What is the meaning of 1 Timothy 6:18? Instruct them to do good Paul is talking to Timothy about believers who have been blessed with material wealth (see the immediate context in 1 Timothy 6:17). The first directive is straightforward: “Instruct them to do good”. Scripture never treats “good” as vague; it is always linked to concrete obedience. • Jesus placed goodness in the spotlight when He said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). • Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we were “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” Doing good is not optional; it is our God-designed lifestyle. • Paul echoed the same priority in Titus 3:8, urging believers “to be intent on engaging in good works.” Goodness is active, not passive. It steps toward needs, not away from them. When Timothy “instructs” the wealthy to do good, he is calling them (and us) to align our daily actions with the heart of God. to be rich in good works God does not object to riches, but He redefines what riches look like. Wealth measured in heaven’s economy is counted in deeds, not dollars. • Earlier in this letter, Paul commended women “with good deeds” (1 Timothy 2:10), showing that spiritual affluence is the same for every believer, male or female. • Galatians 6:9-10 encourages perseverance: “Let us not grow weary in well-doing… let us do good to everyone.” A portfolio of good works is meant to keep growing. • James 2:17 draws the line sharply: faith without works is dead. Real faith overflows into visible acts of service. To be “rich in good works” is to have a surplus of helpful actions, a lifestyle so marked by service that observers could easily “audit” our accounts and find no shortage of Christlike deeds. and to be generous and ready to share The climax of Paul’s charge moves from doing good to giving generously. The Greek verbs carry a sense of continual readiness, but we will stay with the English phrasing: generous and prepared. • The first church modeled this in Acts 2:44-45; they sold property and possessions “and shared with anyone who was in need.” • Proverbs 11:25 promises, “A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed,” revealing God’s built-in blessing for openhanded living. • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 frames generosity as sowing seed: the liberal giver “will also reap generously,” and “God loves a cheerful giver.” • Hebrews 13:16 closes the loop: “Do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Sharing is worship. Generosity is not merely an occasional donation; it is a constant posture. Hands that cling to earthly treasures cannot simultaneously extend grace to others, but hands ready to share are conduits of God’s provision. summary 1 Timothy 6:18 piles phrase upon phrase so no one misses the point: believers—especially those with significant resources—are to live lives distinguished by active goodness, overflowing in many good works, and marked by continual generosity. True wealth is measured not by what we keep but by what we invest in others for Christ’s sake, laying up “treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future” (verse 19). |
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