Day 62 — Rich in Good Works

Day 62 · Following Christ in All of Life · 1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NET2)

Paul warns that the love of money can entangle the heart. Contentment does not mean ignoring need or refusing honest work. It means refusing to make wealth our hope. Those with resources are called to generosity and good works, trusting the God who richly provides. Whether we have much or little, following Christ changes how we pursue, enjoy, and share material things.

Request

Lord, teach me contentment and keep my hope anchored in you. Amen.

Read

1 Timothy 6:6-19

⁶ Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. ⁷ For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. ⁸ But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. ⁹ Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

¹¹ But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. ¹² Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ ¹⁵ —whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. ¹⁶ He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. ¹⁹ In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

Scripture: NET Bible, Second Edition (NET2).

Reflect

1. What dangers and positive responsibilities does Paul name?
2. Where could contentment or generosity change your current attitude toward money?

Restate

Summarize what it means to be rich in good works.

Respond

Let the passage guide your prayer. Use these prompts in your own words:

• Praise: Praise God as the giver of life and every good provision.
• Thanksgiving: Thank him for something you can enjoy today.
• Confession: Confess envy or an unhealthy craving for more.
• Intercession: Pray for someone struggling with debt or scarcity.
• Petition: Ask for a generous life rooted in hope in God.

Carry it into today: Name a provision with gratitude and choose one generous response.