If I were Timothy #9: money, money, money
Who Was Timothy?
Timothy is a Greek name which means ‘honouring God’ or ‘honoured by God’.
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. Acts 16:1
After Paul had visited Lystra, Timothy became his companion and co-worker along with Silas. Timothy then travelled around with Paul, who became his mentor. Paul trusted him to carry out important work.
But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. Philippians 2:22
If I were Timothy, I would be blown away to receive this letter from Paul. After all, I’d been at his side as he’d written the letters to Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. But these letters were addressed to groups of believers and not an individual like myself. I’d be even more amazed to discover that two letters addressed to me would end up in this collection of books people would come to know as the Bible!
Yes, Paul and I were close. He was like a father to me. But I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t do. I served God in the best way I could. That’s it. It wasn’t easy at times, but I looked to Paul for guidance and support – and what a man Paul is!
Passage From The Letter
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
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. 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 6:2-10
If I were Timothy, this is how I would reply to this section of the the letter…
You can tell a lot about a person by their attitude to money, can’t you, Paul? That seems to be what you’re saying here and I’ve certainly observed it in my work in this community of believers. If money becomes the centre of what we believe and teach and desire, then everything starts to go wrong. A love of money can be pretty subtle and can look like being responsible and prudent, but can lead to all sorts of arguments and false teachings and dissatisfaction.
For a start, some people will discount what I have to say about money, because I don’t earn a ‘proper’ wage, so what do I know? God hasn’t ‘blessed me with prosperity’, so how does my opinion count? It is those with money who support God’s work the most and that gives them the right to the strongest opinion – in their opinion! Where would we be without them? (their question, not mine). Even in our community, it’s easy to fall into the trap of respecting those with money just because of their status. And yet that is so far from what Jesus taught, isn’t it?
The good news can get warped into a prosperity gospel. It’s done with the best of intentions, to attract people to the faith. ‘Come to God and you will prosper.’ ‘God will meet all your needs – and way beyond.’ This focus on financial success and prosperity can lead to all sorts of arguments about how to get people to give more and how to spend what we have – as if those who give the most automatically have more say in how it is spent. I reckon if you asked most people what they argue most about, it would be money – in their personal relationships and in the church.
Envy is a real problem – wanting what the next person has. Constant comparison. How can you ever find contentment with what you have if you’re constantly comparing your life to someone else’s? If we can get our thinking straight about money and possessions, we can be set free from so much anxiety and dissatisfaction. Turning from grumbling to gratitude would be a great start, I know you’re strong on that.
I have enough. I have everything I need. Everything I have is God’s and of His own, do I give Him.
Imagine if we all lived with those truths embedded in our hearts…
