1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Instructions for the Wealthy
Hey, before we get into the text for this week, I forgot to mention that one of our guys just got engaged! Congratulations on planning a wedding—that is always wonderful and awful all in the exact same moment, right?
Before we dive into the passage, I just wanted to make a quick comment. I did a men’s conference last week up at Hume Lake, so Mikey taught for us. I got caught up on the series on Monday, and I was thinking about just how thankful I am for this study. It is hard for me sometimes to pull away and take it in as if I were sitting out in the seats, because I spend so much of my time up here.
I was reflecting on what this series is teaching us. It is showing us the vital importance of the Word of God as it relates to all the issues and chaos in our world. I am so grateful for the strong, practical admonitions Paul gives Timothy to meet the brokenness of his community through the lens of Scripture. Especially this week, as we look around our world and our country, it is ever more important for us as followers of Jesus to meet cultural chaos through the lens of the Bible.
We are facing unprecedented issues. I have never seen anything quite like this in my lifetime, and it is critical that we look at everything through the lens of Scripture. I hope you do not misunderstand me: I am not talking about politics. I am not talking about whether you are conservative or liberal. To be honest, I am happy to pastor any of you! What I am saying is that regardless of where you stand on cultural issues, we as the people of God must defend our positions through the lens of the Scriptures. Let us make sure that the Bible is driving our stances. It is so easy to get caught up in the red and blue, but we are called to be above that. We are called to be about the cross. We need to make sure that whatever we believe, we can point to the chapter and verse that supports our conviction. In our culture right now, that is more important than ever.
With that in mind, let us turn to 1 Timothy chapter 6, verses 17 through 19.
The Relativity of Wealth
As you have obviously observed, I am a relatively large man. I can walk into most rooms and know that I am going to be one of the largest—if not the largest—dudes in the room. That is not necessarily good or bad; I am not making a moral judgment on my size. I am just saying that sometimes the elephant in the room actually is me! I am familiar with that, I am comfortable with that, and I have been dealing with that all my life.
There was one occasion, however, where I did not feel so large. A few years ago, I did a chapel service for an NFL team. I walked into that room and felt very, very small. It is a strange feeling to be surrounded by a room full of giants, all of whom seemed to have anger in their eyes. I am fairly confident that any one of them—even the punter—could have hurt me.
My point is that size is relative. Large compared to whom? In some rooms you feel huge, and in other rooms you feel tiny. What does that have to do with 1 Timothy 6? In this passage, Paul addresses the wealthy. As soon as I say the word “wealthy,” some people acknowledge, “Yeah, I am wealthy.” Others immediately say, “Oh, I’m not wealthy at all compared to this person or that person.”
My question to you is: wealth compared to whom?
From a global perspective, roughly 80 percent of humanity lives on less than ten dollars a day. That is less than four thousand dollars a year. If you make more than that, on the world stage you are considered wealthy. If you had a choice of what clothes to put on before you came here tonight, you are wealthy. If you opened your refrigerator and had a choice between different foods to eat, you are wealthy. If you drove a vehicle today, you are wealthy. If your household had a choice of multiple vehicles, you are exceedingly wealthy. In fact, if you make more than $34,000 a year, on a global scale you are in the top one percent. Wealth is entirely relative.
I have not looked inside your fridge or peeked into your closet, and I do not know if you drove here or took the bus. But I would venture to guess that almost all of us in this room are wealthy on the world stage. That means nobody gets to tune out tonight—this text applies to every single one of us.
The Context of Wealthy Ephesus
The city of Ephesus was one of the most affluent metropolitan areas in the first-century Roman world. They had a library that was the third largest in antiquity, behind only Alexandria and Pergamum. Right next to that library, archaeologists have uncovered what are known as the terraced houses. In these homes, excavators found evidence of the most extreme luxury known in the ancient world.
These residences featured massive mosaic floors, beautiful frescoed walls depicting scenes like the Nile River or the Parthenon in Athens, and the finest pottery and cookware available. They had soaring vaulted ceilings designed with specialized vents so that when the sea breeze swept off the harbor, it brought natural air conditioning into the home. They even had heated floors, indoor plumbing, and private restrooms. Almost nobody in the ancient world lived like that.
These homes belonged to patricians—the ultra-wealthy elite of Roman society. A patrician had a vast household of servants to attend to every need. Servants would carry them through the streets on litters so their feet would not grow weary. If they chose to walk, servants ran ahead shouting, “Make way! Make way!” and the crowds parted like the Red Sea. They ate the finest delicacies, sat in the best theater seats, and donated massive sums to have civic monuments erected in their honor.
When people from that background came to faith in Jesus Christ, they stepped into a radically new reality where there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. Yet it raised an essential question: How does a wealthy follower of Jesus steward their wealth in Christ?
