15. (a) How does Paul show that having an abundance is not wrong? (b) What dangers, however, face those who have such?

¹⁵ God’s Word does not condemn one for having an abundance of this world’s goods. Acknowledging the fact that some were rich in his day, Paul did not instruct Timothy to advise these rich brothers to divest themselves of their wealth, to become poor and live a life of poverty. No! Rather, he urged them to maintain the right attitude toward riches. “Give orders to those who are rich in the present system of things not to be high-minded, and to rest their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who furnishes us all things richly for our enjoyment;

Paul warns of the danger of possessing too much. One may have the tendency to put one’s hope in riches. They can distract one from spiritual things. One could become a slave in taking care of them, protecting them.