“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Timothy 6:9 Mean?
Paul warns Timothy about the desire to be rich — not just the possession of wealth but the desire for it. They that will be rich — those who have set their hearts on becoming wealthy — fall into temptation, a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts.
The sequence is a downward spiral: temptation leads to a snare (trap), which leads to foolish and harmful desires, which drown people in destruction and perdition. The word "drown" (buthizo) is the image of sinking beneath waters — overwhelmed, submerged, unable to breathe.
"Which drown men in destruction and perdition" — the destruction is present (ruin in this life) and the perdition is future (ruin in the next). The desire for wealth damages you now and endangers you eternally.
Paul is not condemning wealthy people (he gives them separate instructions in v.17-19). He is condemning the desire to be wealthy — the orientation of the heart toward money as a goal. The desire itself is the trap.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What is the difference between having money and desiring to be rich — and why does Paul focus on the desire?
- 2.Where do you see the 'snare' of wealth operating in your own life or community?
- 3.How does the image of drowning describe the progressive nature of materialism?
- 4.What would it look like to be content rather than driven by the desire for more?
Devotional
They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare. Not they that are rich. They that will be — that desire it, pursue it, orient their lives around acquiring it. The desire is the trap.
Many foolish and hurtful lusts. The desire for wealth does not just produce greed. It produces a cascade of related desires — each one more foolish and more harmful than the last. The love of money metastasizes.
Which drown men in destruction and perdition. Drown. The image is submersion — going under, unable to come back up. The pursuit of wealth can submerge you in a flood of consequences that you did not see coming.
Paul is not saying money is evil. He is saying the desire for money is a snare — a trap designed to look attractive and deliver destruction. The bait is shiny. The hook is hidden.
What is the orientation of your heart? Not whether you have money, but whether money has your heart. The desire — not the possession — is what Paul warns against. And the drowning happens before you realize you are underwater.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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I.…
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Cross References
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