1 Timóteo 6
Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Timóteo 6:9
Henry - There is a burden of care in getting riches, fear in keeping them, temptation in using them, guilt in abusing them, sorrow in losing them, and a burden of account at last to be given concerning them. William Tiptaft writes "As a Christian, your mind will be much more easy the less you have to do with the world. Having food and clothing, be content therewith. Riches and cares choke the seed, and keep you from communion with God. (1 Timothy 6:9) Your kingdom is not of this world. If I love my money more than Christ, woe is me!
1 Timóteo 6:9
Henry remarked that "Covetousness is commonly a master-sin and has the command of other lusts." Paul instructs the Ephesians that in reference to (their) former manner of life (as unbelievers), (they were to) lay aside the old self, which (was) being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit. (Eph 4:22-note) Comment: In other words, lusts (epithumia) deceive us and lead us astray, promising more than they deliver and producing (spiritual, soul) rottenness once they are "conceived" (cp James 1:14, 15-note). W E Vine explains that epithumia "describes the inner motions of the soul, the natural tendency of men in their fallen estate toward things evil and toward things forbidden… The lust of the flesh” stands… for the temptation which proceeds from our corrupt nature, a nature which, owing to sin, stands opposed to the will and commandments of God." Warren
1 Timóteo 6:9
Henry warns us of "The evil of covetousness. Those that will be rich (that set their hearts upon the wealth of this world, and are resolved right or wrong, they will have it), fall into temptation and a snare, 1Ti 6:9. It is not said, those that are rich, but those that will be rich, that is, that place their happiness in worldly wealth, that covet it inordinately, and are eager and violent in the pursuit of it. Those that are such fall into temptation and a snare, unavoidably; for, when the devil sees which way their lusts carry them, he will soon bait his hook accordingly. He knew how fond Achan would be of a wedge of gold, and therefore laid that before him. They fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts. Observe, The apostle supposes that, {1.} Some will be rich; that is, they are resolved upon it, nothing short of a great abundance will satisfy. {2.} Such will not be safe nor innocent, for they will be in danger of ruining themselves for ever; they fall into temptation, and a snare, etc. {3} Worldly lusts are foolish and hurtful, for they drown men in destruction and perdition. {4.} It is good for us to consider the mischievousness of worldly fleshly lusts. They are foolish, and therefore we should be ashamed of them, hurtful, and therefore we should be afraid of them, especially considering to what degree they are hurtful, for they drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6 Commentary) Thomas Brooks on the plague of unsatisfiedness "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of covetousness; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15 Covetousness is … a very great and grievous sin; a mother-sin; a breeding sin; a sin which has all sin in its womb; a very vile and heinous sin; the root of all evil. Covetousness makes the soul earthly—which should be celestial. Covetousness is an evil which subjects men to the basest and vilest evils. Covetousness makes a man a fool! "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" Luke 12:20 Covetousness robs a man of all true peace, comfort, contentment and quiet. Covetousness brings men into snares which drown their souls in perdition. Covetousness renders men unsatisfied under all their outward enjoyments. Though a covetous wretch has enough to sink him—yet he can never have enough to satisfy him. First he wishes for a bag full, and then a chest full, and then a room full, and then a house full, etc. The plague of unsatisfiedness—is the great plague which covetous men are under. Certainly you shall as soon fill a triangle with a circle, and a chest with grace—as you shall be able to fill and satisfy a covetous mind with money. A covetous man is like a swine—which is good for nothing while it lives. The horse is good to carry, the ox is good to draw, the sheep is good for cloth, the cow is good to give milk, and the dog is good to guard the house—but the hog is good for nothing while he lives! Just so, a covetous man is only serviceable when he is dead. That scripture often proves true, "the riches of a sinner are laid up for the just." Job 27:17 No sin lays men under greater woes! (The Crown and Glory of Christianity or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662) Thomas Brooks… I bequeath my pastor's soul to the devil (Brooks, "A Word in Season to Suffering Saints") "Covetousness, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5 Covetousness is explicit idolatry. Covetousness is the darling sin of our nation. This