1 Timothy 6:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If you seek wealth, seek wealth that abides, that is firm, and that comes from doing good works. The Apostle points to this when he says, “that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.” The first refers to money, and the last to love. By “willing to share,” he means conversational and gracious.

“That they do good, that they be rich in good works.” From the general instruction, exhort them to do good, the following also flows: if you wish to become rich, become rich in beneficence. “Ready to give.” This refers to money. “Willing to share.” This refers to love. By willing to share, understand people who are conversational and gracious.

Those who used their wealth in this way covered their small losses with great gains. They rejoiced more that, by willingly distributing, they had preserved it more securely, than they grieved that, by fearfully saving, they had lost it more easily.

That could perish on earth which one was sorry to give away from earth.

But they received the counsel of their Lord, Who says: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Mt 6:19-21).

In the hour of calamity they learned by experience how prudently they had acted in not despising the most truthful Teacher and the most faithful and invincible Guardian of their treasure.

And teach them to become rich in good works, to be noble and kindly not only toward their neighbors, but also to be generous in fellowship, sending their gifts to distant saints.

One concerns the distribution of money, the other the modesty of character. For we usually call those willing to share who have an unpretentious disposition.

“To do good.” This is connected with the word “charge,” and is used in a general sense. Then the particular duties are indicated. “To be rich in good works.” This is wealth in the proper sense. This is a firm treasure, gathered by good works. “To be ready to give, willing to share.” Ready to give refers to the giving of money, and willing to share to speech. In general, it means that they should be approachable and sociable.

Let those who wish to be shown mercy by Christ have pity on the poor. Let those who desire to reach the company of the blessed be quick to feed the poor. Let no man be demeaned by another man, and let the nature fashioned by the Creator not be despised.

In a discussion about contempt for wealth, some rich man may answer me: I have learned not to hope in uncertain riches, and I do not wish to be rich, lest I fall into temptation.

But if I am already rich, what should I do with what has come into my possession? The Apostle answers: let them be generous and ready to share.

What does it mean to be ready to share? It means making your property common, so that it also belongs to the one who has nothing.

If you begin to share your property, you will not be like a robber and plunderer who seizes as spoil what is necessary for the poor.

For you have allotted your property to those in need, and you will give still more, because you have become a benefactor of the poor.

“To be rich in good works.” Whoever is rich in possessions should also care for the wealth of good works, for many possessions provide many means for them. But for the one who sees wealth as an end in itself, it becomes an obstacle on the path to perfection and salvation. Such a man becomes a slave of his possessions, not their master. To free him from such dependence, the Savior gives this counsel to the rich young man: “Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Mt 19:21).

The rich in the present age must be exhorted not to place their hope in their wealth, but in the living God. They should be sociable and generous, and thereby gather treasure for eternal life. “O Timothy,” thus the holy Apostle Paul concludes his epistle, “guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from profane empty talk and the contradictions of falsely named knowledge. By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Applying the teaching about the eternal life to come to the rich, the Apostle commands Timothy to exhort them to remember Him Who gave them wealth. They themselves should be generous, ready to share, and not proud.

They should gather treasure fit for eternal life, that is, works of mercy and love, which never falls away and bears fruit in eternal life.

"Command them not to be high-minded," says St. John Chrysostom. "He commands this because he knows that nothing arouses conceit, pride, and arrogance as money does."

"The Apostle rightly said, 'those who are rich in the present age,' for there are other rich men in the age to come."

In contrast to this, Timothy must zealously fulfill his calling as a servant of Christ (vv. 11-16). Those who have already become rich he must exhort to use their wealth as befits Christians (vv. 17-19).

While thus rising up against an unreasonable attitude toward wealth, the Apostle nevertheless does not tell them to throw wealth away. He only urges them to turn it to good use.

In this way the very habit of having much and being rich receives another direction, one that saves the soul.

If you are accustomed, he says, to be rich and to have your treasuries filled, then be rich, but in good works. Store up treasure, but in heaven, for the age to come.

"If you wish to be rich, be rich in beneficence" (blessed Theophylact). "If you seek wealth, seek that which remains firm and unchanging, which comes from the doing of good works" (St. Chrysostom).