Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.  1 Timothy 6:17-19

Once again we see the Apostle Paul giving us a warning about obsession with money. In fact as you read through the New Testament Jesus spends a great deal of time warning about the dangers of money and letting it become your idol. As Jesus said “It will be easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than a rich person to enter the Kingdom ofHeaven” (Mark 10:25) Why will it be impossible according to Jesus for a rich person to enter Heaven? 

Consider what the Apostle Paul says under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “don’t trust or hope in the uncertainty of riches or wealth, but trust in the living God” If someone is rich, typically they didn’t become rich by accident. Money has become an idol for this person, they labor and slave to this wealth all day. Instead of focusing on God they are continually forced on their wealth, which is all temporary and will eventually fade away.

Secondly they put all their trust and hope in their bank account instead of God our provider. While its Biblical we should work and provide for our family, we shouldn’t rely on our wealth to be our god. When disaster strikes , the rich person believes they will just buy their way our of it, or if a health issue occurs, they believe I’ll just hire the best doctors to cure me. They never turn to Christ as their Lord, money actually has become their Lord

The Apostle Paul here makes another profound statement “ God who gives us all things richly to enjoy” We as fallen humans like to believe we are in total control of everything, this is one of the illusions wealth creates. Buts its God who gives us all things, as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6 “Look at the birds of the air, they never sow nor reap, nor gather in barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26)The rich man will take credit for providing for his family, when actually it was God who provides for us and our family. Yes its a difficult concept for our minds to grasp, the sovereignty of God, yet this is what our Lord reveals to us.

Now with that being said , its not that the birds don’t do anything. The birds don’t sit in their nest all day and wait for food to fall in their mouths. No they go out and build nests and gather food and take care of their young, however God is the source of their provision. Jesus is telling us the same things, go out and work and provide for your family but keep God first and nothing above him!

I want to just end with more wisdom by the Apostle Paul “storing or laying up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” Are you building a good foundation for eternity? Or do you have a carnal and temporal perspective on life? Prepare for the Kingdom of God , which is at hand. Don’t worry about this temporal world which is fading away, put your faith and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ, our true Provider, Amen

I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:13-16

It’s amazing to me nowadays when you see all the false teachers that have infiltrated the pulpit. People who have no fear of God, that don’t preach the Word of God, in fact not only do they not preach the truth, but they preach blasphemy against Christ. The pulpit should be one of the most feared places on earth, let’s meditate on what the Apostle Paul says here to Timothy under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

“I give you charge or urge you in the sight of God” this is a command in the presence of God, does anyone understand the seriousness of being a preacher of Christ. You are entering into a covenant under God, in the sight of God and before The Lord Jesus Christ. What is this commitment? “To keep this command without spot or blame” The modern Church would say Paul is being a legalist! Preach the Word of God without corruption! Preach the Word of God without fault or error. Many false teachers twist and corrupt the Word of God today with no conscience.

How long shall we keep preaching the Word of God? As the Apostle Paul says here “until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” Preach the gospel until the end of the age, until our Lord tells you to stop, keep preaching the Word of God that has been given to you by the Holy Spirit through the prophets and apostles. Churches don’t need self help sermons and social issue sermons, Churches need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ until the day of His return!

When will Christ return? As the Apostle says “which He (God) will manifest in His own time” as Jesus said “Nobody knows the day or hour” (Matthew 24:36) Instead of spending your time trying to figure out the rapture, spend your time saving souls by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ! The Lord will return when He wants to return, you are His faithful servant, obey the commands of The Lord Jesus Christ

Why should we obey The Lord? Because as the Apostle Paul says  “He (Christ) who is the blessed and only Potentate (Sovereign) King of all Kings and the Lord of All Lords” If you are a Christian, Jesus Christ is your Lord (Master) everything is in submission to Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords, who is sovereign over ALL things. Every knee will bow and tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord, preach the Word of God, to serve your Lord and King, Amen!

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12

If anyone thinks being a Christian is easy, they have never truly been a Christian. Jesus warned us to “count the costs” (Luke 14:28-29) Also Jesus warned “if anyone wants to be my disciple, they must deny themselves, carry their cross, and followJesus” (Matthew 16:24) So setting the context of this walk, lets dive into the instructions by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

Paul says “Man of God, flee these things” this was in regard to our previous post about “Money being the root of all evil” which also leads to many other sins, greed, envy, lust, and you can go down a rabbit hole of depravity when your fully engrossed with the world. We have all probably seen it before, when people open the door to the world of its pleasures and traps, it will destroy your soul. That’s why the Apostle Paul is warning us, “Feel from these things!”.  Flee from sin, don’t hold hands with the devil, its not going to end well for your soul

But going back to Jesus instructions, if you truly are a Christian, a disciple of Christ, then you must deny yourself first. This is a very hard teaching for carnally minded creatures. This is why we need to be Born Again by the Holy Spirit. Your flesh and your spirit will war with one another on a daily basis (Romans 6) Be led by the Holy Spirit, Flee from these things and follow Jesus Christ your Lord

So what should we do? The Apostle Paul says “follow or pursue these things, righteousness, godliness, faith , love, patience, meekness” How can we possibly do this? By the blood of Christ, by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, by the sovereignty of our Heavenly Father. 

And this is when the war begins, when the scales are removed from your eyes, you realize you are in a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6) as the Apostle Paul instructs us “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” Jesus and Paul never said this would be an easy walk, they said the opposite, you must fight the good fight!

Most people who claim to be Christians are being consumed by the sins of this world, FIght the good fight of faith, put on the Armor of God so you can stand against the schemes of the devil, Amen!