Where is your trust?

1 Timothy 6:14–19 (ESV)

14b until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

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. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Eschatology

14b until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time

Paul is reminding Timothy of his focus.

Continue the work until Christ returns.

This is a reminder that we do not know when Christ will return.

Do not get distracted in the details of His return, only know that He will return.

Christ’s appearing will most definitely come, but it will happen according to God’s time table.

William Mounce

Despite the many futile attempts to set a date for the Second Coming, only the Father knows when it will be (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7). We can trust Him to bring it about at the proper time.

John MacArthur

Doxology

Paul’s doxology is not a disconnected thought or spontaneous praise, it is connecting to the one who is responsible for when Christ returns.

This doxology is focused on the transcendence and greatness of God.

God is blessed: He is never frustrated, unhappy or anxious.

This means we can have peace in trusting in God, for our trust is in God, not circumstances.

God is Sovereign. He is in complete control.

Isaiah 43:13 (ESV)

13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

God is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

God alone has immortality.

These statements are directed towards the emperor worship of Paul’s day.

In emperor worship, it was believed that the emperor obtained immortality after death.

This doxology is about God the Father, not Jesus.

The phrase “who dwells in unapproachable light”, shows that this cannot be Jesus.

The phrase “whom no one has seen or can see” also shows that this is towards God the Father.

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Exodus 33:17–23 (ESV)

17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Commands for the rich

The World Bank uses three income levels to determine poverty. These income levels are $1.90 a day, $3.20 a day and $5.50 a day.

The US Census Bureau uses the income level of $36 a day.

The majority of Americans would be considered rich in comparison to members of the Ephesian church.

Paul gives three commands to the rich.

Do not be haughty.

to be haughty v. — to be or become marked arrogant by superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy.

A simple way to define this is to not be conceited.

Do not set your hopes on riches.

Proverbs 11:4 (ESV)

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Proverbs 11:28 (ESV)

28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Trust in God.

Proverbs 28:25 (ESV)

25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

Psalm 84:12 (ESV)

12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Commanded to do good works

Timothy’s task as pastor is to create space for God’s people (and in this case esp. the wealthy) to respond to God’s gospel call; it is not to serve as a moralizing policeman.

Robert Yarbrough

There are three commands of practical actions:

Do good.

The verb refers to doing what is noble and excellent, not what is only superficially good.

James 1:22 (ESV)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Be rich in good works.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Ready to share generously

The passage in English reads with the word “and”, but this is not the meaning, it should be combined.

The word κοινωνικός (Koinōnikos) means “ready to share” it is a derivative of the word κοινωνία (koinōnia).

κοινωνία (koinōnia) is the word used for fellowship.

This is not a call for socialism, but instead a call for believers to willingly, lovingly and voluntarily share with others the blessings God has given them.

Rewards

Our focus must be on the eternal, not the temporal.

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)

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.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (ESV)

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.