One of my tendencies is to think I’m not rich. Such, however, is not the case. If you’ve ever spent any time out of the US, you quickly realize how wealthy you are – even if that wealth doesn’t go much further than owning two cars. Already you have placed yourself in a small percentage of people in the world. Paul gave some really important instructions to Timothy about wealthy people: they were to use their wealth for the benefit of others. God didn’t bless them with money so that it could be squandered on themselves. No, wealth was given to raise the status of those who had little. Paul makes it clear that the church doesn’t have a responsibility for being benevolent toward those who squander what they have, but there are many across the world who have not be blessed in the same way as Americans. That’s when we need to ask what we can do to be a blessing to others. What you’ve been given needs to be leveraged for those who cannot do things on their own… not just for you.
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