By John MacArthur
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
1 Timothy 6:18–19
As the apostle Paul closes out his first epistle to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, he explains that how believers handle their treasure is a measure of their spiritual maturity and devotion to Christ. All believers are stewards, given the responsibility to protect and manage what the Lord has entrusted to them.
In chapter six, verses 18–19, the apostle Paul gives four phrases that define that stewardship—how believers must use their resources to meet the needs of others.
First, Paul calls Timothy to instruct the church to do good. The phrase in Greek means “to do what is inherently, intrinsically, and qualitatively good” and refers to doing what is noble and excellent, not what is only superficially good. It describes the most general aspect of the duty; using money to do genuinely good and noble things.
The second aspect narrows the duty further. They are to be rich in good works. God does not intend for material wealth to be hoarded or doled out sparingly. The key word is “rich,” meaning “abounding” or “abundantly furnished.” Material wealth is to be used to perform good works on behalf of others. Believers’ resources are to be used to support their own families (1 Timothy 5:8), especially needy widows (1 Timothy 5:4). The leaders of the church (1 Timothy 5:17) and any believer in need (Acts 4:34–35) must also be provided for. And all such sharing is not to be minimal, but to fully cover the need and beyond.
A third phrase sharpens the apostle’s focus still more as it zeroes in on the motive. As they meet the needs of others, those with money must be generous. The word means “bountiful.” The duty involves meeting the needs of others beyond minimums, and that requires a generous, unselfish heart. Believers are to act toward others with the same generous love that moved God to act so richly toward them. Like the Macedonians commended by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:1–4, they must give sacrificially from an open and unrestrained heart.
The final phrase states that the duty of the rich is to be ready to share. The word koinonikos (“ready to share”) derives from the common New Testament word for fellowship, koinónia, and means “beneficent.” Giving to others is not to be done in a cold, detached manner. Rather, there must be mutual care and concern arising from the common life believers share.
Paul urges believers to consider the end result of properly handling treasure. By sharing their earthly treasures with others, they are storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future. Believers are not to be concerned with getting a return on their investment in this life. Those who lay up treasure in heaven will be content to wait to receive their dividends in the future when they reach heaven.
Those who invest in eternity show that they have taken hold of that which is life indeed. Real life, life indeed, is eternal life. Christians must live their lives in light of eternity. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ said in Luke 16:9, “Make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Christians should invest their money in the souls of men and women who will be there to greet them and thank them when they arrive in heaven.