****1 timothy 6:17-19

Rich in Faith! (1 Timothy 6:17–19

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (TNIV)

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

“Lifestyles of the Rich and famous” was a popular television show in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Exotic locations and unapologetically shameless adoration of celebrities were the trademarks of this long running series. This show explored the world of the very well-to-do.

The British born Robin Leach was the host of the show. Appropriate and successful for the “greed-is-good” decade of the 1980’s, the show was a kind of dream get away for viewers to see how the “rich and famous” presumably live—presented in a fantasy travelogue style. Of course in the show, you didn’t actually get to see how the “rich and famous” deal in their lifestyle with marital problems, substance abuse, scandals, tabloid exposure and the list goes on.

On the show only the perks of a rich lifestyle were revealed on television. Many in the world desire to be rich, work to be rich, plot to be rich, and their whole world revolves around riches. Many are caught up and thrilled with those who are rich. Paul was not giving a lecture on the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but he was giving an exhortation on the lifestyles of the rich in faith!

Paul declared some instructions to the wealthy Christians about their living and their giving. Christians are to use their wealth for God’s glory and men’s good and not to abuse their wealth to their own hurt. I want to charge the church to use their resources for God’s glory and service to men and store up riches in heaven for the life to come. Are you using your wealth for God’s glory? Are you investing in eternity by working for Jesus and giving for Jesus? These verses give us some declarations about the lifestyles of the rich in faith.

I. A command to the prosperous. (17–19)

A. About their faith. (17) 1. An exhortation not to trust in finances. (17a)

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches”

Paul doesn’t condemn the rich for being rich, but he commands Timothy to command them about the use of their riches. It is not wrong for man to have money, but it is wrong for the money to have the man.

Timothy pastured in Ephesus and obviously the church at Ephesus had some wealthy members. Contrary to the false teachers who loved money and who desired to be rich, Paul is talking to the Christians who were already rich. God had blessed these rich Christians with material wealth! Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

Paul gives a command to the prosperous about their faith. He first gives an exhortation not to trust in their finances. Command: (KJV: Charge) paraggello, par-ang-gel’-lo; to transmit a message, i.e. (by implication) to enjoin: (give in) charge, (give) command (-ment), declare. This word affirms the authority of the Pastor to instruct the Christians from the word of God. Timothy was not to give a suggestion, but a command to the rich. Rich: plousios, ploo’-see-os; wealthy; figurative abounding with, rich, abounding, or abundantly furnished. Present age: (KJV: world) aion, ahee-ohn’ properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world. This word refers to the time in which we live. This command is applicable to every Christian of all time. No matter what decade or century we are living in we have a command from God concerning our finances.

Timothy was to exhort the believers not to trust in finances. One evidence that a person trust in their worldly riches is their arrogance, pride, and haughty spirit. Timothy was to command the wealthy Christians at Ephesus not to be haughty because of their material riches. Money does not make anyone better or greater than anyone else. The Lord is not impressed by our riches. Haughty: (KJV: High-minded) hupselophroneo, hoop-say-lo-fron-eh’-o; to be lofty in mind, i.e. arrogant:—be highminded, to have an exalted opinion of oneself. It is extremely hard to have a humble spirit and have material wealth. When a person is haughty they have and show great pride in themselves and contempt for others. Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

Paul commands Timothy to command the rich in the church not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches. Trust: elpizo, el-pid’-zo; to expect or confide:—(have, thing) hope (-d) (for), trust. We are not to be trusting in uncertain riches. Riches can be here today and gone tomorrow. Poem: Money talks, I can’t deny. I heard it once, it said goodbye! Money has a way of finding wings and flying away. Riches are so uncertain. Proverbs 23:4–5 says, “Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! 5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

H. A. Ironside wrote these words in 1947, “During the great depression of ‘29 I met people every day who were rich one day and poor the next. People went to bed in those days thinking they were well-off for the rest of their lives, but they woke up the next morning to find that the bottom had dropped out of the market, and they had lost everything.”

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Riches are uncertain, not only in their value (which changes constantly), but also in their durability. Thieves can steal wealth, investments can drop in value, and the ravages of time can ruin houses and cars.” Riches are so uncertain and when are hope and trust is placed in them it shows that we faith is in finances and riches instead of God. Every one of us needs the exhortation not to trust in finances. America is the richest nation in the world and our standard of living is far beyond those of many other nations and peoples of the world. You may not consider yourself rich, but when we compare ourselves to others who do not have much if anything we are all wealthy! Riches are uncertain! The sooner we realize that the better we will be! William Barclay said, “In the chances and the changes of life, we may be wealthy today and find ourselves in poverty tomorrow; and it is folly to set one’s hopes on what can so easily be lost.” Are you trusting in uncertain riches? Does your faith rest in the economy and your bank account or the stock market? Paul gives an exhortation not to trust in finances. In verse 17 we also see Paul gives:

2. An encouragement to trust in the Father. (17b)

“but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Paul tells the believers what not to trust in and then tells them Who to trust in. They are to have faith in the living God. Even Christians must be exhorted and encouraged to trust in the living God. It has always held true that man that has material wealth tends to trust less in God and more in their gold.

