Fathers

1 Timothy 6

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Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen. Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life. Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 6:19

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come." There nothing is uncertain, for the foundation being firm, there is no instability, all is firm, fixed, immovable, fast, and enduring. "That they may lay hold," he says, "on eternal life." For the doing of good works can secure the enjoyment of eternal life.

Homily on 1 Timothy 18 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Where there is a foundation, everything is firm and immovable. And since the blessings of virtue and of the age to come are constant, the apostle also mentioned this in regard to the foundation. For the performance of good deeds, which he called the foundation, can procure the enjoyment of that life.

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

It becomes you, therefore, out of love to this true life, to account yourself "desolate" in this world, however great the prosperity of your lot may be. For as that is the true life, in comparison with which the present life, which is much loved, is not worthy to be called life, however happy and prolonged it be, so is it also the true consolation promised by the Lord in the words of Isaiah, "I will give him the true consolation, peace upon peace," without which consolation men find themselves, in the midst of every mere earthly …

Letters 130.2.3 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

In regard to the third, that they may attain to the end of laying up riches; hence he says, to lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the things to come. The spiritual treasure is a storehouse of merits, which are the foundation of a future edifice prepared for us in heaven; because the entire preparation for future glory is through merits, which are acquired by grace, the principle of meriting: lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither the rust nor the moth consumes (Matt 6:20); so run that you may …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