Being Rich Is Knowing Where to Put Your Hope

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Lists of the world’s richest people attract plenty of attention. Recent headlines proclaimed the world’s first trillionaire. A trillion dollars is an amount of money that’s really hard to even wrap our heads around. All around our country questions about wealth, economic systems, and how prosperity is distributed continue be at the forefront of our politics.

God’s Word addresses wealth too, but it begins with humility. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth” (1 Timothy 6:17). Money can convince us that we are secure, independent, and . . . . in control. But wealth and everything else that goes along with it is uncertain.

There is one certain promise. Jesus Christ died for our sins, rose again, and will bring everyone who trusts in him into eternal glory. Being truly rich means knowing where to put your hope. Our confidence is not in what we have accumulated, but in the God who has given us everything, especially forgiveness, life, and salvation through Christ.

Before we decide that these commands are meant for somebody richer, we should be honest. Most of us live with remarkable material blessings. We have comfortable homes, abundant possessions, and resources we can use to help others.

The Bible is in favor of honest work and does not condemn earning money or enjoying God’s gifts. It does condemn greed and selfishness. Faith opens our hands to our neighbor. Because God has richly given us his grace in Christ, we can be generous toward his work and toward others. We can be rich in good deeds, willing to share, and eager to do good.