Our priorities
Samuel Caraballo
SUMMARY: Paul advises Timothy not to prioritize wealth and possessions, as it can lead to perpetual dissatisfaction and a neglect of God's precepts. This ideology also affects those who ignore the evils that affect vulnerable communities. The value of every human being is incalculable, regardless of their wealth. Paul presents justice, piety, faith, love, constancy, and humility as an antidote to the corrupt vision of the world towards human life. We are called to challenge the way in which the "world" assigns value to human life and strive for a more equitable future for all, especially the poor and marginalized. In doing so, we honor the limitless sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all humanity.
Just like today, in ancient times there were many who measured human worth according to the wealth and possessions one could accumulate. Paul, Timothy's spiritual father and mentor, advises his pupil not to follow in the footsteps of those who thought in such a way. The Apostle emphasizes that he who makes money the priority and goal of their life falls into an existential trap; "He becomes a slave to his own desires." It is well explained by the old saying that says: "he who has more wants more." It is this perpetual dissatisfaction caused by an inordinate desire for money that leads many to put God's precepts in the background in their lives. However, it is important to mention that this phenomenon of the "love of money" does not only affect those who go out of their way to be rich.
This ideology also affects those who take a defeatist and disinterested stance in the face of the evils that affect vulnerable communities. In affluent places where people with resources live, it would not be tolerated that schools for children are a disaster, that hospitals are inefficient, that houses are decrepit, or that the environment is polluted. However, these same factors affect low-income communities in our countries every day. When we flinch from pollution, school dropouts, lack of medical services, and inappropriate housing in poor neighborhoods and communities, we perpetuate the idea that human worth is measured in "dollars and cents." What is not acceptable to affluent people should not be tolerated in the poor.
We who have made Christ our priority know that the value of every human being is incalculable, regardless of how much money he / she has in his / her bank account. On the cross, Christ revealed with his sacrificial death the true price of each of our lives. Jesus paid the same price for everyone with his life. It is from this theological platform that we can understand the implications of Paul's message to Timothy: “You, on the other hand, man [and woman] of God, flee from all that, and strive to follow justice, piety, faith, love, perseverance and humility. " (vv.11)
It is important to note that for Paul it is not enough to “run away” from the idolatry of money. For the Apostle it is also necessary to assume a remedial position against ideologies that seek to assign a monetary figure to human lives. This is why, despite the economic disparities of the Greco-Roman world, Paul presents "justice, piety, faith, love, constancy and humility" as an antidote to the corrupt vision of the world towards human life.
Unfortunately, in the modern world the essential services for proper human development (education, health, housing, and public safety) are governed by government budgets. This means that those with the greatest resources can demand and lobby for better services. God's call through Paul to “strive to follow justice….” invites us to challenge the way in which the "world" assigns value to human life. If Christ paid the same price for everyone, we are called to fight for a more equitable future for all human beings, especially for the poor and marginalized of the earth. In our effort for better development opportunities for the “marginalized” we honor the limitless sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all humanity.
This ideology also affects those who take a defeatist and disinterested stance in the face of the evils that affect vulnerable communities. In affluent places where people with resources live, it would not be tolerated that schools for children are a disaster, that hospitals are inefficient, that houses are decrepit, or that the environment is polluted. However, these same factors affect low-income communities in our countries every day. When we flinch from pollution, school dropouts, lack of medical services, and inappropriate housing in poor neighborhoods and communities, we perpetuate the idea that human worth is measured in "dollars and cents." What is not acceptable to affluent people should not be tolerated in the poor.
We who have made Christ our priority know that the value of every human being is incalculable, regardless of how much money he / she has in his / her bank account. On the cross, Christ revealed with his sacrificial death the true price of each of our lives. Jesus paid the same price for everyone with his life. It is from this theological platform that we can understand the implications of Paul's message to Timothy: “You, on the other hand, man [and woman] of God, flee from all that, and strive to follow justice, piety, faith, love, perseverance and humility. " (vv.11)
It is important to note that for Paul it is not enough to “run away” from the idolatry of money. For the Apostle it is also necessary to assume a remedial position against ideologies that seek to assign a monetary figure to human lives. This is why, despite the economic disparities of the Greco-Roman world, Paul presents "justice, piety, faith, love, constancy and humility" as an antidote to the corrupt vision of the world towards human life.
Unfortunately, in the modern world the essential services for proper human development (education, health, housing, and public safety) are governed by government budgets. This means that those with the greatest resources can demand and lobby for better services. God's call through Paul to “strive to follow justice….” invites us to challenge the way in which the "world" assigns value to human life. If Christ paid the same price for everyone, we are called to fight for a more equitable future for all human beings, especially for the poor and marginalized of the earth. In our effort for better development opportunities for the “marginalized” we honor the limitless sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all humanity.
