In our scripture readings for today, we finish with Paul's first letter to Timothy, with important lessons on the Christian mindset on wealth and possessions. And then, we start Paul's second letter to Timothy, written about 4 years later, this time with Paul in a Roman dungeon, this time, not an enemy of the Jews but a scapegoat enemy of the Empire under the infamous Nero, this time, with no chance of escape, and looking to Timothy to pass on the torch.....
Have you heard this phrase before, “God WANTS you to be rich?” How about this one, “God will miraculously provide sevenfold for any contributions you make to this ministry?” Statements like these come from a subset of Christianity we call the “Prosperity Gospel,” from preachers like Benny Hinn or Joel Osteen. They propose, that against the wisdom of Paul or of Jesus himself, material wealth is always a sign of God's blessing – God always wants his kids to do well IN THE WORLD, to HAVE more than enough. And based on the net worth of some of its more popular preachers, the Prosperity Gospel strikes a chord with a significant number of Christians. It's a way to imagine that godliness is a means of gain. It's a way to hold faith in Jesus Christ, and love of money...simultaneously....
It's a shame that one of the most quoted scriptures among secular people, is a misquote: “Money is the root of all evil.” And it's usually used to slam people who have wealth as inherently evil. Money, of course, is a tool, and like all tools, it can be used for both evil and good. But “LOVE of money”, in the Greek “philarguria”, THAT is what Paul calls “A root of all KINDS of evil.” It is true that love of money will lead individuals to commit fraud, exploitation, theft, and even murder, and it is true that love of money will lead societies to commit corruption, slavery, taxation, and even war, and it is true that some individuals and some societies love money for its own sake – just to have it. But it is also true that love of money can be a symptom of some other evil – the desire to have not just lots, but MORE than the person next to you – also known as envy. The desire to be able to consume without producing – also known as laziness. The desire to control, in our corrupted free market system where money and politics go hand-in-hand – also known as lust for power. Whether symptom or root, the love of money is linked with harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
We are called instead to the OPPOSITE of love of money – we are called to CONTENTMENT. We are called to contentment with our position – if the employee of a believing employer, provide good service with a good attitude. We are called to contentment with our possessions – we can't take them with us, and if we have food and clothing, we're good. We are called to contentment with simplicity – how many senseless and harmful desires have been generated in us by influencers stoking in us FOMO, the “fear of missing out!” We are called to contentment with Christ – be willing to keep his commandment without spot or blame, and be willing to make the good confession, unashamed, even under the threat of suffering for the gospel.
Because as Paul tells Timothy, with the combination of godliness and contentment, great SPIRITUAL gain is the result! A life of godliness and contentment will avoid the piercing pains of the consequences of evil. A life of godliness and contentment will lead to taking hold of the life that really is life – eternal life, which will be an entirely different KIND of life, lived without the PRESENCE of evil. It is for providing this kind of life, that Jesus made the good confession AND the good sacrifice before Pontius Pilate, and was raised from the dead on the third day.
This is the deposit entrusted to us – the gospel message of our salvation. This is the deposit which was given to us by people like Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, the seed of faith, the root of trust in God. This is what we cling to in times of fear or temptation or suffering or purposelessness – that God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
And our task is to receive this Holy Spirit, and guard this spiritual deposit that has been entrusted to us. Do not let it be stolen from us through peer pressure, or intimidation, or threat of censorship, or the contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. Rekindle the specific gifts of God which came to us with this deposit, gifts of healing or prophecy or generosity or hospitality. Rely on the Holy Spirit for help, and let the Holy Spirit guide us in the direction of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Gracious God, help us to be content with our position, our possessions, our simplicity and our Saviour. Enable us to keep the commandment without spot or blame, in Jesus' name....