

Jouette M. Bassler in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus (ANTC; Nashville: Abingdon, 1996), 110.

Let’s lean into the gain that comes from godliness with contentment.

In this life, imagine it leading to peaceful living, freedom from anxiety, release from fear and worry, and security in the all-sufficiency of knowing Christ. When you think about it, godliness with contentment enhances everything!

And in the life to come imagine all these things for eternity.

Rather than try to secure our lives or existence, now and forever, Christ sorts it for us. Godliness with contentment really marks the only way to live. Would those closest to you say you have taken hold of it?

While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3

“In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, the author uses dramatic metaphors to describe the fate of the one who is motivated by greed. Such persons fall into a snare; they pierce or impale themselves with many woes; they plunge like sinking ships into ruin and destruction, by which is meant not financial or moral ruin but eschatological, that is, final ruin.”

Jouette M. Bassler in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus (ANTC; Nashville: Abingdon, 1996), 111.

Bassler does not beat around the bush.

She pointedly and rightly notes that the fate of those who think stockpiling money is the “peace and safety” way to live will have a rude awakening in the end.

Such is the demise of those who get caught in the snare of pursuing riches.

They will, in the end, discover that they have put their trust in the wrong place, and in so doing, experience ultimate destruction from which they will not escape.

This is serious stuff. Like I said, Bassler does not beat around the bush.

The woes, based on the function of the Greek, refer to the moral pains these people reap on themselves in this life. And the plunging like a sinking ship points to the eternal or eschatological demise.

To avoid this “final ruin” altogether, let’s stop trying to get rich and be rich in good works instead.

The irony linked to choosing the right path now comes into view. We get to enjoy untold riches and unimaginable treasure with the Lord in the eternal kingdom.

Want help with integrating your Faith and Finances?

Check out my free GTP on demand course on this topic which starts on Thursday. Click here to learn more or to register. Or see if one of the other offerings looks inviting.

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. Command them 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. 1 Timothy 6:17-19

“The world ‘rich’ ties admonitions together with an elaborate wordplay. Those who are rich are warned to mistrust the uncertainty of riches, to rely instead on God who richly provides, and to be rich in good works… The concept of God as generous provider undergirds the author’s admonitions concerning the proper attitude toward, and use of, riches… The wealthy are to rid themselves of their reliance on them and to use God’s rich generosity to enable rich generosity of their own.”

Jouette M. Bassler in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus (ANTC; Nashville: Abingdon, 1996), 119.

I am working on a paper I will deliver in Amsterdam at a conference later this month. I located this quote and really appreciated the idea that God’s generosity “undergirds” everything He asks us to do.

In plain terms, we can be generous and ready to share not because we have unlimited resources but because God is the Provider and not us. And we rid ourselves of reliance on money only through obedience.

It all boils down to the proper attitude. Will we see the money as belonging to God or us. Will see consider the provision as coming from our resources or His capacity. This attitude or mindset shapes everything.

If you get this, but know someone who may not understand it, ask yourself if you might be God’s person to share these powerful ideas with your children, grandchildren, or a friend.

Why? Today’s Scripture teaches us that when we grasp this, we take hold of the life that’s truly life. And as we noticed two days ago, if someone fails to understand this, a wrong view of money can ruin their lives.

It’s that important.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12

“One of the great countercultural statements Christians can make is to flee from the craving for wealth, living out a life that shows instead the value of family, service and knowing God, putting the needs of others ahead of material goods and their display. This is the kind of life that results in being rich toward God . . . Wealth is to be measured by generosity, the use of these material resources not to make ourself look upscale but to relieve the members of the family of God in any kind of need or distress. As always, the Christian leader is challenged to lead by example in this difficult area.”

David DeSilva in An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2004) 1804.

I am safely home, catching up on my rest, doing some praying, writing, working on board reports, and doing some preparation for some upcoming speaking.

In the midst of all this, I am reminded afresh by DeSilva to lead by example.

So today’s post is for Christians anywhere and everywhere who serve in leadership positions. It’s a shoutout to lead by example. We need to model the countercultural perspective that measures wealth by generosity.

What changes might you need to make in your life for this to be so? Ponder this today.

The expression “to make yourself look upscale” really speaks to me. For example, I want the clothing I wear at home and around the world and the possessions I steward to communicate send a message linked to generosity and not materialism.

Consider your witness when you make your spending and giving decisions. Lead by example.

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For 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. 1 Timothy 6:9-10

“1 Timothy concludes with a lengthy reflection about the nature and potential of material wealth, joining that chorus of New Testament and other early Christian voices that chant a tune quite different from the anthems of capitalist and materialist societies. This text strongly cautions against the deadly dangers of craving money, of making the acquisition of material wealth our primary value. The pursuit of wealth is a driving force of Western society, the key to what many people regard as the path to “life”, to the fullness of what life has to offer. The author warns us that, in the end, it does not deliver what it promises.”

David DeSilva in An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods, and Ministry Formation (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2004) 1803.

I have appreciated this exploration of wealth and generosity by DeSilva, a voice with roots from the region of South Asia where I have recently served. I wish Westerners would travel to these places to see the needs.

And I suggest two steps in response. First, abandon the path of acquisition. Stop storing up treasures on earth and put to work the resources in your stewardship. Live differently than the Western society.

Secondly, do not give handouts that create dependency but rather hand ups to build disciples. By this way, you leave the people stronger and not weaker as a result of your engagement.

Sadly most Westerners do the opposite. They see needs and send money overseas. Sending money is the worst thing you can do. Think about it. Jesus did not send help. He came and showed people the way of life. We must do likewise.

Sure, maybe in a humanitarian emergency, crisis funding is vital, but not for supporting ministry. I see all the time recipients who either misused the outside funding or became dependent on external support.

But let me tell you the biggest reason to avoid the wrong path. It’s people. If you pursue being or staying rich, your example destroys people, in most cases, it’s the best way to send your children to ruin and destruction.

Avoid the wrong path at all costs. A few verses later in 1 Timothy, we discover that enjoying and sharing God’s blessings generously is the only way to grasp life and help others to locate it.