The quicksand of riches.

Scripture Read:  1 Timothy 6:9  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Application: Contentment is what we say we want, but sadly too many place the concept of contentment into the financial plateau exclusively. Obvious money is needed to survive in this world unless you are supernaturally supplied for, which God has done and continues to do at times. However, for the most part God uses the things of this world to meet our needs and one of those is money. The mistake takes place when we over emphasize what money can do for us. No doubt creature comforts are supplied by an amble supply of money, but contentment is not tied to creature comforts at it’s heart. True contentment comes from inside as we discussed from the earlier verses. The dilemma we find ourselves in is that as we consider how to be content in life, money will usually be a part of that equation, the key is balance. That is the “rub” as it is often put, which is why God moved Paul to deal with this issue in such a direct way. Paul is not talking about worldly people that do not care about God, but only want the riches of this world. He is warning all of us as children of God that if we are not careful we can find ourselves trapped by this issue. To begin he uses a word in the original that communicates a normal feeling that anyone could have. The word “want” is:

 

βούλομαι boúlomai; To will, be willing, wish, desire. Boúlomai expresses also the inward predisposition and bent from which active volition proceeds; hence it is never used of evil people.

Notice, this is not some evil desire, it’s just a desire. That’s what can make it so dangerous! There is nothing wrong with desiring to have enough money to not worry about supplying your needs again. The conflict arises from what that desire, if left unchecked can bring. First, we need to ask ourselves that if God made all His children rich, would we all not be walking by sight when it comes to seeing our daily needs met? Is that what we are called to do? No. So the desire itself is not the problem, but the warning is challenging us to consider what happens to the person that becomes obsessed with becoming rich, instead of leaving that detail to God. This person could “fall” which is from:

ἐμπίπτω empíptō; from en, in, into, and píptō, to fall. To fall in. Metaphorically, to fall into any state or condition, to come into, followed by eis, into (1 Tim. 3:6, 7; 6:9)

The idea is of falling, not jumping! The person was not rebelling, but not careful in their life. The sad point is that either way the outcome is deadly. Whether we deliberately jump into sin or trip into it, once we are in it, the consequences can take control. Paul employs two words that communicate this sad state. A normal desire left unchecked brings forth other desires that are not neutral. First come “foolish” desires. The original is: 

ἀνόητος anóētos; from the priv. a, without, and noéō, to comprehend. Lacking intelligence, foolish; one who does not govern his lusts

We lose our common sense and understanding about what temporal things can really provide. Once you lose your bearings concerning the fleeting importance of temporal riches, you move to “harmful” desires. The original communicates just that: 

βλαβερός blaberós; to injure, hurt, hurtful

Here is where the original really helps paint the desperate picture that this path leads to. These desires now “plunge” the person toward destruction. Notice what this word communicates in the Greek:

βυθίζω buthízō;  To sink in the deep or to cause to sink. Used in the pass. meaning to sink (Luke 5:7), metaphorically (1 Tim. 6:9) followed by eis, unto, ólethron, ruin, destruction, and apṓleian, ruin or loss. These two words do not mean annihilation or cessation of existence, but change of constitutional existence.^[1]

The picture painted here is very graphic and we need to heed its warning! It is one thing to trip and fall, but once you start sinking the consequences are grave! Notice, the meaning does not lead to the concept of hell, instead an affect on the person and what their life accomplishes. We find the child of God described in 1 Cor 3 that took the salvation God provided, loss focus of it and pursued worldly riches, only to throw away their eternal investment, sinking ever more into the controlling pit of worldly riches. Let’s focus on our God and allow Him to focus on what economic level He desires for us!

Meditation Questions: Do you feel you are missing out on life because you don’t have enough money to do all you desire to do? What problems would money fix in your life? How does that problem effect you? Have you considered what problems might occur if you did become rich? If you became rich right now, how would your life change? Why? If every material need was met for you, how much worry would leave your life? What does your answer show you? Why do you think a God that owns everything does not make you rich? What does your answer show you about how you view God? What does your answer show you about how you view yourself? What does your answer show you about how you view money? 

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^[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.