Theme: CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Text: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” – 1 Timothy 6:17,18
Comment: The tendency for those who are rich to be high minded and be brash in their disposition is there all the time. King Solomon, the wisest in his days, declared: “The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly” (Proverbs 18:23). Earlier in verse 11, he stated: “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.” St. Paul in the text for today admonished Timothy his spiritual son, to charge those who are rich in this world, that they should shun high mindedness, and refrain from putting their “trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God,” Who gives us “richly all things to enjoy”. The rich are also charged to “be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” by being generous with what God has blessed them with, not only with those who are rich as themselves, but with the poor as well. Our prayer is that those who have come to the knowledge of the truth, and are blessed with riches, should have faith in this admonition, be generous in good works, and provide for the poor out of what God has blessed them with so that they might lay “up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” – 1 Timothy 6:19.