A Charge to the Rich 1 Timothy 6:17

As Paul the apostle came to the close of this first letter to Timothy, he told him to “fight the good fight of faith”, “lay hold on eternal life” and to profess “a good profession before many witnesses.” He was to “keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:” who would show himself to be “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” Paul told Timothy Jesus had “immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” In chapter six and verse seventeen of his letter to Timothy, Paul gives a “charge” to the “rich” where we read:

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;

The verse begins, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches,...” Paul began with the word, “Charge” which means “to transmit a message along from one to another, to declare, announce, command or order” “them that are rich” or “wealthy and abounding in material resources” “in this world” which refers to “this age or period of time” “that they be not highminded” which is the Greek phrase “hypsēlophroneō mē hypsēlophroneō” and means “not proud, arrogant and lofty of mind”. Paul added, “nor trust” or “hope, expect, confide or depend upon” “in uncertain” which means “unsure, unreliable and ambivalent” “riches” or “wealth, abundance of external possessions, fulness and plenitude”. Paul desired for Timothy to know that “riches” were unreliable, and those who depend upon them often become “proud and boastful” as they put their trust in them.

The verse goes on to say, “... but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;” Paul continued with his “charge” to the “rich” with the word “but” which is a disassociation conjunction and means that what is about to be stated takes precedence over what was previously written, “in the living” or “active, blessed, endless and with true life” “God” who is “the Godhead trinity composed of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the one and only true God”. Paul added, “who gives” or “reaches forth, offers, affords and supplies” “us richly” which means “abundantly” “all things” which consists of “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things both individually and collectively” “to enjoy” or “for our enjoyment, use and savoring”. Paul gave credit to God Almighty for “all things” which we enjoy, and anything we have obtained comes directly from Him.

As we meditate upon these words from Paul, perhaps we find ourselves in one of two camps. “The rich” and “the not so rich”. Often whether we are “rich” or not is compared to those who have more than we do rather than those who have less. The idea behind this verse is that fleeting and unstable “riches” are not to be relied upon for security, sustenance and stability. We should rather put our trust and faith “in the living God” who is timeless, ageless and totally reliable and fades not away. We must never be boastful and remember “if riches increase, set not your heart upon them” as is stated in the book of Psalms in chapter sixty-two and verse ten. Perhaps we should examine ourselves and discover whether we rely upon “uncertain riches” or upon the “one true and living God”? May the Lord help us to discern and lead us to depend upon Him rather than the temporary things of this world.

Next time Paul tells the rich what they should do with their riches, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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