Listen to Paul’s instructions:
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NASB)
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. [Instruct them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Guarding Against Arrogance and False Hope
Notice how Paul begins verse 17: “Instruct those who are rich in this present world…” Right away, Paul draws a contrast. You can be rich in this present world while being completely bankrupt eternally, or you can have very little in this world and be immensely rich in Christ.
It is so easy to evaluate someone by their financial balance sheet, but what does it profit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit their soul? In Ephesians, Paul prays that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened to know the glorious riches of our true inheritance in Christ.
Ephesians 1:18 (NASB)
[I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Our true riches are not found in the things of this world. Some people accumulate more worldly goods than others, but our real treasure is what we share in common at the cross. In Ephesus, the wealthy patrician and the humble slave sat side by side as brothers in Christ, sharing the exact same inheritance.
Paul commands those who are rich in this present age not to be conceited. Other translations use words like “proud” or “haughty.” The danger of wealth is that it breeds arrogance. Wealth can deceive you into believing you are culturally superior or morally better than others.
Proverbs 18:11 (NASB)
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.
There is a subtle pride that whispers that financial success makes you better than someone else, but in Christ, that attitude has no place.
Paul also instructs them not to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches. When the economy is booming, this truth can be easy to ignore. But when you are watching inflation eat away at your retirement savings, this passage speaks with profound clarity. Wealth is fleeting. It comes and it goes.
Proverbs 27:24 (NASB)
For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown [endure] to all generations.
Proverbs 23 puts it with vivid urgency:
Proverbs 23:2-5 (NASB)
And put a knife to your throat If you are a man of [great] appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food. Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration [of it]. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For [wealth] certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies [toward] the heavens.
How many times throughout your career have you thought, If I can just make this specific amount, then I will finally feel secure? Then God provides that amount, and immediately you think, Well, if I could just make a little bit more, then I will be satisfied. That is the elusive nature of riches. Wealth promises satisfaction, but the moment you achieve your goal, it demands more.
Our desires reveal what is happening in our hearts.
Matthew 6:21 (NASB)
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
There is nothing inherently sinful about having nice things, but we must recognize how easily possessions become idols. My very first car was a Chevy Blazer bought from a repossession yard; my second was a Pontiac Fiero, also from a repo lot. It did not matter what happened to that Fiero—it was probably going to catch fire on its own anyway! But years later, when I finally bought a new car, I noticed I treated it entirely differently. That new car occupied a place in my heart that the old Fiero never did.
When something expensive or prestigious captures your affection, it can shift from being an enjoyable blessing to an ultimate thing—and an ultimate thing is an idol. Money itself is not evil, but the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
1 Timothy 6:10 (NASB)
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Contentment and the God Who Supplies
Instead of trusting in uncertain wealth, Paul tells us to fix our hope on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
There is a wonderful prayer in Proverbs 30 that captures this heart perfectly:
Proverbs 30:7-9 (NASB)
Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny [You] and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.
What an incredible prayer! Most of us never pray, “Lord, don’t give me too much.” We usually say, “Bring it on!” I have thought many times that if God had given me the athletic talent to play in the NFL, it probably would have destroyed me. The sheer volume of money would have corrupted my soul. How much better to pray, “Feed me with the food that is my portion, and teach me to be content.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NASB)
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance [with its] income. This too is vanity.
Contentment is a learned discipline. We try to muster up the willpower to be satisfied, and then our neighbor buys a new set of golf clubs or a friend shows up in a brand-new outfit, and something inside of us gets triggered.
Listen to how Paul describes his own journey in Philippians:
Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB)
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
That famous phrase, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,” is not a motivational slogan for running a marathon; it is about learning the secret of contentment in every circumstance. Contentment requires practice. In a world of one-click ordering and next-day shipping, one of the most spiritual things you can do is learn to say no.
Money makes a terrible savior and an even worse god.
Proverbs 11:28 (NASB)
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the [green] leaf.
Our God is an abundant provider. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us of the Father’s tender care:
Matthew 6:26-28 (NASB)
’Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and [yet] your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ’And who of you by being worried can add a [single] hour to his life? ’And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
I used to wonder why Jesus addressed anxiety right in the middle of a teaching on money, until I started walking alongside people who carried substantial wealth. More wealth often brings more complexity, higher bills, greater liabilities, and deeper anxiety. Jesus points us back to the foundational truth that God provides.
Everything we have belongs to Him from the start.
Psalms 24:1-2 (NASB)
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.
If you had a great financial month or your annual earnings looked strong, do not become arrogant. You worked hard, but God is the one who gave you the strength, opened the doors, and established your steps. We try so hard to build our little personal empires, but we are ultimately in control of very little.
