1 Timothy 6:17-21
17 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.20 Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thereby have gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.”
Set their hope on the uncertainty of riches…but on God: Paul ultimately wants our hope to be on God not on earthly things. God has created so much for our enjoyment, and we ought not let false theology keep us from enjoying all that God has made.
Instruct them to do good: Paul wanted Timothy to command Christians under his care to live righteous lives of love and servitude. God has saved us and designed us to live in such a way. As we live in this way, we are storing up treasure for the future. In other words, the fruit we express here lasts and endures into heaven.
Protect what has been entrusted to you: Paul wanted Timothy to guard himself against false theology and to instead guard the Gospel as the precious treasure that it is. This is, perhaps, Timothy’s chief concern as a pastor. Likewise, Christians ought to guard the Gospel in our own lives so that we do not become distracted by the ways of the world. In the church of Timothy’s day some had apparently become distracted and had left the faith.
Grace be with you: Paul’s central message to Timothy is grace. He wants Timothy and all Christians to be rooted and established in God’s grace, and to see it as the anchor that it is in the midst of the myriad false teachings that exist.
