1 Timothy 6:18-19 18to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing, 19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
These verses show what rich Christians should do with their money. This is a continuation of the command Timothy is to give mentioned in verse 17. Since these instructions are coming towards the end of the letter, wealth may have been an issue in this church. God blesses people with wealth, which can provide enjoyment, but that is not the only thing. We are blessed to be a blessing to others.
Paul gives a short list of ways to use wealth for the benefit of others. First is the rather broad idea of simply doing good. The compound word (agathoergein) literally means “good work.” We are created to do good work and are empowered by God’s grace to do this (Ephesians 2:8-10). To be rich in good works is almost the same as the first description but in more inclusive. Not everyone has wealth, and so the second description shows another way to be rich that all people can have.
The way to do good work is through generosity. Generous (eumetadotous) is a rare word only found here in the New Testament. It almost looks as if Paul invented it for just this situation. It literally means to have a good attitude about giving to others. The word is further defined by the next description of sharing, which shares the same root as “fellowship” (koinōnikous). There is a strong fellowship that can develop when we help those in need. The bond within a church can grow stronger.
The result of generosity is a good foundation for the future. This promise recalls Jesus’ words about storing up treasures in heaven in Matthew 6:20. People like to store and hide their treasures. We have safes and bank accounts to keep our money safe from loss or robbery. But there is no guarantee that even our bank account is safe. But when we help in people, we investing in eternity. The participle storing up could be taken as instrumental as the way to do good works. We should focus our energy and wealth on helping others. This good work is the foundation for the future. The future here could refer to the coming age, namely, eternity. Hoarding the blessings God has given us robs us of a sure foundation for eternity.
The last statement gives the motivation for doing good by laying a foundation for eternity. True life is found in Jesus Christ (John 14:3), who is the way to eternal life. People are deceived into thinking that life is about gaining wealth and living a comfortable life. This pursuit has driven the “American Dream” of materialism and comfort. Other parts of the world are also driven by a desire for more comforts and conveniences. This drive is not necessary bad, but it can take our eyes off of what really matters. Paul states in a rather poetic way what really matters: truly life. True life is eternal life, not the life we experience for a short time on earth. Our physical life is temporary and fleeting, like the mist of breath on a cold day (James 4:14). These verses should cause us to re-evaluate our priorities and put God’s kingdom first in all our finances and material possessions.
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