1 Timothy 6:17-21
The Wealth That Lasts
17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
19treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
21which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.
Berean Standard Bible
Paul tells Timothy to instruct the rich in the present age not to be conceited or to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth. Money can make a person feel secure precisely because it can disappear. Paul does not say every wealthy person is evil; he says wealth is a poor place to rest the weight of hope.
The rich are to put their hope in God, who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. Christian teaching does not require pretending that God's gifts are shameful. It requires receiving them without making them gods and without forgetting the people who lack what they need.
They are to do good, be rich in good works, and be generous and ready to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and take hold of the life that is truly life. Generosity is not a purchase of salvation. It is evidence that wealth has stopped being the master.
Paul's final charge is personal: Timothy must guard the deposit entrusted to him. He should avoid irreverent, empty chatter and opposing arguments that are falsely called knowledge. Some have professed these ideas and departed from the faith. Paul closes with grace.
Questions
1 What should rich people not do with their wealth?
AnswerThey should not become conceited or put their hope in wealth, because wealth is uncertain and cannot carry the weight of a person's future.
2 In whom should the rich place their hope?
AnswerThey should place their hope in God, who richly provides everything for enjoyment. Gratitude receives gifts without worshiping them.
3 How should wealthy believers use what they have?
AnswerThey should do good, be rich in good works, and be generous and ready to share with others.
4 What was Timothy told to guard?
AnswerHe was told to guard the deposit entrusted to him and avoid empty arguments falsely presented as knowledge.
What This Means for Us
The passage does not shame people for having resources; it questions what those resources have become. Wealth is useful when it serves goodness and shared life, but dangerous when it persuades us that we no longer need God or neighbor.
Paul directs the wealthy toward a richer future: generosity now, useful work, and hope in the God who supplies what they have.
Prayer
Father, keep our hope in You rather than in uncertain wealth. Make us generous, ready to share, faithful with what You entrust to us, and alert to empty claims that pull us from the faith. Amen.