1 Timothy 6:6-19
The Myth of Poverty
October 19, 2025
Jen Hatmaker, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
Week 1: The Myth of Privacy
Week 2: The Myth of Participation
Q: If the Myth of Poverty is true, how do we explain all of the fairly wealthy individuals in Scripture who are seen as righteous, good, God-fearing people?
1. Abraham and Job
2. Boaz (Ruth 2–4)
Ruth 2:1 – “A worthy man,”
“Worthy,” Heb. “a man of position and wealth”
3. David and Solomon (1 Chron. 29; 1 Kg. 10)
4. Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:57)
Matt. 27:57 – “…a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.”
5. Cornelius (Acts 10:1-2)
Acts 10:2 – “…a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.”
6. Lydia (Acts 16:14-15)
7. John Mark (Col. 4:10; Acts 12:12-13)
Two Genres of Scripture
a. Descriptive Texts – Describe significant events
b. Prescriptive Texts – Prescribe normative practices
1 Tim. 6:6 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Q: Why should we be content?
2 Cor. 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
1 Tim. 6:7-8 – “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”
1 Tim. 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
“Desire,” Gk. βούλομαι (boulomai), “a willing towards something”
a. You fall into temptation
“Fall into temptation”
“Temptation” = demonic temptation (1 Th. 3:5)
b. You become trapped
“You fall into a snare…”
c. You engage in sinful acts
“…you fall into many senseless and harmful desires.”
“Desires,” Gk. ἐπιθυμία (epithumia), “good or bad desires”
When negative, translated “lusts” (1 Jn. 2:16)
d. You are ultimately destroyed
“People plunge into ruin and destruction.”
1 Tim. 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
1 Tim. 6:11-12 – “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Tim. 6:17 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
1 Tim. 6:18-19 – “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
TAKEAWAYS
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If you are not rich, do not desire it; pursue godliness instead.
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If you are rich, do not trust in it; be generous and ready to share.
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God loves the rich and the poor (and even the middle class), but has different requirements for each of them.