Personal Instructions Series

Scripture

In the final chapter of his First Letter to Timothy, Paul issued four charges to Timothy: first, about the false teachers (6:3-10), second, to Christian leaders (6:11-16), third, to rich Christians (6:17-19), and finally, to Timothy himself (6:20-21).

Today I want to conclude our study in Paul’s First Letter to Timothy by looking at the final two charges (to rich Christians and to Timothy himself). These personal instructions are still extremely important for us in the twenty-first century.

Let us read Paul’s personal instructions in 1 Timothy 6:17-21:

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.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

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

Introduction

Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to deal with the problem of false teachers and their false teaching. They were leading some church members astray and Paul wanted to strengthen Timothy’s resolve to teach God’s truth. The entire letter gives guidance about how “one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God” (1 Timothy 3:15).

As Paul concluded his First Letter to Timothy, he issued a series of personal instructions. We are going to look at the final two personal instructions of this letter.

Lesson

1 Timothy 6:17-21 shows us two areas that require attention.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. Pay Attention to Treasure (6:17-19)

2. Pay Attention to Truth (6:20-21)

I. Pay Attention to Treasure (6:17-19)

First, pay attention to treasure.

Earlier in chapter 6, Paul addressed the issue of riches, or “treasure,” as I am calling it. The false teachers were “imagining that godliness is a means of [financial] gain” (6:5). “But,” Paul warned, “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (6:9). Then Paul warned Timothy to “flee these things” (6:11).

Now, in verse 17, Paul returned to the subject of riches (or treasure). He was no longer speaking about false teachers who wanted to get rich. Instead, he was now speaking to those who were already rich.

I should mention that when we think of rich people we generally think of other people. We don’t think of ourselves as rich. However, in comparison to most of the rest of the world, we are rich. I once heard a definition of “poverty” that has stuck with me. “Poverty,” according to the definition I heard, “is when a person has no options.” In contrast, a lack of poverty indicates that a person has options. Almost every one of us has options. We have options regarding the food we eat and the clothes we wear and many other things. So, this text is powerfully applicable to every one of us here today.

Paul did not condemn having treasure but spoke about the danger and duty regarding treasure.

A. The Danger Regarding Treasure (6:17)

First, pay attention to the danger regarding treasure.

Paul wrote in verse 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.” There are in fact two dangers regarding treasure.

The first danger regarding treasure is that the rich will become haughty. The Greek word for “haughty” (hypselophroneo) occurs only twice in the New Testament (here and in Romans 11:20), and it means “to be or become marked arrogant by superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy.” Those who have riches are tempted to think they are superior to others because of their riches. Rather than looking to their treasure for satisfaction, Paul wanted Timothy to instruct the wealthy to look to God who is the source of permanent and eternal joy.

The opposite of being haughty is being content with what one has. Visiting believers in impoverished areas shows how much joy they have even though they have very little in the way of material possessions. Just recently, I heard a discussion on a podcast about adopting a “minimalist lifestyle.” That is getting rid of the clutter and stuff in one’s life that is not necessary. As I recall, the couple in the program were able to relocate to another part of the country while still keeping their current home. In their new home, they purchased only the essentials for daily life. After some time, they realized that they did not need all the “stuff” that they had accumulated in their other home. Moreover, they were to enjoy their new lifestyle because they did not have so many other things to distract them. They were learning to be content and not to be haughty.