“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;” (1Timothy 6:17)
Paul tells Timothy to command the rich believers not to be arrogant. Because of the privilege of riches, they may believe themselves to be special. But the truth is that all in the kingdom of God are sinners washed in the Blood of the Lamb. In the kingdom of God, riches is a hinderance and a liability and not a benefit. “And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23) There is a tendency in others to look at those who have accumulated riches to favor them. James taught on this. “My brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4) So the rich automatically expect the best. In the time of Jesus, they expected the better seats. Jesus told the parable of the wedding feast that addresses this. “And He put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when He marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)
Evidently some of the believers in Ephesus were rich. Paul knew it and tells Timothy also to command them not to trust in their riches. We know from experience that the treasures of the world are not eternal. In this world riches can come and go from one day to the next. Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” (Matthew 6:19-20) Jesus commented that it would be difficult for the rich to enter heaven. This is because they have relied on their riches. It’s a trap that deceives one into thinking that it’s all they need because of the prestige that comes with riches, the prominence and doors of opportunity that open. Riches afford their needs, whims and desires. So, releasing that dependance can be difficult.
With every whim at their fingertips because they are able with their riches to obtain everything they want and because of the prestige of riches being favored everywhere they go, we can see how depending on riches would be difficult to abandon and to trust in God. But God is faithful. Because our wants come from the flesh, the Spirit opposes our flesh desires. The flesh is opposed to the spirit.
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Galatians 5:17) The flesh is earthly and temporal. The things of the spirit are eternal. “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:24-26)
It's God Who gives to us richly. Anything we gain here on earth from this earth or from our flesh is temporal. But what God gives us is eternal. Paul in his letter to Timothy writes that the things God gives us are for us to enjoy. He gives richly and abundantly for us to enjoy here on earth and in the spiritual for eternity. His riches are not temporal and will not rust or waste away. They are ours eternally. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Romans 11:29) God doesn’t take them back.
All who are in Christ are equal in God’s eyes. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28) It doesn’t matter who one is and what one has. But it matters what has you. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) We either serve God or we serve the god of wanting and possessing. The Lord gives us not only what we need but richly those things that are good for us in the now and for the eternal. We can trust the Lord Who is faithful and Who wants the best for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He changes not. What God said to His people of the Old Testament, He says to His children of the New Covenant. James wrote: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) We can let go of every earthly and temporal possession, every gain, position or status and trust God will provide and bless richly and abundantly with eternal gifts that are better and perfect.
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