Timothy I - Expositional Study
A GODLY MAN'S SLOGANS
Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (KJV)
Introduction
Sometimes a man will take on a motto, a slogan, which he uses as sort of a guide, an inspiration, in his life. We now consider three words offered to Timothy by Paul which could well be a motto for the family of God.
Paul addresses Timothy, "Thou man of God". This is not an official designation, but a spiritual characterization. It is more likely to have been official in the Old Testament. It was applied to Elijah after his resuscitation of the widow's son, "Now by this I know that thou art a man of God" (1 Kings 17:24). Elisha is also called by that noble name, "Behold now I perceive that this is an holy man of God that passeth by us continually" (2 Kings 4:9). This was said of him before he raised the child back to life. It was not a remarkable miracle that called forth the appellation in his case, but the holiness of his character, the godliness of his behavior – a fine tribute, coming, as it did, from his landlady. Here is a man who lived up to his title. This is not always the case. Today, some are called "Reverend", when they may not be reverent or worthy of reverence (actually only God is worthy to be so called); some woman are called, "Lady", when, in fact, there may be nothing lady-like in them; some are called, "Just", when there is little or no trace of justice in them; some are called, "King", when, in reality, they are not, unless, in the sense of Romans 5:17, they may be said to "reign in life." We often fail to live up to our titles.
For example, the familiar phrase in Romans 1:7 (also 1 Cor. 1:2), "called to be saints" – "to be" is not in the Greek. "Called saints" is one of God's titles for His children. However, we are also called 'to be' saints, to be what we are, to live up to our name; the translators gave us a good translation after-all. It is eccentric to think of a prince living as a commoner, a rich man living as a pauper, a military general living as a private. A Christian living on a low level (down with the world) is woefully eccentric. One called to be a saint, a "man of God", should live up to his title. He should be one who: believes and obeys God; belongs to God; and behaves like God. According to these terms, all can receive the honorable title Christian, child of God – whether 'youth', like Timothy, or 'aged', like Paul. For Timothy's personal life both private and public, Paul presents some guiding rules and three slogans.
The first is negative – "Flee". Discretion is often the better part of valor. Safety and wisdom tells the Christian to run. "Flee these things". That is, covetousness and its results (vv. 9-10). A saint should turn away and run from anything that might spoil a close relationship with God. From anything that might hinder spiritual progress or lower Christian standards. From that might cause the unwary child of God to be content with anything less than the best spiritually. Surely, the man of God will always desire to be the best for God. "Flee". Yes, but where to? "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Prov. 18:10). A provision akin to that in Numbers 35:11. The secret to overcoming any temptation is not to stand and fight. The danger of looking at it, having it on our mind, while purposing to fight it, gravely increases the likelihood of succumbing to it. No, the secret is to run away. Use His Name. At the moment of attack, turn to His Name. No need to pray, God knows what we mean and need. When tempted by Satan, either aloud or within, we simply breathe His Name. It will act as a "strong tower" of escape. But, there are two conditions. It is only for "the righteous", or, as the New Testament often says, the believer. Only they possess the key to the Tower. Then there must be no hesitation. If we leisurely stroll in the direction of God's safety when Satan tempts us, he will overtake and overcome us. In other words, if we delay and hesitate we will never reach the Tower. At the first thought of temptation we immediately "runneth". Then, and only then, we are "safe".
The second is positive – "Follow". God's Word constantly encourages that the Christian life is not a negative thing. It is, in every way, fundamentally positive. Paul lays it down here, in his advice to Timothy. He gives him six things he should pursue.
"Righteousness": relation to our fellow-man. Always in the New Testament, when this word is coupled with the one following, it bears this particular significance. What, then, of our relationship to members of our family and household (even Christians are not always "right" with one another). In a Christian home it sometimes happens that the members get cross with one another, producing friction and unhappiness. Is our neighbor relationship "right"? Do they find us kind, ready to help whenever the need arises? Are we a good example of Christian behavior? Do we pray for them? If not, then the relationship will never be "right". Is our relationship where we shop "right"? Are we domineering and demanding; or, are we courteous and considerate? Is our relationship with other Christians "right"? Are we caught up in one of those cliques which do so much harm within a congregation? Are we criticizing the preacher and other leaders, always backbiting? Is our relationship with fellow workers "right"? Are we living up to our profession, or do they have cause to say, "Christians are hypocrites"? Timothy must be careful to be righteous in all his human relationships, and so must we.
"Godliness": relation to God. Is His Word our constant study; His Will our earnest endeavor; His Work our happy employment; His Worth our daily theme? Is our chief ambition to please Him? "Godliness" means "God-likeness". Are there increasing evidences in us of a growing likeness, such as is contemplated, for example, in 1 Corinthians 3:18, "We all, with open face, beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit." If our relationship to God is "right", that sort of transformation will be taking place in our character.
"Faith": relation to duty, i.e., faithfulness, fidelity. Can God and others depend on us? God said to Elijah, "Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee" (1 Kings 17:9). This good lady had every excuse for pleading that she could not do what God asked of her. It was a time of famine and she was poor with just "an handful of meal" in the cupboard. Yet, she was told to feed the prophet. How could she under the circumstances? But she could because God was part of the circumstances. God knew He could rely on her. Can He trust us? Are we faithfully fulfilling our duty toward God and neighbor? Do we keep our word, carry out our promises, and discharge our obligations? Is there complete fidelity in us?
