“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything we enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
– 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV)

Detroit Tiger pitcher, Tyler Holton is quoted as saying, “We all put our hope in something, whether we realize it or not. Many people put their hope in earthly things like jobs, success, money or relationships, but all of that will eventually end.” In the ever-changing world of sports, professional contracts have reached numbers that are hard to fathom. The average/minimum salaries in the four major sports are listed as follows—NFL: $2.8 million/$750,000; NBA: $9.7 million/$1.5 million; MLB:$4.5 million/$740,000; NHL: $3.5 million/$775,000 (source: NCSharp.com, August 7, 2024). With the introduction of NIL (name, image, likeness) on the college and high school level, athletes are resting their hopes on riches/wealth more than ever before. This is a disturbing and dangerous reality.

No one is immune from the temptations of money, so how do we protect ourselves? How do we keep from falling for the lie that money/wealth will solve all our problems and bring us great happiness? In 1 Timothy 6, Paul gives us some much-needed insight. First, he tells us to “humbly enjoy” God’s material and monetary blessings. Secondly, he tells us to “employ” the wealth God has provided, by sharing and investing in others. Thirdly, Paul encourages us to let wealth be our “envoy”. This implies that we are to send things ahead to Heaven that represent our values. This is a call to invest in things that will last for eternity. In Matthew 6:20, Jesus tells us to “store up for yourself treasures in heaven.” Author John Ortberg gives us a great reminder in his book, “When the Game is Over”. He profoundly says, “When this life is over, it all goes back in the box.”

“Gracious Heavenly Father, help me to see and invest in the things that have eternal value. Teach me that my only true hope is in You, not wealth, earthly success, or prestigious titles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.