leprosy has infected all sorts and ranks of men. Covetousness being idolatry, and the root of all evil, is highly provoking to God. Whatever a man loves most and best—that is his god. The covetous man looks upon the riches of the world as his heaven—his happiness—his great all. His heart is most upon the world, his thoughts are most upon the world, his affections are most upon the world, his discourse is most about the world. He who has his mind taken up with the world, and chiefly delighted with the world's music—he has also his tongue tuned to the same key, and takes his joy and comfort in speaking of nothing else but the world and worldly things. If the world is in the heart—it will break out at the lips. A worldly-minded man speaks of nothing but worldly things. "They are of the world, therefore they speak of the world," John 4:5. The love of this world oils the tongue for worldly discourses, and makes men … forget God, neglect Christ, despise holiness, forfeit heaven. Ah! the time, the thoughts, the strength, the efforts, which are spent upon the world, and the things of the world; while sinners' souls lie a-bleeding, and eternity is hastening upon them! I have read of a greedy banker, who was always best when he was most in talking of money and the world. Being near his death, he was much pressed to make his will. Finally he dictates: First, I bequeath my own soul to the devil —for being so greedy for the muck of this world! Secondly, I bequeath my wife's soul to the devil—for persuading me to this worldly course of life. Thirdly, I bequeath my pastor's soul to the devil —because he did not show me the danger I lived in, nor reprove me for it. (A Word in Season to Suffering Saints) WHICH PLUNGE MEN INTO RUIN AND DESTRUCTION: aitines buthizousin (3PPAI) tous anthropous eis olethron kai apoleian: which: 1Ti 1:9 Nu 31:8 Jos 7:24-26 Mt 27:3-5 Ac 5:4,5 8:20 2Pe 2:3 1 Timothy 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries COVETING RICHES: A DEAD END STREET The Authorized Version renders the Greek - "which drown men in destruction and perdition" Patrick Fairbairn comments "Truly a tristis gradatio (scale down), as Bengel remarks; and one that in all ages, and within the pale also of the professing church, has ever-recurring exemplifications. We see it constantly proceeding before our eyes; nor can anything effectually arrest it but that the grace of God which brings salvation (Titus 2:11-note) and carries the affections of the soul upwards to the things which are not seen and eternal (Titus 2:12-note, Titus 2:13-note, Col 3:1-note, Col 3:2-note, 1Pe 1:13-note, 2Cor 4:18-note, etc) (The pastoral epistles) John
1 Timóteo 6:10
Henry wrote that "The love of this world, is often the cause of turning back from the truths and ways of Jesus Christ." Demas could not resist the attraction of the age in which he lived. He is give as a example of the danger of "toying" with the evil, anti-God world system headed by Satan himself (1Jn 5:19). Demas is mentioned only three times in the New Testament… THE TRAGIC DESERTION OF DEMAS SCRIPTURAL CITATION APPROXIMATE DATE SCRIPTURE QUOTATION Philemon 1:24 AD 60-62 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers Colossians 4:14 AD 60-62 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas 2 Timothy 4:10 AD 67 Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica Demas goes from "fellow worker" to simply "Demas" to lover of "this present world"! The first two mentions were during Paul's first imprisonment and the last mention in Second Timothy was during Paul's second imprisonment in Rome. The lure of the world became irresistible to Demas, and he abandoned both Paul and the ministry. Was Demas "saved"? I don't know for certain. Only God knows. The Scripture certainly suggests he was not regenerate, but it is silent on Demas' last years. Jesus does give us an axiom to aid assessing Demas declaring that "the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved." (Mt 24:13) A person's perseverance per se does not merit or earn their salvation, but is a strong, clear indicator that they are genuinely saved, because only a person who has a holy power within (the Spirit of Christ, cp Ro 8:9-note) could possibly persevere to the end. In short, perseverance is the fruit of faith that is saving! We see in Demas' desertion a sad illustration of the basic principle taught by our Lord Jesus that… No one (absolutely no one) can serve (douleuo in the present tense = as a lifestyle) two masters (kurios = absolute ownership and control); for (term of explanation - pause to ponder!) either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot (as a lifestyle or continually) serve God and mammon (mammonas = wealth, possessions)." (Mt 6:24-note) The writer of Hebrews warned the little flock coming out of the legalism and bondage of Judaism to the freedom found only in faith in the Messiah… But we (the writer places himself in this group) are not of those who shrink back (hupostole) to destruction (apoleia), but of those who have faith (pistis) to the preserving of the soul. (Heb 10:39-note), a repeated theme in this exhortational letter to the Hebrews - see Heb 3:6-note, Heb 3:14-note) Jesus had His Judas, and Paul had his Demas. Anyone who has been in the ministry long enough has shared in this same heartbreaking experience. Isn't it interesting and somewhat comforting to note that even the two greatest leaders the world has ever known had those who failed them. In a similar manner, anyone who has been a Christian long enough has known the heartache and sense of loss when some mentor or leader who falls in love with the world and chooses to abandon the faith. Every saint, be he pastor or pew member, needs to remember this passage, so he is aware of the potential for those who, while ostensibly steadfast and faithful, choose to forsake in the hour of need. If this has happened to you, beloved, remember that Jesus is able to sympathize, for in His hour of greatest need His disciples all left Him and fled. (Mark 14:50) and since He Himself was tempted (and tested) in that which He has suffered, He is (continually ready and) able to come to the aid (upon hearing the cry for help) of those who are (continually being) tempted (and tested). (Heb 2:18-note) From (575)(apo) is a marker of dissociation, implying a rupture from a former association. It means away from and speaks of separation, departure, cessation, reversal. It can describe any separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed (E.g., Ro 11:26 -note: "remove ungodliness FROM [apo] Jacob" [i.e., from Israel, specifically the believing remnant]. Thus Jacob will no longer be "in fellowship" with ungodliness when the Messiah the Deliverer returns and "all Israel will be saved" [i.e., "all" that believe in Messiah, not "all" that ever lived]). Paul had previously warned Timothy of the dangerous spiritual reefs that lay before him as led the flock of believers at Ephesus… This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. (1 Ti 1:18-19) But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Ti 4:1). The faith (tes pisteos) refers not to the subjective act of believing but to that which is the object of belief, in this case the Gospel (and all its ramifications not just in our initial salvation but our daily "salvation" from self, Satan and the sinful world! - See Three Tenses of Salvation) by which man is saved if he believes. The fact that "some" wandered away from the faith is "fruit" that demonstrates the "root" was not genuine faith unto salvation but the "soul poisoning root" of love of money which leads to destruction. Related Resource: Study OF "the faith (pistis)" It is worth noting that the phrase "the faith" is found only 38 times in the NT with a majority of uses in the Pastoral epistles (most used with the objective meaning) - Acts 3:16; 6:7; 13:8; 14:22; 16:5; Rom 4:11f, 16; 14:22; 1 Cor 16:13; 2 Cor 13:5; Gal 1:23; 3:23; 6:10; Eph 1:15; 4:13; Phil 1:25, 27; Col 1:23; 1Ti 1:2, 14; 3:9, 13; 4:1, 6; 5:8; 6:10, 21; 2Ti 1:13; 2:18; 3:8; 4:7; Titus 1:1, 13; 3:15; Philemon 1:5; Jude 1:3; Rev 13:10 Roy Zuck adds that the objective sense of "the faith" is best understood "with a broad meaning… In the absence of limiting qualifiers in this context, "the faith" must be understood as the Christian faith, the body of truth Christians believe, the teaching passed on by the apostles as normative for Christian belief. The word has the same sense in Jude 20. (A Biblical Theology of the New Testament - borrow) Puritan writer Thomas Watson describes covetousness as the cancer of the soul - Covetousness is a key which opens the door to further wickedness (1 Timothy 6:10) And what is one the better for all his wealth—at death? "We brought nothing into the world—and it is certain that we can carry nothing out." When the rich miser dies—what scrambling is there! His friends are scrambling for his money! The worms are scrambling for his body! The devils are scrambling for his soul! Chuck Smith's thoughts on the futility of friendship with money… I often think of how rich I am. When I drive around all of the expensive homes in Newport Beach, and I think of how much they have to pay in taxes every year just to live in those houses, I think of how rich I am in that I do not have to live in a fancy estate. 3. Contentment is a rich asset. Paul said that he had learned that in whatever state he was in to be content… Some of the richest people I ever knew, as far as worldly riches, were some of the most discontent people I ever knew… I heard of a lady who loved her pink Cadillac so much that her dying wish was to be buried sitting at the seat of her Cadillac. As the crane was letting the Cadillac into the ground, a workman was heard to remark, "Now that's real living."… "For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain, we will take nothing out." You have never seen a hearse pulling a U Haul trailer. Job said, "Naked I came into this world, naked I will go out." A wealthy farmer died, and someone asked his son, "How much did your old man leave?" "Everything" was the answer. You can't take it with you, but you can send it ahead. You can have treasures in heaven, Jesus encouraged that. The true riches are eternal. Godliness and contentment are great riches here, and they will be yours forever. (Chuck Smith - Sermon Notes) Henry
