1 Timothy 6:1-21

November 2 / 1 Timothy 6:1-21

Money

Money makes the world go round. That is a true statement, especially if you add one word which totally clarifies it. Money makes the World System go round. Money is, of course, a total illusion which only has power because people believe in it. 

To illustrate. We spent three years in the mid 1980’s in Zimbabwe. The Zim dollar at that time was officially valued at about .65 US dollars. On the black market it went for around .40 US dollars. Twenty years later it was essentially worthless. Zimbabwe was the first, and only, country to print a $100 trillion banknote. You couldn’t really buy anything with it but it made an interesting conversation piece.

Money is an illusion but it is a powerful one. Money enables the “rich” to oppress and exploit most everyone else. Money causes passions to rise in virtually everyone no matter which side they take. Because the illusion is so strong there are many who devote their life to the pursuit of money. 

My friend Bob Hughey tells of a time he spoke at a retreat in Colorado back in the Reagan 80’s. Bob had shared his testimony which included the part where he literally sold everything and gave it to the poor. After the session a young man came up to him and said, “My goal in life is to make all of the money I can. What do you think of that?” Bob replied, “I think you are going to wander from the faith and be pierced with many griefs.” 

There is money and there is God’s Word. One is an illusion. They can’t both be right. If you believe in God’s Word you don’t necessarily have to give everything away but you do need to heed Paul’s instruction to Timothy on how to instruct you.

“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.”

There is a coming age in which all money will be as worthless as the Zim dollar. Take heed, this is no illusion.