1 Timothy 6:20-21: True riches.(please click here for todays passage)

I read recently that Simon Cowell’s home has been targeted in a burglary. If you are seen to have a lot in this world, there will be greedy eyes locked on to your possessions. There are plenty of people around who want to steal your ‘treasures’.

As we saw yesterday, in the final section of his first letter Paul teaches about the correct handling of wealth. He tells Timothy what he should say to rich Christians.

But the final exhortation to Timothy reminds us where the truest treasure lies:

‘’And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life.’’ The Message.

‘’Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.’’ New International Version.

Timothy did not have a complete Bible – not as we know it. But what he did have he was to ‘’guard’’ as ‘’treasure’’. In the face of false teaching, he had a commission to keep on preaching the truth as it had been revealed to him. He also needed to guard his own heart so that he did not ‘catch’ the deadly heretical ‘infection’ that was doing the rounds.

Do you treasure your Bible more than any other earthly possession? Are your truest riches to be found in the gospel?

Church leaders especially have a sober responsibility to guard the riches of God’s revelation. This message does not belong to us. It has been ‘’entrusted’’ to our care. Let’s make sure it is never stolen from our own hearts, or from the flock in our care.

From time to time you hear stories of evangelical church leaders who no longer believe what they once were committed to. Some stand up and express their unbelief publicly. I heard of one such incident recently. It is tragic, and damaging, when it happens. To stay true to God and His Word to the very end is our commission. To fulfil it we will need resources from outside. So the final words of today’s reading sparkle with relevance, and meet our need:

‘’Overwhelming grace keep you.’’ The Message.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for entrusting your finest riches to fickle people such as we are. But thank you too that you do more than ask us to stand guard. You give us armour to wear so that the thief doesn’t get past us to steal the loot.