1 Timóteo 6:11
Henry comments that Paul now seeks to caution Timothy "and to counsel him to keep in the way of God and his duty, and particularly to fulfill the trust reposed (deposited, placed in confidence) in him as a minister. He addresses himself to him as a man of God. Ministers are men of God, and ought to conduct themselves accordingly in every thing; they are men employed for God, devoted to His honor more immediately. The prophets under the Old Testament were called men of God. He charges Timothy to take heed of the love of money, which had been so pernicious to many: Flee these things. HOW TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT: FLEE SIN & PURSUE VIRTUE Flee these things - Flee is the first of 3 imperatives in v11-12 - be fleeing, be following, be fighting is a good summary. Whenever you observe a phrase like "these things", pause and interrogate the text (See hints on how to interrogate with the 5W/H'S), asking at the very least the simple question "What things?" Sometimes the answer is easy to observe from the context, while at other times it may be more problematic. In the present context, "these things" could be summarized as "love of money" (and riches) or one could extrapolate and say "worldliness in general." Recall that the Christian soldier has three mortal enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil. Most of us think of the devil as our most formidable foe, but how does James say to wage war with him? Submit (aorist imperative) therefore to God (Indeed this "imperative" is "imperative" before we can "resist"! I.e., we need to bow before we can stand and resist!). Resist (aorist imperative) the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7-note) But here when Timothy is faced with the "foe" of worldly riches, what does Paul command? Flee. Run. Don't debate. Don't rationalize. Certainly don't partake. Just part ways with the love of money! In God's wisdom in the Bible there is a time to stand firm and a time to run fast. In several other scenarios Paul issued a similar command to FLEE! - (1) Immorality (1Cor 6:18-note, cp Joseph in Ge 39:12, Note that Scripture repeatedly associates idolatry with immorality - see the relationship and the antidote), (2) Youthful lusts (strong desires in our old flesh nature) (2Ti 2:22-note), (3) Idolatry (anything that you are more devoted to than God has the potential to be an idol!) (1Cor 10:14, note that Scripture repeatedly "defines" one aspect of idolatry as greed or covetousness! = Col 3:5-note, The covetous man = an idolater in Eph 5:5-note). (Compare flee from the wrath to come - Mt 3:7, flee from strangers [strange shepherds] - Jn 10:5) Flee (5343)(pheugo) means to take flight in order to seek safety or to escape something so that one is safe from danger. In the present passage the idea is to keep from doing something (in this case flee from the desire for riches) by avoiding it in view of its potential danger to tempt and ensnare the unwary Christian worker! These truths make me think of some wonderful, godly Christian vocalists (I will mention no names) who became very popular (and rich) and who were ensnared by their own fame and success. If we are all honest, money is one of those otherwise necessary and neutral things in life which can really test our integrity and our heart's devotion to God. Webster has an interesting and relevant definition for "flee", stating that it means to avoid deliberately and especially habitually; to run away from danger or evil or to hurry toward a place of security. Flee is in the present imperative, which pictures Paul like a General taking his commands from the Captain of our salvation, Christ Jesus, and passing those commands on to his young soldier in the field to make it his habitual practice to flee from worldly riches and love of money! To flee is mandatory, not optional. It is not a suggestion! It is not literal running but is a call for separation from the sinful things just described, especially the love of money. "The tense stresses the continuing duty, "Be ever fleeing," never let them, catch you; the margin of safety can never be too great" (Hiebert) Paul repeats the flee/pursue commands in his second letter (Do you think Paul feels this is important? Remember 2Timothy is Paul's last written communication.) Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2Ti 2:22) THOUGHT- Pheugo is the root of our English word "fugitive" defined as one who escapes from something or someone. Before we were saved, we chased after sin. Now sin chases after us! [Lat., fugia= flight.; Eng= fugitive ~ Empowered by the Word and the Spirit may we all be "fugitives" in this world -- it's not our home. Amen Why does Paul use the present tense signifying habitual, continuous effort? The simple answer is these temptations continually purse us and seek to ensnare us (see especially 1Pe 2:11+). We must make a conscious decision (flee is in the active voice = calling for a choice of my will) to flee so that fleeing becomes our default reaction, our heart motivated and Spirit energized habit. When we recognize the temptation, Paul commands us to run away, to continually shun these ungodly enticements, those siren calls to the "little idols" which seek to tear us down and destroy our soul! I fear that sometimes I do not take the struggle seriously enough, thinking more in terms of time (time to confess, time to repent, etc) than in terms of eternity (and the impact of passing pleasures on my eternity)! (cf 1Th 4:3+ 1Th 5:22+)
1 Timóteo 6:12
Henry writes that…Those who will get to heaven must fight their way there. (Ed: Please do not misunderstand - Matthew Henry is not saying our fighting merits our being taken by God to heaven, as if He owed us that as "wages". To the contrary our fighting against the world, the flesh and the devil is clear evidence that we are now children of light and so we now loathe the darkness, and fight continually against its seeking to defeat us and take us out of the battle! Does that makes sense? Our fighting is evidence we have been saved, not the cause of our salvation!) There must be a conflict with corruption and temptations and… the power of darkness. Observe. It is a good fight, it is a good cause, and it will have a good [end and purpose] (1 Timothy 6 Commentary) Faith (4102)(pistis is synonymous with trust or belief and is the conviction of the truth of anything, but in Scripture usually speaks of belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it. In this passage, pistis is modified by the definite article in Greek ("the") so that it refers to "the faith", the specific faith (see study of this phrase "the faith [pistis]") Approximately one-half of the 38 occurrences of the specific phrase the faith refer not to the ACT of believing but rather to WHAT is believed, thus the specific meaning is determined by the context (the text that goes with the text in question). In the present case, context favors "the faith" as not the act of believing but what Timothy believed when he made the noble confession. MacArthur agrees that…Faith refers to the body of Christian truth, the contents of the Word of God, the “faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The faith is the supreme reality we all can fight for. (1 Timothy Moody Press) A LIFELONG BATTLE: FIRST THE CROSS THEN THE CROWN As we ponder Paul's charge to fight the good fight of faith, it behooves each of us to remember that while we are promised a crown, we must first take up the Cross of Christ (Mk 8:34, 35, 36, 37 Mt 10:38, 39, 16:24, 25, 26) and this can mean difficulties, hardships, rejections, hatred by the world, etc. James Montgomery Boice speaks to this point in his comments on the book of Nehemiah… The Christian life is hard work. Even the Bible recognizes it as hard work by describing it as a battle ("Fight the good fight of the faith" [1Ti 6:12]), a race ("I have finished the race" [2Ti 4:7]), and a sacrifice ("I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" [Rom. 12:1]). Bible study is hard. Prayer is hard. Witnessing is hard. Living a holy life in the midst of the temptations of this world is extremely difficult. Because of these difficulties, perhaps we can be excused if, from time to time in our struggles, we tend to regard the Christian life as an example of what Winston Churchill promised England at the start of World War II: a life of "blood, sweat and tears," more than a joy and triumph. The Christian life is a struggle, of course. Jesus promised his followers not a comfortable life but a cross. But it is not only that! After times of struggle, there are often pleasant times of sweet rest. After warfare there is victory. Along with the groans of spiritual exertion, there are times of joyous celebration. (Boice Expositional Commentary - An Expositional Commentary – Nehemiah) WHY THE FIGHT IS A GOOD FIGHT! J C Ryle goes in to considerable detail explaining why our fight is a good fight.. True Christianity is a good fight "Good" is a curious word to apply to any warfare. All worldly war is more or less evil. No doubt it is an absolute necessity in many cases—to procure the liberty of nations, to prevent the weak from being trampled down by the strong—but still it is an evil. It entails a dreadful amount of bloodshed and suffering. It hurries into eternity myriads who are completely unprepared for their change. It calls forth the worst passions of man. It causes enormous waste and destruction of property. It fills peaceful homes with mourning widows and orphans. It spreads far and wide