Driving along I-75 this week, I noticed a billboard advertising the upcoming lottery jackpot. My mind quickly and lazily went into a pleasant daydream focusing on what I would do with the winnings. Maybe you’ve done the same. Statistics show that one of the first things that lottery winners do is quit their job followed by paying off debt, booking a luxury vacation, going on a shopping spree; buying a new house, a vacation home and new car. According to Google AI more than 10 percent of the Powerball lottery's largest winners have set up private foundations choosing a path of philanthropy. J.D. Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest people in modern history was known to have said, “I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.” (W. A. Criswell, A Guidebook for Pastors, p. 154.) If you hang on tightly to a small amount of money, you’ll do the same if given a larger amount and if you’re careless with what you have you’d be careless with a lot of money.
There is a great responsibility on those who possess wealth. The Apostle Paul writes about finances and godly living in a letter to young Timothy showing how the use of one’s money and their behaviors are related. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 “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.”
We have an amazing opportunity to do good and use our wealth to do more good in the world. We have an amazing opportunity to be rich in good works; to lead, manage, and steward our wealth so the world can see God. We have an amazing opportunity to be generous and to give extravagantly without expectation. We have an amazing opportunity to share; to always be positioned with a plan to give away our possessions, so we don't possess them. We often measure generosity by the wrong standard. George Mueller said it well when he made the following comment, . . . “God judges what we give by what we keep.” Paul points out in verse 19, that they should consider the results. In other words, the investment we make with our resources should be done with eternity in mind–we are to have an eternal focus.
As I read this passage in 1 Timothy, I was reminded of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 6: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus says that our treasures here on earth are uncertain, but we should store up treasure in heaven, where it will be certain. Paul says that this is exactly what we are doing, storing up treasure in heaven, when we do good and share generously. Jesus also adds that our heart will follow our treasure. I want to store my treasures in heaven, and more importantly, that is where I want my heart to be. How about you?
We have an amazing opportunity for true riches and the best jackpot. Let’s be a people who are eager to use our time, talent, and treasure to grow the Kingdom of God!
There is a great responsibility on those who possess wealth. The Apostle Paul writes about finances and godly living in a letter to young Timothy showing how the use of one’s money and their behaviors are related. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 “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.”
We have an amazing opportunity to do good and use our wealth to do more good in the world. We have an amazing opportunity to be rich in good works; to lead, manage, and steward our wealth so the world can see God. We have an amazing opportunity to be generous and to give extravagantly without expectation. We have an amazing opportunity to share; to always be positioned with a plan to give away our possessions, so we don't possess them. We often measure generosity by the wrong standard. George Mueller said it well when he made the following comment, . . . “God judges what we give by what we keep.” Paul points out in verse 19, that they should consider the results. In other words, the investment we make with our resources should be done with eternity in mind–we are to have an eternal focus.
As I read this passage in 1 Timothy, I was reminded of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 6: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus says that our treasures here on earth are uncertain, but we should store up treasure in heaven, where it will be certain. Paul says that this is exactly what we are doing, storing up treasure in heaven, when we do good and share generously. Jesus also adds that our heart will follow our treasure. I want to store my treasures in heaven, and more importantly, that is where I want my heart to be. How about you?
We have an amazing opportunity for true riches and the best jackpot. Let’s be a people who are eager to use our time, talent, and treasure to grow the Kingdom of God!