“Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
In plain words: Paul says people with a lot of money should not feel proud or trust their money to keep them safe. They should trust God, who gives us good things to enjoy, and use what they have to do good and share, so they can hold on to real life.
What 1 Timothy 6:17-19 means.
Paul tells the wealthy not to trust in riches but in God, and to be rich in good works. Wealth is a tool for good.
Common questions about 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Does this verse mean it is wrong to be rich?
No. This verse does not say money is bad or that being rich is a sin. It says God gives us good things to enjoy. The warning is about two dangers: feeling better than other people, and trusting money to keep you safe. Later in the same letter, Paul says the love of money is what causes trouble, not money itself (1 Timothy 6:10). Money is a tool. It can feed pride and fear, or it can be used to do good and care for people.
Apply it today: Thank God for one good thing you enjoy today, and think of one way to use it to bless someone else.
Why shouldn't I put my hope in money?
Money can feel like a safe place to hide, but it can shrink or disappear fast. A job can end. Prices can rise. Sickness can come. Even a lot of money cannot forgive a wrong, heal a broken heart, or last after we die. Paul says God is the one worth trusting, because He is steady and He is the giver of every good thing. Hope in Him does not wobble when the bank account does. That is what Paul means by a firm foundation for the future.
Apply it today: Name one money worry out loud in prayer, and tell God you want to trust Him with it.
What if I'm not rich? Is this verse for me too?
Paul wrote this to rich people, but its heart fits almost anyone. Most of us have something to share: money, time, food, skills, or a listening ear. Paul asks us to do good with what we have and to be ready to share. He also says this helps us take hold of what is truly life. That points to the full, real life Jesus talks about in John 10:10, not just a big pile of things. A generous life is a joyful one, rooted in God.
Apply it today: Pick one thing you have, like time, a skill, or a meal, and share it with someone who needs it today.
Ask anything about it.
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Live it today.
Name one good work your money could do this month, and put it on the calendar.
Pray it back.
Lord, I put my hope in You, not my money. Make me rich in good works.
Carry it all day.
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