Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20120715.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
1 Timothy: God's Ministry Roles For Church Leaders And The Local Church
Part XVIII: A Church Leader's Biblical Way To Direct Wealthy Believers
(1 Timothy 6:17-19)
  1. Introduction
    1. We learned from our study of 1 Timothy 6:6-16 that local church leaders must be aware that material possessions can be a great stumblingblock to their living a godly life and hence serving the Lord well.
    2. However, if church leaders can be tripped up by possessions, believers under their oversight are also open to the same failure, and 1 Timothy 6:17-19 directs how leaders are to direct other wealthy believers:
  2. A Church Leader's Biblical Way To Direct Wealthy Believers, 1 Timothy 6:17-19.
    1. Local church leaders are to "direct, instruct" (paraggello, Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Engl. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 618) believers rich in this age to heed three directives on their values, 1 Timothy 6:17:
      1. First, they must be taught not to be proud (hupselophroneo, Ibid., p. 857) for being rich, 1 Timothy 6:17a, b. People wealthy in this life are easily tempted to think they are more valuable and honorable than are poor believers, an attitude that is sin, and that no believer is to have.
      2. Second, materially wealthy believers must be taught not (idolatrously) put their trust in (elpizo, Ibid., p. 251-252) uncertain (adelotes, Ibid., p. 16) riches, the cause of false pride as wealth can quickly vanish or fail, proving to be a false idol of security, 1 Timothy 6:17a, c.
      3. Third, wealthy believers are to be taught instead to trust in God Who gives us all things for our enjoyment (apolausis, Ibid., p. 94), 1 Timothy 6:17a, d. All that is good comes from the hand of our Creator, not from the wealth He provides, so we must worship and serve God, not money, Matt. 6:24.
    2. Local church leaders are to "direct, instruct" believers rich in this age to apply these three directives on their values into edifying ministry conduct as follows, 1 Timothy 6:18-19:
      1. Local church leaders are to direct, instruct wealthy believers to use the above-directed correct values on wealth to "do good, confer benefits" (agathergeo, Ibid., p. 2) to others, 1 Timothy 6:18a.
      2. Namely, local church leaders are to direct, instruct wealthy believers to be rich in good works, to be "generous" (eumetadotos, Ibid., p. 323) and "sharing" (koinonikos , Ibid., p. 440) , 1 Timothy 6:18b.
      3. In connection with this command, 1 John 3:17 reveals leaders are to instruct wealthy believers unconditionally to share of their wealth with needy believers, and not only if the needy are good money managers, but even if they have gotten into trouble by their own mismanagement!
    3. The motivation for such liberality is to arise from the realization that this giving ministry is an investment for eternal returns whereby one uses his earthly wealth to build up eternal rewards, 1 Timothy 6:19:
      1. Paul explained that rich believers are to be taught to be generous in sharing of their material wealth with materially needy believers, for doing so "stores up" (apothesaurizo, Ibid., p. 90) for themselves a good "foundation" (themelios, Ibid., p. 356) for the life to come, the life in heaven, 1 Timothy 6:19a.
      2. This statement reflects the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-20 where we are to do works on this earth that lay up for ourselves incorruptible, unfading treasures in heaven opposite the fading, fickle treasures of this life, cf. Matthew 6:24; Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, p. 748.
      3. In effect, Paul with Jesus taught that a believer can actually convert his earthly wealth into eternal riches by USING that wealth to do God's will by DONATING it, Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33-34.
      4. In doing so, those with earthly wealth truly "lay hold" of the life that is truly life, 1 Tim. 6:19b NIV.
Lesson: (1) Local church leaders are responsible to direct believers with material wealth in this life to heed three values: (a) not to be haughty because they possess what others do not have; (b) not idolatrously to put their trust in uncertain material riches that can easily, quickly vanish; but to (c) trust humbly in the Lord Who gives us all good things in the material world to enjoy. (2) Local church leaders must thus direct the wealthy to the actions of (a) being in good works, being generous in giving of their wealth to meet the needs of other believers unconditionally (b) as a means of converting earthly wealth into eternal rewards, (c) that they might really lay hold on what constitutes true life before God!

Application: May we local church leaders instruct these things; may our hearers heed them as well!