9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)
The phrase “deceitfulness of riches” appears in Mark 4:18-19. Jesus used it in His Parable of the Sower: “18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18–19 (ESV)
In the parable, Jesus described wealth as deceiving because it can dominate an individual’s attention. It can motivate a person to pursue financial gain instead of spiritual growth in the Lord and a love for one’s fellow humans. E.g. Ebenezer Scrooge.
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy there was great gain in godliness with contentment (I Tim. 6:6). He also stated people cannot take anything with them when they die (vs. 7). Therefore, we should be content with food and clothing (vs.8). Otherwise, a discontentedness may creep into our thinking.
“Discontent is one of the most powerful shaping influences in our society. Advertisers regularly attempt to dissuade us from the things we use every day in order to sell us their products. Political parties thrive on discontent, stirring up voters to covet things they do not have in order to elect a candidate who will take from one group of people and give to another. Truly, contentment is rare today,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Paul stated, “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation.” The phrase who desire (βουλόμενοι; boulomenoi) is a present, middle, plural verb. This refers to present, personal, and collective thinking, feeling and choosing by people. What these individual desire in their minds, emotions, and wills is to be rich (πλουτεῖν; ploutein). This is a present, infinitive verb meaning to be materially wealthy.
Those who pursue such a worldview of wealth fall into temptation (ἐμπίπτουσιν; πειρασμὸν; empiptousin peirasmon). This means to collapse into an enticement for evil and sin.
Paul used other words to explain this deceitful condition. He called it a snare (παγίδα; pagida) or a trap. He then used another word for desire (ἐπιθυμίας; epithumias) referring to a lust or craving. Such lusts and cravings for wealth Paul referred to as senseless (ἀνοήτους; anoetous) meaning unintelligent or foolish and harmful (βλαβεράς; blaberas) producing hurt and injury. It plunges people (βυθίζουσι ἀνθρώπους; bythizousi anthropous) or drowns them intellectually, emotionally and volitionally into ruin (ὄλεθρον; olethron) or devastation and destruction (ἀπώλειαν; apoleian) which is disaster, waste and death.
“When discontentment is the driving force in a person’s life, all sorts of problems can result. Spouses can rush headlong into extramarital affairs. Households can pile on loads of debt as they try to keep up with the lifestyles of their neighbors. Biblical truth can be distorted in an effort to make the message easier to sell. Timothy faced some kind of doctrinal aberration resulting from teachers who made monetary gain their chief end in life, and that is why Paul urges contentment with one’s own estate (1 Tim. 6:6–8). He expands upon this principle in today’s passage, reminding us that a desire to be rich fueled by discontentment can create senseless desires and result in destruction (v. 9),” continues Dr. Sproul.
Wealth is not wrong. However, it can become sin when the acquiring of gain consumes a person and it becomes all they desire. John Calvin explains, having luxuries is not “to be condemned on its own account, but lusting after them is always sinful.”
“Greedy people are compulsive—they are continually trapped in sins by their consuming desire to acquire more. ruin and destruction. Such greed may lead these people to suffer the tragic end of destruction and hell. These terms refer to the eternal punishment of the wicked,” states Dr. John MacArthur.
Are we content with what God has given us? Or, are we coveting and lusting for something more? Something more could be money, a relationship, a job, recognition, or anything else considered good. When we think we need such things, we begin to distrust God’s provision. We no longer depend upon Him and become lazy in our commitment to Him. Do our life goals evidence a discontentment?
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
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