While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
“In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, the author uses dramatic metaphors to describe the fate of the one who is motivated by greed. Such persons fall into a snare; they pierce or impale themselves with many woes; they plunge like sinking ships into ruin and destruction, by which is meant not financial or moral ruin but eschatological, that is, final ruin.”
Jouette M. Bassler in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus (ANTC; Nashville: Abingdon, 1996), 111.
Bassler does not beat around the bush.
She pointedly and rightly notes that the fate of those who think stockpiling money is the “peace and safety” way to live will have a rude awakening in the end.
Such is the demise of those who get caught in the snare of pursuing riches.
They will, in the end, discover that they have put their trust in the wrong place, and in so doing, experience ultimate destruction from which they will not escape.
This is serious stuff. Like I said, Bassler does not beat around the bush.
The woes, based on the function of the Greek, refer to the moral pains these people reap on themselves in this life. And the plunging like a sinking ship points to the eternal or eschatological demise.
To avoid this “final ruin” altogether, let’s stop trying to get rich and be rich in good works instead.
The irony linked to choosing the right path now comes into view. We get to enjoy untold riches and unimaginable treasure with the Lord in the eternal kingdom.
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