A well known research Group asked Americans about the importance of religion. The results say something significant about self-sufficiency. Here is how many people of various income brackets answered “yes” to the question, “Is religion very important in your life?”

◾ Less than $20,000 annual income: 71%

◾ $20,000 to $29,999: 69%

◾ $30,000 to $39,999: 62%

◾ $40,000 to $59,999: 61%

◾ $60,000 or more: 45%

It seems as though American think money diminishes one’s need for God. That is exactly what Paul told the church not to let happen. They were to trust in the living God instead of uncertain riches. The church is not to trust in dead idols, hardened gold, liquid silver, copper coins, or paper money. We are to trust in the living God who made us, has saved us, and will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus! (Phil. 4:19)

John Phillips wrote, “God is too loving to be unkind, too wise to make any mistakes, and too powerful to be thwarted. He can be trusted absolutely.”

Paul encourages the believers to trust in the Father not in finances. Have faith in God and not in gold. Trust in the Master and not in money! We are to trust in Christ and not our change! What a statement at the end of verse 17. Paul tells the church that the living God is the One, “who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” God has given us all that we have not for our enslavement, but for our enjoyment. He does indeed give richly to us! Richly: means “abundantly.” You cannot out give God! He will not allow that to happen. He is the Great giver! Because of His love for us He gave to us. John 3:16 we learn that God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life! God has given us our material blessings so that we can enjoy! Enjoy: apolausis, ap-ol’-ow-sis; (to enjoy); full enjoyment:—enjoy (-ment).

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 says, “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. 19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.”

May we use God’s blessing and not abuse God’s blessings. Paul gives a command to the prosperous. First he gives a command about their faith. In verse 18 we see the command

B. About their focus. (18) Paul gives Timothy instructions to command those who are rich to have faith in the living God and not to trust in uncertain riches. In verse 18 Paul exhorts those who are rich in this age to focus on the Lord Jesus and His work in this world. Those who are rich and are focused on their riches cannot serve the Lord. We cannot hold on to our riches and be used by Jesus here and now. We are to focus on eternity and live in light of eternity! We are to stay focused on the Lord Jesus and His will and not on our money and material possession.

Several years ago, construction workers happened upon a corpse outside the city of Pompeii. The evidence surrounding this woman’s demise was interesting. Apparently, she had been fleeing from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Overtaken by the molten lava, she died in the hot ashes. The corpse revealed hands that were clutched around jewels. The jewels had survived, but the woman had not. The same is true today. Death will overtake us all and strip us of our earthly wealth that is why we must remained focused on Jesus in the here and now. Paul gives a word about their focus:

1. In their service. (18a)

“Let them do good, that they be rich in good works,”

Timothy was to command the wealthy Christians in Ephesus to do good with what they have. Do good: agathoergeo, ag-ath-er-gheh’-o; to work good:—do good. This verb means to do what is noble and excellent, to do what is inherently good. Those who are rich in material wealth are to be rich in the Master’s work. We are to be about doing good in the name of Jesus.

Isaiah 1:17 says, “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”

Titus 3:8 says, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Titus 3:14 says, “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” Those who are rich are not exempt from doing good! They cannot pay someone else to be good for them, but they are to be about good works themselves!

Those who are rich are to be rich in good works. Timothy was to command the wealthy to have the proper faith and the proper focus. They were to be about the Lord’s service. To the church in Ephesus Paul had already written these words, Ephesians 2:8–10 which says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Sometimes we all need a wake-up call to get us back on track! The rich needed to be exhorted to be rich in good works! Matthew Henry said, “It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our last day.”

Alfred Nobel dropped his newspaper and put his head in his hands. It was 1888. Nobel was a Swedish chemist who made his fortune inventing and producing dynamite. His brother Ludvig had died in France. But now Alfred’s grief was compounded by dismay. He’d just read an obituary in a French newspaper—not his brother’s obituary, but his! An editor had confused the brothers. The headline read: “The Merchant of Death is Dead.” Alfred Nobel’s obituary described a man who had gotten rich by helping people kill one another. Shaken by this appraisal of his life, Nobel resolved to use his wealth to change his legacy. When he died eight years later, he left more than $9 million to fund awards for people whose work benefited humanity. The awards became known as the Nobel Prizes. Alfred Nobel had a rare opportunity—to look at the assessment of his life at its end and still have the chance to change it. Paul gives a command to the prosperous about their focus, first in their service, but also:

