May 2025 (Gospel Motivated Giving)

FBC Gallatin,

With the 1^st Timothy series coming to a close, I want to further consider one major area of very helpful discovery and insight that I have found in the last chapter of the book. I hope you have also been impacted by this vision through the preaching of the Word. One of the most polarizing topics of the bible is related to the topic of money. For instance, there are passages that seem to warn about money as if it’s the plague, and other passages that seem to lead towards the prosperity gospel (I say this tongue and cheek as these texts are misapplied in this way) in terms of blessings and joys of increase and provision. But what I loved so much about the discovery process in studying 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and verses 17-19 was the incredible balance found in one single chapter on the topic of money.

For example, in this one chapter, we learned the secret of contentment with even the bare bones minimum in poverty, but also the way rich Christians should act and live in light of their increase and extras! We also learned about the pitfalls and bear trap of money idolatry and the dead end pit of money love and pursuit. But also, the positive blessing of money and the good that can be done with it for those who have even a lot of it. And all of this is found right there in 1^st Timothy chapter 6!

The false teachers were thinking that they could use Christianity as a “get rich quick scheme” and find financial gain through their ministry, and Paul rebukes them as being dead wrong and destructive. But Paul doesn’t say that money itself is evil, but that the love of money leads to so many different kinds of evils; or as Jim Newheiser put it in so many words: the love of money has led to the breaking of all 10 commandments in one way or another.

But the Bible doesn’t just have a negative view of money, but says that faithful Christians are to make money and use it to provide for their families, and that if they are lazy and careless and leave their families unprovided for, that they are worse than unbelievers! So, contrary to a negative only view of money, the Bible pictures faithful Christians using money to do much good by caring for the needy and supporting faithful ministry.

I can’t put it any better than the Apostle Paul does in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 when he says; “¹⁷ As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸ They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹ thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

This balanced view of money that the Bible puts forward helps Christians who are rich in this world use their earthly riches to invest in heavenly treasure. And it reveals that money is not in and of itself evil, but can actually be used for much good; as the godly rich share their money with a gospel motivated hearts to do good to those around them in this present world. And these good Gospel motivated good works will prove to be an eternal investment into the next world in future reward on the New Heavens and Earth.

And Jesus is the example of someone with eternal resources who laid aside his own wants and riches, in order to give himself for the good of others. And his self-sacrificing gospel motivated heart and example has fueled Christians throughout church history to radical generosity and gospel motivated giving. Christians like this think more about the next life, than they do the here and now, and Christians with this vision do so much good with money because of a biblical worldview and an eternal investment portfolio.

Just think of the good use that money can do in the hands of a godly Christian using it strategically for God’s glory! And just think about how that last sentence can be true even about you, dear Christian! Praise God for this vision Paul gave us in 1^st Timothy 6! May we all grow in generosity and the love of God, and may we all be rich in good works, and may we all be ready to share with others around us! All to the glory of God!

Sincerely,

Pastor Daniel Pelichowski