God wants us to be rich

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy

Application: It is very difficult living in the world we live in, in the flesh we exist in, and with the eyes that see with such limited vision to not be impressed, influenced or just plain overwhelmed with the riches of this world. It is easy to be duped into believing that the more of the riches of this world that you have, the happier and more pleasant your life will be. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, we all still struggle with the impressive concepts that the thought of being rich will bring to us. Even when those thoughts are filled with good intentions, plans to use it for the glory of God, believing that we will never be affected by material things in a wrong way. We convince ourselves that we will be the “one” that remains above all that “stuff”. No matter how many stories we read, testimonies we have heard to the contrary, or the warnings concerning the danger of riches we continue to believe for us, it will be different. Maybe it will be, the issue is who made who rich?  If God chooses to make someone rich, it is a tremendous responsibility and stewardship, if handled well it will bring God glory and that person a great sense of accomplishment for the Lord. But it is important that we live in the reality that is before us. 

The facts are clear that the majority of human beings do not handle riches in a way that benefits God or themselves. So the warning that Paul is encouraging Timothy to understand concerning those that he might know that are rich is one based on the reality of life and on a Shepherd's heart. No true shepherd can forget the staggering statement from the Lord Jesus Christ which makes it clear that even if someone gains the entire world in comparison to the loss of their soul the gain is meaningless. Paul's statement clarifies what kind of richness he is talking about: these are the riches of “this present world” which in the original communicates even clearer as it calls it “the now age”. That little phrase sums up the type of riches he's discussing, they are temporal, here and now only. He doesn't condemn them for having riches, instead he warns of the danger that riches can bring. When someone has so much more than the average person there is a temptation to see their own value as greater than others, this is why Paul warns them not to be conceited. The Greek is «Conceited» - ὑψηλοφρονέω hupsēlophronéō; from hupsēlós, high, and phronéō, to think. To be high–minded, proud, arrogant. It is always wrong to think highly of oneself because it only leads to a fall, however it is even more foolish when we think this way due to “material stuff” that we own. It takes but a moment for all that stuff to be stolen, taken away, or lost through various things that can happen. So he is warning them and tells them not to place their anchor on the riches of this world. The term “fix their hope” is from the Greek word – ἐλπίζω elpízō;  To hope, expect with desire. - In the construction meaning to hope in someone, i.e., to trust in, confide in ^[1] Whenever we allow ourselves to put our confidence in anything that is temporal we place ourselves in peril. That is the reason that Paul immediately points to the fact that our confidence, our trust needs to be in Him, Who owns all, sustains all, and is eternal. When we seek the riches that he bestows, not only are our riches eternal, but we will never find ourselves becoming conceited, because we know the riches we have came from Him, not our own hands.

Meditation Questions: What do you believe supplies the things you need to live in this world? Your job? Money? What is the difference to you between life and existence? When you hear the term “a self made man” what does that mean to you? How should we feel about the material wealth we have attained? What does your answer show you? If you had a choice to be rich or have a rich person be willing to allow you access to their wealth, which would you prefer? Why? What does your answer show you? 

---

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