Right Use of Riches – 1 Timothy 6:17-21

Not everyone who is rich has a love of money or is egotistic or power hungry.  And there are various kinds of riches.

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. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 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.

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Grace be with you.  (1 Timothy 6:17-21 ESV)

Those who experience riches in this present age, this age before the coming of the kingdom, must learn how to think of and use their riches.  It does not make them better than anyone else, so they should not be haughty.  Riches will not provide them with real life, so they need to put their hope instead in God, the source of all kinds of “riches.”  The rich are to use their riches to do good and to generously share with others in need.  This will be a way of investing in their future in the kingdom, not by earning salvation but by meriting reward.

Timothy has a rich deposit that has been entrusted to him, and as Paul closes this letter he once again charges Timothy to guard this deposit by dealing with the false teachers at Ephesus.  Leaders are rich in responsibility and must guard and wisely use this treasure for the sake of the truth of the gospel.