Warning to those Who Have and to those Who Do Not Have

1 Timothy 6 speaks of those who do not have many possessions yet have a strong desire for worldly attainments. These are the overly ambitious poor who have lost their moorings and are adrift on the sea of discontent. Solemnly the Scripture warns them of the tragic results of such driving desire, ambition, and expended energy.

The root cause of all these problems is the love of money, which in turn produces covetousness (1 Timothy 6:10). As children of God, we are to flee from these things and to pursue the following: (1) righteousness, (2) godliness, (3) faith, (4) love, (5) patience, and (6) meekness (1Timothy 6:11). These are the building blocks to a spiritually sound life of contentment. This passage of Scripture gives warnings to those who want to be rich.

• Those Who Want to Be Rich:
  1. Fall into temptation.
  2. Fall into a snare.
  3. Fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which:
     1. Drown people in destruction and perdition.
     2. Cause them to err from the faith.
     3. Pierce them through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy then focuses on those who already have riches, holdings, and possessions. Danger zones exist for them just as they do for the poor – in fact, more in some cases. Whether by inheritance or God’s blessings upon their efforts, this group is greatly blessed with money and riches. Though it is not a sin to be rich, the Scripture wards Christians about the dangers of being rich (1 Timothy 6:17).

• Those Who Are Rich:
  1. Are not to be high-minded.
  2. Are not to trust in uncertain riches.
  3. Are to do good.
  4. Are to be rich in good works.
  5. Are to be ready to distribute.
  6. Are to be willing to communicate (share with others).
  7. Are to lay in store a good foundations against the time to come.

What sound advice to both groups! We either have money, or we do not. In either case, dangers exist, and the Bible warns us of them.