Commands to the Rich
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.
In The Disciple's Manual, William MacDonald writes:
"In closing this section, Paul tells Timothy to charge those who are rich in this world. They should not strut pride and arrogance, nor trust in uncertain riches. Rather their trust should be in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. This latter expression, "who gives us richly all things to enjoy" has often been used to justify the stockpiling of wealth. But the following verse explains all. We don't enjoy money when it lies sterile in the bank buit when we use it to do good, to distribute to the needy, and to share with our less fortunate neighbor. In that way, we stockpile a rich reward in the world to come and enjoy life that is life indeed.
The conclusion? Ronald Sider gives it in his book, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger:
The rich fool is the epitome of the covetous person. He has a greedy compulsion to acquire more and more possessions even though he does not need them. And his phenomenal success at piling up more and more property leads to the blasphemous conclusion that material possessions can satisfy his needs. From the divin perspective, this attitude is sheer madness. He is a raving fool.
Ronald J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, Downers Grove, IL, Intervarsity Press, 1977, p. 123
In our day the problem is not so much that people disagree with these thoughts, but that they don't think it applies to them. The rich person is always someone who has more than them. And so they excuse themselves, thinking the application is for someone else. This allows them to keep saving and stockpiling, purchasing and acquiring, instead of being rich in good works and generous, abundant, sacrificial givers. When they give, they are still more comfortable than many others. Their standard of living is different. They are rich, whether they admit it or not. Inheriting riches or earning them through industry and thrift is one thing. Keeping them is another.
