Timothy 6:11-21 Paul’s Final Instructions
11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
Yesterday, I recounted the story of a self-styled apologist who had become nothing more than a pestilential nuisance. This man was so bent on proving that he was right that he had completely lost sight of the Gospel and was now straining at gnats while he ignored camels. Rather than being a force for righteousness, this man had become a deterrent, and his judgmental attitude was even a turn-off for fellow Christians, let alone those who did not know the love of Jesus. The old Gospel song says, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” It does not say, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our arguments.”
Here Paul is warning Timothy not merely to avoid arguing over tiny points but to flee, to run away as fast as possible. What characteristics is Timothy to cultivate? “Righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” Here meekness or gentleness does not mean someone is a pushover, but rather that a strong person has self-control and can be kind precisely because he/she is strong. Righteousness and a godly life along with faith and love might seem self-explanatory, but what about perseverance? To persevere means to continue in the face of all odds, even when things appear impossibly difficult.
In one previous devotional, I quoted a friend from surgery training as having said, “Anyone can do the easy ones.” That saying remains true. When challenges are few, when those around us encourage us, and when all conditions appear favorable, it’s easy to remain righteous and godly. But what happens when things become difficult, those around us are indifferent or even hostile, and we feel we are being called on to do the impossible?
In an earlier age, Booth Tarkington wrote a series of charming children’s stories about a boy growing up in a small Ohio town where nothing very dangerous happened. A few decades later, a writer named Mickey Spillane wrote a series of detective novels about Mike Hammer, a hard-hitting character who endured countless fights while chasing criminals. Later, Robert Heinlein, a science fiction writer, would cause one of his characters to describe himself as “a Booth Tarkington hero in a Mickey Spillane situation.” This hero felt that he was as helpless as that boy from nineteenth century small-town Ohio in a situation that called for a hero warrior.
Many of us might identify with that description, feeling that God continues to set us in situations far more demanding than we can handle. We are right; HOWEVER, God wants us to be in such situations so we will realize we must depend on Him and not on ourselves. And we need Gods’ power every minute and every hour of every day. Look what Paul says next to Timothy.
12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 13 And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 15 For, at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.
We must remember that the battle is not merely ours but also the Lord’s. We are not fighting against flesh and blood but against the powers of darkness. Many times, we feel exhausted and wish God would choose someone else, but if God has brought us to a conflict, God can see us through it. God is the One who can help us obey this command without wavering. God is the One to whom all honor and power belong forever.
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
Timothy is pastoring a church in one of the richest cities in the known world. Naturally, he will have wealthy members for whom trusting in wealth is their default action. But those who are merchants should also be realists, understanding that money can evaporate. Treasures in heaven are eternal while treasures on earth can disappear quickly.
20 Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. 21 Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God’s grace be with you all.
Paul has already warned Timothy about refusing to become embroiled in senseless arguments so why is he reiterating these warnings? Remember that Ephesus is chock-full of philosophers, many of whom desire nothing more than to win people to their way of thinking. If Timothy is not careful, he can get sucked into useless discussions that will waste time and energy better spent telling people about Jesus and shepherding his people. The same warning applies to us. Be careful to make sure that you are representing God and Jesus Christ properly in accordance with Scripture. Are you speaking the truth in love or do you have other motives?
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to say and do only what You want us to, refusing to get sucked into useless arguments. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen
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