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Christian Commentary

Is Desiring To Be Rich Wrong?

1 TIMOTHY 6:9 NKJ 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

This verse seems to warn against any desire to be rich. Actually, as some other translations say, it is more of a longing to be rich, or a supreme goal to be rich that is being addressed.

This is talking about more than a simple desire -- for every normal human should desire to improve and increase.

It is talking about a driving desire that causes you to be susceptible to temptations to do wrong, because you are willing to do anything to achieve your goal of being rich. It is talking about a person who is obsessed with being rich. Someone who puts every other interest behind the primary goal of being rich, no matter what it requires.

Do you desire to be rich? Let me ask it this way: "Would you rather be rich or poor?" "Would you rather have more than you need so you can share with others, or would you rather have less than you need so others must help you?"

Unless their thinking has been warped by religious teaching, every sane person would admit they desire to be rich, as opposed to the alternative of being poor.

Yet at first glance, this verse in 1 Timothy 6:9 seems to indicate that this normal and healthy human desire is somehow evil and should be avoided.

The New Testament was written in Greek, and achieving a perfect translation from one language to another is never easy. It should be obvious that the word "desire" in 1 Timothy 6:9 is referring to something much stronger than a simple preference for prosperity.

So it is not being rich, or a preference for being rich, that causes all the problems spoken of in 1 Timothy 6:9, but having an uncontrolled, driving desire to be rich at any cost that causes those problems.

Only a few verses later, we read verse 17 which says nothing to condemn those who are rich.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17 NKJ 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

God has provided richly for us. His intention is that we enjoy what He has created and provided for us.

God put within us the desire to grow and improve, to increase and overcome obstacles, and also to enjoy beauty and order. Mankind was created and placed in a garden of pleasure, the Garden of Eden, a paradise. It is not wrong for us to strive to return to that state. God made us that way.

It only becomes wrong when we are willing to mistreat and take advantage of others in our quest to prosper.

It is not wrong for you to have nice things. But it is wrong to have no concern for others, and be willing to mistreat them in order to obtain what you desire for yourself.

SAY THIS: It is not wrong to desire increase. But it is wrong to make that my primary goal in life, without regard to the needs and desires of others.

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     THE WORD OF GOD WORLD OUTREACH

    You Must Ask for Eternal Life... Matthew 21:22 - And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. John 16:24 - Here to have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy…

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    Created by Bishop Dr. Joshua Smith Oct 18, 2011 at 3:47am. Last updated by Bishop Dr. Joshua Smith Mar 21, 2014.

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    Daily Bible Verse & Prayer

    Today's Verse - Philippians 4:9

    Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

    Philippians 4:9

    Thoughts on Today's Verse...

    As we seek to pass on the faith to our children, friends, and younger spiritual "children" in Jesus' family, we would do well to remember Paul's example: Paul...

    • Taught the truth.
    • Passed on the truth that had been revealed and passed on to him.
    • Displayed that truth in his life.
    • Called on the people he was mentoring to put this truth into practice in their daily lives.
    Paul's life enabled the Philippians to fully experience God's presence and find the peace God longed to give them. May our words and examples do something similar in the lives of those we long to influence!

    My Prayer...

    Father, help me be a better teacher in word and deed as I seek to influence those around me to become more JESUShaped. May my words and example bless those who need my help in their Christian walk and those in my family seeking to grow in your grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

    All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

    Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 1:30

    It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

    1 Corinthians 1:30

    Thoughts on Today's Verse...

    God's grace has brought us into a saving relationship with Jesus as our LORD and Savior. As believers, we recognize that Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross was much more than a terrible miscarriage of justice and the murder of a good and decent man. Jesus is God's Son. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is God's lovingly wise way to show us of his love. Jesus is our righteousness. He took our sins upon himself and made us righteous through his death, the shedding of his blood. Jesus is our ongoing holiness. His blood cleanses us at the beginning of our salvation and continues to do so as we live for him. Jesus is our hope. His death means our atonement for our sins and our reconciliation with God. Jesus is our ransom. He paid to redeem us from sin, death, and hell. Jesus is our everything!

    My Prayer...

    Almighty and Abba God, thank you for your holiness. Thank you for your righteousness. Thank you for your gracious forgiveness. Mold in me a heart like your Son's heart. Make from me a more usable vessel for your Kingdom work. Make me more JESUShaped. It's in his name, I pray. Amen.

    All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

    Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 1:27

    But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

    1 Corinthians 1:27

    Thoughts on Today's Verse...

    The Cross is such an offensive symbol when viewed in its most basic and raw form (1 Corinthians 1:18-24). For God to allow himself to become human flesh and live among us is unbelievable enough. For God to be willingly subjected to the vagaries and rigors of mortality and human needs in Christ is unthinkable. For God in Christ to endure the indignities and inhumanities of the Cross is preposterous. That, however, is the gospel truth! What appears to be foolish, weak, and offensive has the power to remake us and inspire us to unparalleled faith in Christ. When we come to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, we come to the impossible, which was made possible and accomplished by God's grace for us, and in us, in Jesus and his death on the Cross. Only God would bring us salvation in such a way.

    My Prayer...

    Holy and gracious Father, I know that the Cross may seem silly and foolish to some people. I know some people who wear the Cross as a symbol don't honor Christ for what he did upon the Cross. But Father, I confess that for me, Jesus' willingness to go to the Cross is powerfully convicting and amazingly reassuring. You have captured my heart with your sacrificial love in sending Jesus to redeem me. Thank you for your gift of grace and Jesus' willingness to endure and suffer for me. In his name, I thank, pray, and praise you. Amen.

    All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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