Notice that Paul says God richly gives us all things to enjoy. There is nothing wrong with taking a vacation, building a comfortable home, making memories, or enjoying a good meal with your family. We reject the prosperity gospel, but we must also avoid the opposite error of a poverty gospel—the legalistic idea that enjoying any blessing is sinful. God does not want you motivated by guilt or shame. He wants you to enjoy His good gifts with a posture of grateful stewardship.
Living as Faithful Stewards
What is a steward? A steward is someone who manages resources that belong entirely to another person. We do not own anything; God owns everything.
Psalms 50:10-11 (NASB)
’For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. ’I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and in His sovereignty, He has sold a few of them and deposited the proceeds into your bank account. Our calling is simply to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us, whether it is five talents, two talents, or one.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NASB)
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
How do we put that stewardship into practice? Look at verse 18: “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”
Notice Paul does not simply tell the wealthy to write a check. For many people of means, writing a check is the easy way out. Financial support is vital, but Paul calls us to be rich in good works—to roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and invest our lives personally.
At our church, we often talk about foundational spiritual practices, and one of them is living on purpose. Ask yourself: What broken corner of this world has God burdened your heart to step into? Is it foster care? Food insecurity? Literacy? Local outreach?
We are saved by grace through faith, but we are saved for good works.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
True joy is found when you realize your time on earth is brief, and you give yourself to the kingdom work God prepared specifically for you.
Radical Generosity and True Wealth
Paul also calls us to be generous and ready to share. When we break free from self-centeredness and open our hands, we discover immense joy.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NASB)
Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
You cannot outgive God. When you steward resources generously for His kingdom, He often entrusts you with more—not so you can increase your standard of living, but so you can increase your standard of giving.
Malachi 3:10 (NASB)
‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ’if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NASB)
Now this [I say], he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one [must do] just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
In the kingdom of God, generosity is measured not by the size of the gift, but by the scale of the sacrifice. When Jesus watched the poor widow put her two small coins into the temple treasury, He celebrated her wholehearted surrender over the massive gifts of the wealthy.
Mark 12:41-44 (NASB)
And He sat down opposite the treasury, and [began] observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.’
Generosity also means being ready to share our everyday lives—loaning a truck, buying groceries for a neighbor, offering your time, or opening your home as a safe space for someone who is hurting.
In Acts 19, we read that Paul spent over two years in Ephesus renting the lecture hall of Tyrannus to train believers and spread the gospel across the province.
Acts 19:9-10 (NASB)
But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Who paid the rent on that lecture hall for two straight years? It was almost certainly wealthy believers living in those terraced homes who used their resources to fund kingdom advancement.
Early in my own life, I attended a conference in Kansas City where I heard Tommy Nelson teach the Scriptures. A businessman who loved the teaching called up the church’s tape ministry and purchased every single cassette tape they produced—multiple large boxes of them. Then he called me into his office and said, “I want to hire you. I am going to pay you to put these headphones on, listen to these tapes, and study your Bible.”
That businessman paid me to study the Scriptures while I finished my degree at Fresno State, and he went on to support me through seminary. He told me, “There are people on the front lines, and there are people on the supply lines. I cannot teach or pastor like you do, but I know how to make money. I am going to make money for the glory of Jesus and supply your ministry on the front lines.”
What a stunning picture of the body of Christ working together! Some of us are called to the front lines, some to the supply lines, and many to both. When we use our relative wealth for the kingdom, we lay up eternal treasure.
2 Timothy 4:8 (NASB)
in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Jesus spoke about money more than almost any other topic because our possessions will either be an incredible tool for ministry or a fatal spiritual trap.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NASB)
’Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ’But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Every time I drive past a self-storage facility, I smile at the irony of our culture building endless monuments to store the stuff we do not even use. We accumulate treasures that moth and rust destroy, but God invites us to invest in eternity.
As we close, let me leave you with three simple challenges:
First, acknowledge your relative wealth. Stop comparing yourself to people who have more, and recognize the abundance God has placed in your hands.
Second, fix your hope firmly on God rather than uncertain riches. Economic markets will rise and fall, but our Provider never changes.
Third, reevaluate what it looks like for you to be rich in good works and ready to share. Bring your time, your talents, and your resources before the Lord in prayer and ask Him, “Father, how do You want me to invest what You have given me?”
Let us run the race set before us with open hands and undivided hearts.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for the clear, life-giving truth of Your Word. Thank You for the reminder that everything we possess belongs to You. Forgive us for the times we have placed our trust in the uncertainty of riches or allowed our possessions to capture our hearts.
Teach us the beauty of contentment. Make us faithful stewards of the resources, time, and gifts You have placed in our care. Help us to be rich in good works, quick to show generosity, and eager to share what we have with those in need. May our lives reflect the radical generosity of Jesus, who gave everything so that we might inherit the unsearchable riches of Christ.
We pray all these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.