What Happens to the Rich 1 Timothy 6:9

Because there were people who promoted the idea that “gain is godliness”, Paul the apostle instructed Timothy that “godliness with contentment is great gain”. He also told him “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”, “and having food and raiment” we should “be therewith content.” In chapter six and verse nine of his letter to Timothy, Paul shared what happens to “they that will be rich” where we read:

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

The verse begins, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,...” Paul began this verse with the word, “But” which we know is a disassociation conjunction meaning what is about to be stated takes precedence over what was just said, and he adds “they that will” which means “will deliberately, have a purpose to, be minded to, willing to as an affection and desire” “be rich” or “have an abundance of outward possessions, be richly supplied and affluent in resources” “fall” which means “to be entrapped or overwhelmed” “into temptation” or “an experiment, attempt, trial and proving with an enticement to sin whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances” “and a snare” which means “a trap or noose which brings peril, loss and destruction”. Paul continued, “and into many” or “great and large” “foolish” which means “not understood, unintelligible and unwise” “and hurtful” or “injurious” “lusts” which refers to “desires, cravings, longings for what is forbidden”. In other words, those who deliberately and purposefully are minded to have an abundance of outward possessions often are entrapped by trials and traps which bring peril, loss and destruction.

The verse continues, “...which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Paul went on to add the result of those who “will be rich” and “fall into temptations” and “foolish and hurtful lusts” by sharing “which drown” or “plunge into the deep and sink” “men in destruction” or “ruin, punishment and death” “and perdition” which means “physical, spiritual or eternal ruin and loss”. The consequences of and inordinate desire to be rich is that “temptations”, “foolish and hurtful lusts” are available, and these lead men to ruin, punishment and physical or even spiritual death.

When we meditate upon Paul's words, we can see the downfall of those who have an inordinate affection to be rich. Those in this category during Paul's day were often declaring their riches as a sign of their “godliness”, however riches made “temptations” available to them which were not a problem for those without means. Paul's idea was that “rich” people often fall prey to the snares and traps the world has to offer to those who can afford them. These “things” or “passions” can become idols and as gods to those who obtain them, and this “drowning” in the “foolish and hurtful lusts” only leads to a person's destruction or demise. Perhaps we should examine our own lives to discover whether we have an “inordinate affection” to be “rich” within this world, and may the Lord Jesus help us to desire to be “rich” in “godliness” and abundance in His world to come.

Next time Paul shares about the “love of money”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.