"Love": relation to all. "Owe no man anything, but to love one another" (Rom. 13:8). This teaches us that we ought to have this overmastering feeling toward mankind at large. The passage in Romans 13 goes on to underline what our Lord stressed earlier in Matthew 22:36-40 – where love is commandments are automatically obeyed. If we love our neighbor, we will not: kill him, steal from him, or tell lies about him. Law and love says "Thou shalt...thou shalt not". Yes, but how? "Thou shalt love"; love the unknown, love the unlovely, love the unprofitable, and love the unfriendly. These are the four facets of the priceless diamond of love (Luke 10:30ff). What a quality for the Timothys of the church to follow. And the secret is in Romans 5:5.
"Patience": relation to circumstances. The conditions of life can be very trying; perhaps as difficult for the present-day church of our Lord as for the church in the first days. Such conditions as the slowness of advance, the opposition of unbelief, the weakness of members, the humdrum of life, the rarity of zeal, the perverseness of man, the subtlety of temptation. In varying kinds and degrees, all these, and other problems, contribute to the difficulty of life for Christians from age to age. Patience is the quality of holding on no matter what happens. Its New Testament use means endurance, even torture and martyrdom. Timothy is reputed to have been clubbed to death for his faith. It is little wonder that Word was sent to the believers of that age, "Ye have need of patience" (Heb. 10:36). In our easier, perhaps subtler day, let us seek to follow after the grace of persistency.
"Meekness": relation to self. Some today think of meekness as weakness. Meekness is the response to the challenge of the Lord Jesus, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). Consider briefly the phrase "deny himself". Say "No" to self, cross ourselves out. Paul says, "Not I but Christ" (Gal. 2:20). It is the obliteration of self; the subservience of self to others and especially to God. Self is one of our greatest problems. Mankind constantly struggles with self-righteousness, self-confidence, self-will, self-seeking, self-importance, and self-pity. Meekness is the opposite of, the absence of all this. It is difficult enough for ordinary people, but it is even harder for leaders of the church of our Lord. They can do their best only if in their lives there is the minimum of self and the maximum of God. Usually, our main trouble is not with sin, but with self. In grammar, first person is "I". In Christ, "I" is moved to third person, last. This is meekness. There is a threefold secret of spiritual joy – Jesus first, others second, ourselves last. Again, this is meekness. These, then, are the six points embraced by this positive slogan of the godly man.
The last is active – "Fight". From one point of view (the personal aspect) we are not to fight, but to flee. Yet, from another point of view it is a fight, a real conflict, between the army of the Lord and the forces of evil. Over and over in God's Word the simile of soldiering occurs. Our foes are portrayed as follows: "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in [heavenly] places" (Eph. 6:12). What a crowd to war against.
But the Christian's complete accoutrement is ready. It just needs to be put on: the girdle of truth (reality); the assurance that we are His soldiers; the breastplate of righteousness (His righteousness) covers the back, as well as the front; the sandals of peace (no grit to hinder our marching); the shield of faith (not little, but big and large enough for a man to completely hide behind); the helmet of salvation (guarding against intellectual onslaughts; the sword of the Spirit (a great offensive weapon, which the Christian soldier must learn how to wield by daily sword-drilling); the greaves of prayer (last part of the armor, covering legs and knees, requiring regular knee-drilling). Most important is "the Captain of their salvation" (Heb. 2:10). Assuredly, it is a fight. Thank God, we are on the winning side, since we follow Him who "went forth conquering and to conquer" (Rev. 6:2).
Now we briefly consider the object of the fight (v. 12). This concerns the conflict, "Fight the good fight of faith". It is a war for the advancement of the faith and extension of the Kingdom. It is a war for the planting of the flag of Jesus Christ in lands, in lives, where Satan's standard flies; capturing of prisoners for God, whose bond-service is perfect freedom; onward march of God's glory throughout the world. Here is a cause worth striving for and worth suffering for. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3). Be prepared for any cost, as long as the cause is advanced and as long as the Captain is pleased; our valor for His victory – "thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).
We now briefly consider the subject of the fight, i.e., the one who wages it. We all come under this category. But the passage is still directed to Timothy, a young officer in the forces engaged in God's World War. Two things are said about the one who wages the fight: "Whereunto thou art also called", he has received his call-up papers. It happened at his recruiting office in Lystra. The moment he was converted to Christ, Timothy became not only God's servant, but His soldier till death. "And hast professed a good profession before many witnesses", not "a", but "the". The good profession was probably his baptism. To pursue our military metaphor, this was, as it were, the putting on of His uniform, proudly taking his place in the ranks. Unashamed and unafraid to be a member of the Lord's glorious army.
Lastly, we consider briefly the secret of the fight – "Lay hold on eternal life". Here the word "eternal" is to be retained, unlike the phrase in verse 19. It is the same "life", but described differently. It is a life which, for the Christian, continues through eternity.
Conclusion
When Timothy entered into spiritual life, he also enlisted in God's force. It requires strong spiritual life, gained from God, to be prepared for the fight. It is often said of a very ill man that he has only a slight hold on life. He is alive, but just barely. So it is with some Christians. Delicate, invalid, and ill they do have life, but only in a faint and feeble way. This is so different from the Master's conception, when He said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Sufficient strength for our soldiering comes not only from a mental awareness of spiritual life, but from laying hold on it, getting a grip on it, drawing in all the virility, vitality, and victory it can supply. It is in this sense that the apostle of love says, "This is the victory that overcometh even our faith" (1 John 5:4).
