The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 6:6-12, “…godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

When the Apostle Paul mentions those who have “wandered away from the faith,” he is speaking of those who have altered their priorities. They were once focused on the faith, but having been attracted by another factor in life, they have abandoned the faith altogether. In the case of which Paul is speaking, the attraction that occasioned the abandonment was money. They simply wanted to “get rich.”

The Bible includes some godly men who were rich: Abraham (Gen. 3); Job (Job 1); and Solomon (1 Kgs 3); to name but a few. Yet, many men find riches incompatible with a godly, spiritual life. From our text above, it would seem that Timothy had identified some who wanted to get rich and fell into temptation that led to “many foolish and harmful desires” and to “many griefs.”

Someone once said: “It’s not how much you have, it’s how you hold it.” By that, he meant that it isn’t disastrous to be rich so long as the money doesn’t control the person who has it. Paul tells us to flee from things that want to enslave us; rather, “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” I have known some wealthy men who were not controlled by what they possessed. Still, there’s a risk – and it’s not worth taking! Keep your focus on the LORD! Follow His directives! If He has allowed you to become wealthy, you owe it to Him to show you how that wealth should be used. He will let you know.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom