Observations and Questions- Contrasts “uncertain riches” of the rich man with “riches” God provides and the “treasure” that he may store up.
- Previous and following verses tie the “pride” and “riches” of the world to false knowledge and false teachings.
- Rich people in verses 17-19 tie back to verse 5, “They think that serving God is a way to get rich.”
- Verse 17’s reference to God giving richly and verse 19’s reference to storing up treasure tie back to verse 6, “Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have.”
- Verse 9 does not point at those who are rich, but at those who “want to become rich” as the ones who bring temptation. Therefore, it seems that Paul is saying that those who God blesses with riches in this life should be just as content as the poor, and should not greedily desire more, and, as verse 17 says, should not be proud. Being rich is not necessarily a bad thing. It is the love of money that so often makes rich people bad (v. 10).
- Even the earlier verses of chapter 6 (and parts of chapter 5) appear to be connected to the message of contentment in later verses since Paul says to honor widows and elders and tells slaves to honor their masters.
- “Pride” appears in verse 4 as well as verse 17.
- Conditional clause: Store up treasures... then “they will be able to have the life that is true life.”
- Why the difference between NKJV and NCV and ESV: “they will be able to have the life that is true life” vs. “they may lay hold on eternal life” vs. “they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Are we talking about earthly life or eternal life?
- “Command” is imperative.
- What does “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” mean? Does it refer to planning for this life (which seems unlikely considering the context)? Or does it refer to planning for the next life - planning for God?
- If salvation is free, why do the rich have to store up treasures so “that they may lay hold on eternal life”?
- Commands: charge the rich, do not be haughty, do not place hope in riches, place hope in God, do good, be rich in good works, be generous, be ready to share, store up treasures
- List of things rich should do (above) more of a repetition/comparison for emphasis
- Do good and thus store treasures
- Repetition of “rich” and “good”
- Instructional, but loving tone
- Roles: man - good works and contentment in God’s providence - God - provide
- What does “in this present age” mean? Are we talking about rich people involved in the way of the world? Or are we talking about all rich people?
- “Charge” progressive - “they are (not) to” future - “storing” progressive - “take hold” present - “are” “to be” passive commands
- In what way does Paul expect the rich to be “good”?
- Are we to command others (as commanded) or to take the commandment and apply it ourselves?
- Are “all things” rightly enjoyable”?
Presuppositions I usually automatically write this passage off, assuming that I am not rich and that this passage does not apply to me in the same way it would to a billionaire. However, I realize that I am rich compared to people in third-world countries, just not rich on an American standard. Sometimes I think the “rich” and “proud” person addressed could not possibly me because I’m a good Christian girl... supposedly (I realize that’s not really the case. We are all sinners, and I have been known to allow pride to take over my life.). I also automatically assume that “be generous and ready to share” refers to charity and that “store up treasure” refers to heavenly rewards.
ResearchWhat do “they will be able to have the life that is true life,” or “they may lay hold on eternal life,” and “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come” mean?
Verse 19 presents the result of and motivation for the rich man’s good works. By doing good, man stores up treasures, or riches, for himself where it matters: in God’s eyes - or, in other words, in heaven. We see this when Paul says, “for the coming age.” This coming age refers to the age when Christ returns, as opposed to the current worldly age we live in, which Paul refers to earlier. “While doing good for others, they are simultaneously ‘storing up’ or ‘laying up’... ‘for themselves’... literally ‘a good foundation’... ‘for the future,’ indicating for what time the foundation is being laid up” (Knight, 274).
Some scholars have suggested the storing of treasure is really an “amassing” of treasures that are right and good, but, according to the Tyndale Commentary, this rendering is not supported by the MS and involves bad Greek construction. Instead, the point seems to be that Christians should have an indestructible “foundation” in God. Such a “foundation” refers back to the foundations of buildings, the foundation of the church, and the foundation of the Gospel in a person’s life (that allows him to speak the truth without fear). In a more figurative use, the Anchor Bible suggest “foundation” can mean “that which is laid so that something else can be accomplished” (Johnson ,311).
As a result of building a foundation of treasures in heaven, man can “take hold of that which is truly life.” This “true life” functions next to the “coming age” and the treasures in heaven that matter most. For we, as Christians, are storing up treasures for the future, or “eternal life”. Here, we have a direct contrast with “life propped up by so uncertain a support as [earthly] riches” (Guthrie, 118). We also have a reason for action, for doing good: “to grasp true, eschatological, eternal life” (Mounce, 365). Yes, we live in the present and Christ lives in us. We have God’s blessings and providence in this life, and we do partially store up treasures for this life, but mostly we store up treasures for what is to come.
Big IdeaDo not put possessions above God, but delight and be content in what God does give you, and use it for His glory.
Application There are many ways I can apply this principle to my life because there are many things I tend to give precedence to over God. My studies, for example, always come first. If I don’t have time to read my Bible, I won’t, and when I do have free time, I watch movies or go to Disneyland because I’ve done enough reading for classes. In another clear example of this, I put food above God. I tell myself I can’t get through a day without food (specifically without food I like, which is why I eat french fries and pizza so often). I tend to put technology above God. I love my Ipod, my phone, and my laptop. Would I save them from a fire before my Bible? Probably. I also put my worries above God, casting off God’s peace and not trusting Him to work things out for the good. What I need to do is set aside specific times for God and His Word. I also plan on doing the fasting discipline in order to try to think of God before my appetite.
When applying this passage to the rich, specifically, I think of my Aunt’s brother-in-law, who is very rich. He has several homes, all very large. He’s also a new Christian. He’s the perfect example of what Paul is saying to Timothy, however. He’s bought a mansion and uses it as a community place for unfortunate children. He also ministers to my uncle a lot through fellowship and work. All this to say, I find myself relating more to the person desiring riches than the person with riches. I see this rich man and think about what I would do with money. I have a hard time with my desires because they make me think that I can only serve God with riches. According to 1 Timothy 6, however, I can serve God with whatever I have because God provides for me for His own glory and pleasure. I need to stop focusing on what I don’t have and start focusing on how I can use what I do have for God’s glory.