17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)
- “The rich invest in time; the poor invest in money.” – Warren Buffett
- “Wealth is not about having a lot of money; it’s about having a lot of options.” – Chris Rock
- “The lack of money is the root of all evil.” – Mark Twain
- “The rich are different; they have more money.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
- “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you’re being miserable.” – Clare Boothe Luce
- “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” – Will Rogers
The Scriptures do not ignore the truth of people who are rich and others who are poor. Both the Old and New Testaments acknowledge this reality. Here is but a sampling from the Old Testament.
- Proverbs 10:4 (ESV) – “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”
- Proverbs 11:28 (ESV) – “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
- Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV) – “23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
The Gospel of Luke alone contains three significant stories concerning rich men. These are The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21); The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (12:19-31); and The Rich Young Ruler (18:18-30).
The Apostle Paul preciously instructed his young protégé Timothy concerning the subject of wealth (I Timothy 6:6-10). Paul returned to this subject as he neared the conclusion of his letter. It is a postscript providing advice for rich people.
Paul entrusted Timothy to charge (παράγγελλε; parangelle) or command the rich to observe certain attitudes regarding their wealth. The rich were to presently, actively and obediently obey these commands; then and now.
God commands the rich to not be haughty. Haughty (ὑψηλοφρονεῖν; hypselophronein) refers to a spirit of arrogance and high-mindedness. It means to be excessively proud.
“Timothy must caution them to take heed of pride. This is a sin that easily besets rich people, upon whom the world smiles. Charge them that they be not high-minded, or think of themselves above what is meet, or be puffed up with their wealth.”[1]
Secondly, the rich are to not to set their confidence on the uncertainty of riches. The phrase to set their hopes (ἠλπικέναι; elpikenai) means to expect wealth in this world to continue. This perspective must not be in the mindset of the rich, whether a believer or an unbeliever. Riches are an uncertainty (ἀδηλότητι; adeloteti). Wealth is untrustworthy. Take note of which Jesus taught in Matthew 6.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:19–24 (ESV)
Rather, all believers in Christ are to set their hope, or confidence in this life and the life to come, in God alone. He alone is the One who provides us with everything we need to enjoy.
“They (the wealthy) should have their hope fixed on God (this is the best reading; better than, “on the living God”). This God is ever true to his promise. He is the God of love. He richly provides. Note play on words: “As for those (who are) rich, charge them … not to have their hope set on … riches, but on God, who richly provides.” Not only is God rich (Ps. 50:10–12), so that with him wishing and having are one and the same, but he ever gives “according to his riches” (Eph. 1:7; cf. Titus 3:6), not only “of his riches.” For God’s munificence, by virtue of which he provides us with all things necessary both for body and soul, for time and eternity, see also Acts 14:17; James 1:17; and innumerable passages in the Psalter, such as 37:25; 68:19; 81:16b; and see Psalms 103, 104, 107, 111, 116, 145, etc. Moreover, all these things are given to us in order that we may not only “partake of” them (1 Tim. 4:3), but may also enjoy them. When we sing, God sings along with us (Zeph. 3:17).”[2]
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2359.
[2] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 209–210.
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