In the New T“THOSE THAT ARE RICH IN THIS WORLD”estament, we read of individuals that were in "deep poverty" (2 Corinthians 8:2). We also read about those people that were "very rich" (Luke 18:23). While the term "middle-class" is not used in the Bible, we would imagine that a number of Bible characters whose financial standing is not specified in the scriptures, were somewhere in between the status of being "very rich" and living in "deep poverty."

We recognize that the expressions "rich people" and "poor people" must be understood in the context of the folks with whom they are being compared. One that is counted as a rich person in the States just might be considered a poor man if he were to move to Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, a family that has a household income that ranks in the bottom 5% of the households in a more wealthy country, might be seen as rich by those that live in a poverty-stricken, undeveloped nation.

Many of us that do not count ourselves as being in the category of "the rich," will have to admit that we do have an enormous amount of material blessings. Yes, we have much, much more than we actually need in order to survive. We would, then, be "rich," would we not? For the purpose of this study, we want to examine a portion of the message that the Holy Spirit instructed Timothy to give to rich people. It is recorded in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: (17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. (18) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; (19) Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

When we break down these verses, we see in them some "Do’s" and "Don’ts" for rich people. Let us look at them one by one.

1. Do NOT be highminded ["haughty," NKJV] (17) – Having a lot of money or an abundance of material possessions does not make one a better quality person. Riches, or a lack of them, have nothing to do with a person’s character. And, yet, many of the world’s wealthy are in love with themselves and eaten up with arrogance as they look down their snobby noses at others. Satan has convinced multitudes of people that if they can just become rich, then they will be somebody. Friends, the way to "be somebody" has everything to do with being washed by the blood of the Lamb and having our names written in His book of life, while being "somebody" has nothing to do with how much money a person has!

2. Do NOT trust in uncertain riches (17) – There is such a thing as being spiritually rich (Revelation 2:9), but here in 1 Timothy 6, the obvious reference is to material riches. Notice how the Bible describes such – "uncertain riches." What makes them "uncertain?" The fact that there is no guarantee that they will still be in our possession even an hour from now! A rich fool of a farmer said to himself, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat , drink, and be merry" (Luke 12:19). What a shocker it must have been to him to hear the Lord tell him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" (Luke 12:20). Since money and material blessings are in the "now-you-have-them, now-you- don’t" category, they are uncertain, indeed.

3. DO trust in the living God (17) – The Bible’s message is plain: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart . . ." (Proverbs 3:5). Every person of every economic status needs to learn to say the following words with an honest heart: "O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust" (Psalm 7:1). Sadly, riches are the god before which many bow, but there is only one living God Who is worthy of our devotion. God is a refuge, strength, and hope for those that trust in Him (Psalm 46;1). Money, on the other hand, will never serve as a refuge or shelter which can somehow save a person from every problem in life, including sin. "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath" (Zephaniah 1:18).

4. DO remember the source of your riches (17) – The text says, ". . . God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." Yes, "all things" are from the Lord. How much money do I have? Regardless of my answer, I must never forget that every single portion of it came from God. He is the Giver of life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25).

5. DO "do good" (18) – One motive that a child of God should have in making money is to be able to use it "to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28). That same Book of Ephesians reminds us that Christians are created in the Christ "unto good works" (2:10). Yes, the Lord wants His people to be "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). While almost everyone has opportunity to show compassion and render assistance to those that are lacking in material things, those that are rich are especially blessed with the prospect of being able to do more than others, simply due to the fact of their abundance.

6. DO "be rich in good works" (18) – They should not dabble in helping others just to make themselves feel good about themselves or to avoid the feeling of guilt. Rather, those that are blessed with material riches are to abound in good works. What a blessing those people that love to give can be to a community and a congregation of God’s people.

7. DO be ready to distribute ["give," NKJV] and willing to communicate ["share," NKJV] (18) – Again, we see the mentality that the rich need to manifest in the matter of doing good works: not unprepared and forced into it, but "ready" and "willing." Would this principal not hold true for all Christians? And, would it not apply to the mindset of those in a congregation that make decisions about the help that the church supplies for those that stand in need?

8. DO store up for yourselves a good foundation for the time to come (19) – The Master said it this way, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:20,21). The only way to be ready to live where there is no need for material possessions of any type (heaven), is to recognize Jesus as the one foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), then serve Him as Lord by doing His will (Luke 6:46). Yes, a wise man builds his house/life on the Lord Jesus (Matthew 7:24-27).

9. Do NOT lose sight of what is most important (19) – You have probably seen it happen. Perhaps it has even happened in your own life. What am I talking about? A person can get so caught up in the possession of riches (and making more!) that he/she loses sight of what really matters in life, which is living in such a way that we can obtain eternal life. The Spirit’s message to rich folks is for them to "get it right" with their riches in order that they can "lay hold on eternal life" (19). When our heart is more concentrated on money matters than it is on eternal life, we are in trouble, big trouble! Many saints of God who were once faithful in His service have self-destructed due to "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches" (Mark 4:19).

It is not money itself, nor the possession of it, that is the root of all kinds of evil. Rather, it is "the love of money" that has the distinction of being called the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10; emphasis mine, rdc). A further point that needs to be made from our text in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 is this: God’s charge to the rich is not for them to become poor, but rather for them to maintain a proper attitude toward their money and to be generous in their use of it for good works. There is no message in the Bible that says a person will be condemned for being rich. Instead, the rich are given warnings, exhortations, and instructions about the proper use of their funds and possessions.

The message that we have considered from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 is a sobering one, not just for "the filthy rich," but for each one of us. May the "Do’s" and "Don’ts" that we have studied together about material riches be ever clear in our minds. Let us all be grateful for the greatest riches of all – those spiritual blessings that we enjoy in the Son of God (Ephesians 1:3). And, would we not do well to imitate the attitude that the apostle Paul expressed? Speaking of his outlook, both past and present, he wrote, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:7). Many of our generation would exclaim, "To me, to live is money." Not so for the apostle to the Gentiles. Hear him: "For to me to live is Christ . . ." (Philippians 1:21).

-- Roger D. Campbell