Generosityናሙና

Stave Off Greed 

In this reading from 1 Timothy 6, Paul is teaching Timothy about greed. Greed has tempted people to twist the things of God, looking to make profit out of it (v5). But Paul offers a different perspective from a counter-worldview. Instead of carving out your own little heterodoxy to make a few bucks, Paul asserts that godliness with contentment is great gain (v6). 

He reminds Timothy that we bring nothing into the world, and we take nothing with us out of it (v7). Food and clothing should be enough for us (v8). 

Advocating that kind of attitude, he concludes 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” (v9). And then the famous maxim, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (v10). What is less popular is the warning that immediately follows: “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (v10). 

In contrast with greed and temptation and foolish desires and ruin, Paul exhorts Timothy to, “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (v11). How? “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (v12). 

It is in this context, of fleeing the temptations of greed and of instead fighting the good fight of faith, that famous ‘generosity’ verses appear: 

17-19 (NIV):
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.

It reads almost that generosity is a means of staving off greed even more than it is an effort to justify eternal reward. Both consequences happen when we posture ourselves to live lives fighting the good fight of faith with a generous spirit.