Flee,follow,fight!

Flee, Follow, Fight!

I Tim. 6:6-12

We usually think of this passage of scripture found in I Timothy 6 as teaching about the love of money.  To get the full context of what Paul is talking about you should go back to verse 6 where Paul talks about the need for spiritual contentment as a virtue for Christian living.  He contrasts the spiritual virtue of CONTENTMENT against the values of the world, which is the love of money!  I believe it’s particularly important in this day and age in which we live that seems to know the price of everything and the value of nothing!  Paul gives Timothy three important values that I think should also guide us as we strive to live the Christian life!   

(A reading of the text – I Tim 6:6-12)

Notice that Paul lays out three VALUES to guide us in living the Christian life:

1. THERE IS VALUE IN FLEEING SOME THINGS:

Paul says, “but thou O man of God flee these things…”  Well what things you may ask?   Things the love of money, the mad chase for the almighty dollar, a value system that says it’s all about getting more, more, MORE!  Paul makes a very important point about the love of money and materialism that I don’t think we should ignore.  However, there are I believe that there are other things that the Christian needs to flee.  There are several times that the Bible makes reference to the value of fleeing: 

                                   ( cf. I Cor. 6:18, I Cor. 10:14, II Tim. 2:22 )

2. THERE IS VALUE IN FOLLOWING SOME THINGS:

Paul goes on to lay forth a second value that will aide us in our spiritual walk.  We need to follow after some things, but what things should we follow?  Certainly not the crowd and certainly not the ways of the world!  No, he says we should follow the values and virtues of righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience and meekness!  The cultural values of society have changed since the days when we were that a man’s word was his bond and doing right was its own reward.  However, following the Christian values of God’s will never go out of fashion!

( cf.  Rms. 12:1-2, Matt. 7:13, Gal. 5:22)

3. THERE IS VALUE IN FIGHTING FOR SOME THINGS:

Lastly, Paul wants us to understand that there are some things worth fighting for!  Unlike the values of the world which says “get even at all costs; or don’t get mad get even” The child of God does not fight dirty; but he must be ready to fight the good fight of faith!  The good fight is not fought with fists and clubs or guns – rather we fight our spiritual battles by going to our knees in prayer!  Paul says that the value in fighting this good fight is that if we are faithful we will one day lay hold of eternal life!

( cf. Eph. 6:12, II Cor. 10:4-5 )

 We ought to all embrace these values as we strive to live the Christian life in an ever changing world.  If you are not a Christian, God’s plan of salvation is a simple one of

H-B-R-C-B Won’t you obey as we together stand and sing!