https://odb.org/2026/02/04/you-cant-take-it-with-you
1 Timothy 6:6–12, 17-19 (NIV): 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
It’s common for those who are traveling overseas for the first time to pack a lot of stuff. The fear is being so far from home and needing something. But a recent article speaks of the problems of overpacking. In a way, it’s an apt metaphor for the travel advice the apostle Paul provides: “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). He ties this to the problem of possessing too much: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation,” and he warns that extra baggage is “a trap” leading to “ruin and destruction” (v. 9). People of faith have a different travel destination where all that’s needed is provided by God—“everything for our enjoyment” (v. 17). (Kenneth Petersen, Our Daily Bread 4th February 2026)
I think we are all well aware of the fundamental truth that we cannot take anything with us once we die. We brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it – Paul famously said in 1 Timothy 6:7. Everything will be left behind for our heirs and successors in title to enjoy. In the words of Yusuf Hashim, former Shell senior executive, your money is not yours until you spend it! Why are we keeping so much for our children when we should be seeing more of the world and do the things we want to do?
But as believers in Jesus Christ, we also know that while a tiger leaves behind its stripes and humans will leave behind their legacy, there are things of eternal value that transcend this world. The things we do for God are remembered by our Lord. Our service in His Kingdom. The persecution we go through for the sake of our ministry, ironically, sometimes even within the church itself, God knows and remembers. The kind gesture to the older person in the train. The mission organisations we secretly support with our hard-earned money. The brother or sister we helped with some little cash every now and then. God sees and knows. When Jesus spoke of storing our treasures or riches in heaven in Matthew 6:20 and Paul repeats it in 1 Timothy 6:19 – they are both talking about these things we do for God. Paul elaborates further in verse 18 – “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share”.
Accumulation of wealth and maintaining healthy reserves in savings are all part and parcel of the living dealing with life. Money is needed in most of the things in modern life including bare basic necessities. Even to brush our teeth, we need a tooth brush and tooth paste, things we cannot make ourselves. No one is saying we shouldn’t pursue wealth. But please be reminded not to overdo it as all that we accumulate and have will be given away or discarded when we pass on. What will remain will only be our soul and spirit that live forever (plus the memories etched within) as well as the treasures stored in heaven! Shouldn’t we use whatever wealth we have on earth to do the latter? I think that will indeed be an excellent application of the wisdom the Lord has granted us!
Ronnie's Thoughts 