17 Command (Instruct) those who are rich in this present world NOT TO BE ARROGANT NOR 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. 1 Timothy 6
Tell those rich in this world’s wealth TO QUIT BEING SO FULL OF THEMSELVES AND SO OBSESSED WITH MONEY, which is here today and gone tomorrow. 1 Timothy 6:17 MSG
Paul gave Timothy two final exhortations for those for whom he had responsibility in the sight of God. The first instruction was addressed to a certain group, the wealthy believers.
MIND YOUR ATTITUDE AND BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TRUST IN
Wealth can make us proud/look down on others and skew our thinking, so we begin to trust in riches, in place of God. Jesus said,
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6
Both Jesus and Paul were flagging up that there’s something in money (Mammon) that can grab the heart if it’s not held in check, ‘hate and love’ are of the heart.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 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.
But interestingly Paul said that wealth can also be used in this age to benefit believers in the age to come.
(Their hope) … on the living GOD, WHO RICHLY PROVIDES US WITH everything for our enjoyment. Tell 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… 1 Timothy 6
Paul’s final warning once again concerned ‘Godless chatter’, a recurring theme in his letters to Timothy. 1 Tim 5:13, 2 Tim 2:16
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. TURN AWAY FROM GODLESS CHATTER and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
20 Oh, Timothy, don’t fail to do these things that God entrusted to you. KEEP OUT OF FOOLISH ARGUMENTS with those who boast of their “knowledge” and thus prove their lack of it. 1 Timothy 6 TLB
GODLESS CHATTER, a real danger to true believers. Paul’s only advice to Timothy and us, stay away from it.
‘GRACE BE WITH YOU’. Good words to end his letter to Timothy and the whole Church. Amen