2. In their sharing. (18b)

“ready to give, willing to share,” Paul commands the rich Christians to be ready to give, willing to give, because they are able to give! The rich are to be rich in good works and ready to share with those in need. Ready to give: (KJV: ready to distribute) eumetadotos, yoo-met-ad’-ot-os; good at imparting, i.e. liberal ready to distribute, ready to impart, generous. Are you ready to give to those in need? God loves a cheerful, happy, and hilarious giver, but He also wants a ready giver! We ought to pray and ask God to give us opportunities and open hearts to help meet needs. We not only need to know about the need, but we need to be ready to meet the need. What ways can God use us to give? In what ways are we ready to give?

Ralph Waldo Beeson was a multimillionaire who never lost sight of his Christian stewardship. He lived a frugal lifestyle in a modest home with no air conditioning. He had no desire to spend the money on himself but wanted to give all he could ‘to the Lord’s work.’ Mr. Beeson gave a large sum of money to help found a divinity school on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. His only stipulation for the gift was that he remain anonymous. Mr. Beeson said, “It’s the Lord’s money. He gave me the gift of making it. I am not smart enough to make that much money on my own. It’s his money, and I am going to give it back to Him.”

Missionary Hudson Taylor said, “The less I spent on myself and the more I gave to others, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become.” Church we need to be ready to give! We also need to be willing to share. Some people give grudgingly and not joyously. They may give but they do not do it willingly. They may share, but they have selfish motives in their sharing. Willing to share: (KJV: willing to communicate) koinonikos, koy-no-nee-kos’; communicative, i.e. (pecuniarily) liberal:—willing to communicate, ready to impart. This word is closely kin to the Greek word koinonia which means “fellowship.” Our giving and our fellowship are closely tied to one another. The church was exhorted and commanded to stay focused on their serving and on their sharing. The word of God gives a command to the prosperous about their faith, about their focus, and we also learn in verse 19:

C. About their future. (19)

“storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

Their right faith and their right focus will give them riches in the future. By their faith in the living God and their service for Jesus in their good works and readiness to give and their willingness to share they would be laying up for themselves treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:19–21 says, “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.”

A. W Tozer said, “As base a thing as money often is, it yet can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor; it can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.” Paul exhorts the wealthy Christians to be storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come. Storing up: (KJV: Laying up in store) apothesaurizo, ap-oth-ay-sow-rid’-zo; to treasure away lay up in store, to store away, amassing a treasure. This is a compound word in the Greek with the root word where we derive our English word thesaurus from. A thesaurus is a store house or collection of words. We are not collecting words, but we are storing up riches in glory that brings honor and praise to Jesus. Reformer Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

John Bunyan, who wrote “Pilgrim’s Progress” said this from an English prison: “Whatever good thing you do for Him, if done according to the Word, is laid up for you as treasure in chests and coffers, to be brought out to be rewarded before both men and angels, to your eternal comfort.”

We are to be sending on a head and storing up in heaven by obedient and joyful serving and sharing here below. John MacArthur said, “Christians should invest their money in the souls of men and women, who will be there to greet them and thank them when they arrive in heaven.” We are to be living in light of eternity! The time to come should be a major factor in what we do here and now. We should be thinking about heaven and eternity and the day we will face Jesus at the Judgment seat of Christ. Are you investing in eternity? Are you storing up for yourself a good foundation for the time to come? I cannot store up for you and you cannot store up for me! We are each going to be accountable to the Lord Jesus! We each need to live every day like it will be our last! We are to live in such a way that there will be no regrets!

Let me remind you that “the time to come” is coming! Paul gives a sobering challenge and goal for all Christians to reach for. We are to be living in such a way that we are building and constructing our future on a good foundation. The purpose for this is revealed in the last statement in verse 19. “that they may lay hold on eternal life.” Lay Hold on: epilambanomai, ep-ee-lam-ban’-om-ahee; to seize (for help, injury, attainment or any other purpose; literal or figurative) catch, lay hold (up-) on, take (by, hold of, on). We are to live all out and lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of us! Paul had already exhorted Timothy as a man of God to fight the good fight and to lay hold on eternal life. Paul didn’t question whether Timothy was saved or not and he is here not questioning the salvation of the wealthy Christians in Ephesus. He simply is exhorting and commanding them to live all out, affectionately, and aggressively for Jesus. They are to be rich in their faith and right in their focus. They were to be rich in good works and their readiness to give! They were also to be ready for their future.

Henry Blackaby wrote, “In God’s economy, investing in the kingdom produces dividends both now and for eternity. Those who recognize the source of their prosperity will share it generously with others. Those who jealously hoard their possessions demonstrate their ignorance of the eternity they are facing.”