1 Timothy 6:17

Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hopes set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

This paragraph indicates that the church had affected society more widely in Ephesus than it had at Corinth, of which Paul wrote "not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Corinthians 1:26).[26]

There were evidently a number of rich Christians in Ephesus, a fact also suggested by the fact of some of the Asiarchs being solicitous for Paul's welfare at the time of the riot in that city (Acts 19:31). Such indeed would have been the source of strong temptation to a young man like Timothy. Paul, however, knew his man, being very sure that Timothy would live up to the trust committed to him. His attitude must have been similar to the following poetical description of it:

TRUSTING

I cling to faith and honor still As flying years recede, Assured that within the Father's will That I shall live indeed

When life with joy and sorrow ends, Probation done at last. I thus accept whate'er he sends Of sun or stormy blast.

Despite temptation strong and wild, And nagging doubts inside, I know I am the Father's child, For whom the Saviour died.

Nor fears, nor doubts, nor taint of sin Shall shake my confidence Or kill the certainty within That trusts God's providence.

Some infinite design was his When every life began; And though such boundless mysteries, No human eye can scan,

The mind of faith may comprehend What only angels know, And always on the Lord depend For guidance here below.

The sun, the moon, the stars, the sea The Father's will obey; Then why should man suppose that he Alone may choose his way?

Then let the way of God be mine Forever and a day; And let his will and purpose shine Within my life alway!

- James Burton Coffman

The uncertainty of riches ... Paul's disparagement of wealth in this passage is fully consonant with the teachings of Jesus who called it "the unrighteous Mammon," that is, a false God which people worship. For a list of reasons why wealth is dishonest, or unrighteous, see my Commentary on Luke, p. 349. It is not that the rich must be presupposed to have acquired wealth by dishonorable means, because this is by no means true; rather the thought is that money itself is wicked, and one of the wicked things about it is that it tempts people to trust in it, the very vice which Timothy was here cautioned against.

God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ... All wealth and all possessions are of the Lord. Those who are blessed with such things should thank and honor the Lord for their blessings. Paul next laid down some rules for the wealthy, showing how they may use their wealth for their own eternal welfare, as well as for the blessing of others.