Currency is a powerful tool for the individual in today’s world. If you have a lot of money, and are willing to exchange it for goods and services, there is very little you cannot do in this world. For that reason peoples behavior tends to focus primarily on the aquisition of currency, mostly through the exchange of time, to fulfill their needs and desires. The sixth chapter of First Timothy describes a spiritual correlation between the use of money for the capitulation of needs, which can be satiated, and for desires which have no limit.
Harshly, we see this correlation as “The love of money is the root of all evil” and “Those who would be rich… drown in destruction”. It’s important to take those warning into consideration but they can also be misplaced. It is the ends of the use of money that are being warned of, not the means of the use of money. In this chapter the use of money to quelch individual needs, so that the individual can focus on “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” is spiritual goal of the use of money. Obviously, it is on each individual to seek both their needs and their limitations. Timothy reminds his fellow Christians to focus on their spiritual goal of a full life. When we focus on our needs we will be filled, and when we need no more our wealth will be overflowing, and the needs of others that would be otherwise unmet can be satiated.
The power of currency is also not reserved to the individual that holds it. Currency is inexorably tied to the powers that create it; traditionally states, but sometimes now software programers or in some historical instances companies. And, those that control it’s access and distribution; Banks and again internet services. These links of material control can be a legal check on individuals, a mechanism for control of masses, or just a safety valve for the protection of communities. Timmothy starts this chapter with a note towards those whom might be frustrated with the systematic control of currency. In effect while most individuals find themselves defacto slaves to a system (full disclosure: my own debt is an effective chain of slavery). The choice of our masters is important, which we at least have these days. We should focus on those that have our interests at heart and not those that are quarelsome or corrupt. It’s not hard to ascertain these by assessing the values and culture of an institution.
The biggest take away from this chapter is that Timothy also points some warnings towards those whom work in these industries, as well as towards individuals with excessive wealth (that which exceeds their needs): “…do good, be rich in good deeds, be generous and willing to share.” This is the scale for assessing how an institution or wealthy person lives up to their philantropic responsibility.
So, Timothy’s recipie for living out a full life is through dilligence towards aquiring the money you need, and generous philanthropy with what you have in exceess of those needs, instead of the unending persuit of material desires.
(Quotes from 1st Timmothy 6; NIV, NKJ, and ASV)