Q21. Wealth

[Pastor Ralph]

Q21. (1 Kings 10:18-25; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 6:6-10, 17-19). Solomon is both rich and showy. In Paul’s letter to Timothy at Ephesus, what kinds of guidelines are given for avoiding ostentation and flaunting wealth? What should the wealthy do to please God? 1 Timothy 6:17 indicates a connection between wealth and arrogance. How can wealth breed arrogance?

[Krissi]

Rich and showy wealth is, by definition, misused wealth. Wealth must be hidden both for the sake of the wealthy individual as well as for the sake of the not-as-wealthy people around him or her. People tend to be comparative. They compare themselves to others in their social circles, not to showy people they don't know such as Bill Gates or the King of England. An envy of neighbors, of the people we know, trip up most people. 

This is why Paul, here, is not talking about people who already have wealth (old money, presumably) but about people who do not have wealth but are desperately seeking it. Those who crave wealth will "pierce themselves with many griefs." Those who have hidden wealth, presumably, are pierced by other things! We are all pierced by something ...

The point of his passage isn't the arrogance of the wealthy, but a tendency to use wealth as a buffer between oneself and suffering. This is clearly the point of 17b. Wealthy people are told to focus on the needs of others and to be both generous and loving toward those who have less "stuff." They're also told to assume a perspective that looks ahead to a time where wealth matters not as they have eternal security in Him.

Again, the only wealth that breeds arrogance is that which is publicly known and displayed (such as Solomon's).  Arrogance, after all, is an attitude based on comparison, one that expresses itself in front of others. Pride, on the other hand, can be secret, a sin of the soul. This is why it  is far easier to deal with arrogance than other expressions of pride. Wealth that no one knows about cannot breed arrogance.

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q21. (1 Kings 10:18-25; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 6:6-10, 17-19).

Solomon is both rich and showy. In Paul's letter to Timothy at Ephesus, what kinds of guidelines are given for avoiding ostentation and flaunting wealth?

People who want to get rich fall into temptation... 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 

Command 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, Command them to do good, to be rich in good deed

What should the wealthy do to please God? 1 Timothy 6:17

Who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Indicates a connection between wealth and arrogance. How can wealth breed arrogance?

That you have everything you need and is not depended on someone else. 

[hanks]

Q21. (1 KINGS 10:18-25; 1 TIMOTHY 2:9-10; 6:6-10, 17-19). 
Solomon is both rich and showy. In Paul's letter to Timothy at Ephesus, what kinds of guidelines are given for avoiding ostentation and flaunting wealth? What should the wealthy do to please God? 1 Timothy 6:17 indicates a connection between wealth and arrogance. How can wealth breed arrogance?
With wealth comes great responsibility. Paul’s guidelines are to first thank the Lord and to use our wealth to do good, to be generous, and ready to share. These deeds will please the Lord and enable us to store treasures in heaven. We are not to put our hope in our wealth, but in our Lord who provides everything we need. There is the temptation to crave for even greater wealth, this is a trap which can easily lead to ruin and destruction. With great wealth comes the desire to flaunt it, to waste it for recognition – we have arrived! Paul also guides us to be content with what we have. To know when enough is enough. Warning us against the desire for more and more. We need to be reminded that our wealth is not our own, but belongs to the Lord, and should be used for His glory. And to be careful of not drifting away from our faith, as we become more occupied with earthly things and start neglecting our Lord Jesus. There is also the warning not to become arrogant. This can easily happen when we start praising ourselves for the success and achievements in our life, instead of giving God the glory for showering us with His blessings. 
 

[Clelie]

Wealth which is inherited or through hard works are both blessings from God and should glorify God in its uses ,not for promoting  the self image that destroys the Christlikeness character which Christians are to be walk in humility of heart. For love of money is a source of all kinds of evil which lead to self destruction. 
With any acquired wealth, acknowledge that it all comes from God and we are to be a good steward of it, using it wisely and obeying the teachings of scriptures  on how to bless others with the wealth we have been blessed with.  In doing so we are banking our wealth on earth in heaven where it will not be destroyed by moths and rust , where thieves cannot steal

.Misuse  of wealth causes the prouds and arrogants  to think their money can buy everything .So they flaunt justice and laws and behave as if they are above all by being a god to themselves till God place them on slippery ground and cast them to ruin Ps 73:18.

 

 

 

[Katy]

Q21. Paul tells us that if we have wealth we are not to be arrogant! We must not flaunt our wealth before others. We must not depend on our wealth rather than on God. God will provide us with everything we need, and He wants us to enjoy the good things He gives us if we follow Him and depend on Him rather than on our wealth. God wants us to do good with our wealth, by helping those who are less well off than ourselves, in this way we will be laying up treasure in Heaven for the future. 
Wealth can have strange effects on people! The more they gather the more secure they become and sometimes their relationship with God becomes less importance. They become proud and arrogant. Feeling that they have achieved the pinnacle of life! 

[Janzie]

On 3/18/2024 at 7:36 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q21. (1 Kings 10:18-25; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 6:6-10, 17-19). Solomon is both rich and showy. In Paul’s letter to Timothy at Ephesus, what kinds of guidelines are given for avoiding ostentation and flaunting wealth? What should the wealthy do to please God? 1 Timothy 6:17 indicates a connection between wealth and arrogance. How can wealth breed arrogance?

Those who are rich in this present world are 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..

To please God, the wealthy should do good, be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Those that are rich in this world, must not be high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

That is how they define their self worth.  They think they are better than others and that makes them arrogant. Their hope is in their finances, not God and finances cannot save them.

[Irmela]

Q21. (1 Kings 10:18-25)   Solomon is both rich and showy.

( 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 6:6-10, 17-19). 

In Paul's letter to Timothy at Ephesus, what kinds of guidelines are given for avoiding ostentation and flaunting wealth?

What should the wealthy do to please God?

1 Timothy 6:17 indicates a connection between wealth and arrogance. How can wealth breed arrogance?

Riches, so far as money is concerned, is truly a very controversial  subject.

We need to be aware and keep before our eyes always that we came into the world with nothing and rich and poor alike will leave the world with nothing.  Nothing of the wealth that was accumulated can be or will be taken with us into eternity. Remember that all the wealth actually belongs to God.  If we are given a little or  much in this life, we are responsible before God, as to the way we use it.  

[Jonathan Edwards]

The word is detachment.  Apostle Paul wanted the believers to always look to the Lord Jesus who has gone on before us.  Money and riches are not intrinsically evil; we are not of Manichean religion.   If we have the basics of life: food and clothing, we are indeed blessed !  Paul didn't want the Ephesian church believers to be occupied with ephemeral matters: one's spiritual life was of utmost importance.  He didn't want the Church to imitate the ostentatious pagan temples.  Christian Church could and would end up like the temple of Diana, an opulent temple of idols and immoral deviant practices.

Guidelines:  live simple and frugally.  Work hard unto the Lord and give with a happy heart to support the needs of the Church.  No fanfare, no hype.  Tithing is very important in providing the needs of the poor in the church, including free will offerings.   Doing it all humbly with an attitude of love.

Arrogance is a terrible vice.   Many get caught up little by little in the morass of financial cares.  The headaches and frustrations can hamper those who want to maintain a deep prayer life.  Like Solomon of old, a steady decline of backsliding starts.   Prelast sets in: a false sense of presumptuous frame of mind.  The Bible makes it very clear that we need to work out our salvation in trembling and fear; obedience is not an option.  Mortification of the flesh is very much part of the daily walk of the believer.