poverty, taxation and national distress. It disarranges all the order of society. It interrupts the work of the Gospel and the growth of Christian missions. In short, war is an immense and incalculable evil, and every praying man should cry night and day, "Give peace in our times." (Ed: And I would add the prayer of Ps 122:6) And yet there is one warfare which is emphatically "good" and one fight in which there is no evil. That warfare is the Christian warfare. That fight is the fight of the soul. Now what are the reasons why the Christian fight is a "good fight"? What are the points in which his warfare is superior to the warfare of this world. I want my readers to know that there is abundant encouragement, if they will only begin the battle. The Scripture does not call the Christian fight "a good fight" without reason and cause. Let me try to show what I mean. a. The Christian’s fight is good because fought under the best of generals. The Leader and Commander of all believers is our divine Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ—a Savior of perfect wisdom, infinite love and almighty power. The Captain of our salvation (Heb 2:10KJV-note) never fails to lead His soldiers to victory. He never makes any useless movements, never errs in judgment, never commits any mistake. His eye is on all His followers, from the greatest of them even to the least. The humblest servant in His army is not forgotten. The weakest and most sickly is cared for, remembered and kept unto salvation. The souls whom He has purchased and redeemed with His own blood (Rev 5:9-note) are far too precious to be wasted and thrown away. Surely this is good! b. The Christian’s fight is good because fought with the best of helps. Weak as each believer is in himself, the Holy Spirit dwells in him, and his body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 3:16). Chosen by God the Father, washed in the blood of the Son, renewed by the Spirit (1Pe 1:1, 2-note, cp Titus 1:1-note, Titus 3:5-note), he does not go to warfare at his own charges and is never alone (Heb 13:5-note). God the Holy Spirit daily teaches, leads, guides and directs him (Jn 7:37, 38, 39,14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7; 1Jn 2:20, 27, 3:24). God the Father guards him by His almighty power (1Pe 1:4-note). God the Son intercedes for him every moment, like Moses on the mount, while he is fighting in the valley below (Heb 7:25-note, Ro 8:34-note). A threefold cord like this can never be broken! (Ec 4:12) His daily provisions and supplies never fail (Mt 6:11-note). His commissariat is never defective. His bread and his water are sure. Weak as he seems in himself, like a worm, he is strong in the Lord to do great exploits (2Ti 2:1-note). Surely this is good! c. The Christian fight is a good fight because fought with the best of promises. To every believer belong exceeding great and precious promises (2Pe 1:4), all "yes" and "amen" in Christ (2Cor 1:20KJV), promises sure to be fulfilled because made by One Who cannot lie (Titus 1:2-note) and Who has power as well as will to keep His word. "Sin shall not have dominion over you." (Ro 6:14-note) "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." (Ro 16:20-note) "He which has begun a good work … will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Php 1:6-note) "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you." (Isa 43:2) "My sheep … shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." (Jn 10:27, 28) "Him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out." (Jn 6:37) "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (Heb 13:5-note) "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life … nor things present, nor things to come … shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus" (Ro 8:38, 39-note). Words like these are worth their weight in gold! Who does not know that promises of coming aid have cheered the defenders of besieged cities, and raised them above their natural strength? Have we never heard that the promise of "help before night" had much to say to the mighty victory of Waterloo? Yet all such promises are as nothing compared to the rich treasure of believers, the eternal promises of God. Surely this is good! d. The Christian’s fight is a good fight because fought with the best of issues and results. No doubt it is a war in which there are tremendous struggles, agonizing conflicts, wounds, bruises, watchings, fastings and fatigue. But still every believer, without exception, is "more than conqueror through Him Who loved [him] " (Ro 8:37-note). No soldiers of Christ are ever lost, missing or left dead on the battlefield. No mourning will ever need to be put on, and no tears to be shed, for either private or officer in the army of Christ. The muster roll, when the last evening comes, will be found precisely the same that it was in the morning. The English Guards marched out of London to the Crimean campaign a magnificent body of men, but many of the gallant fellows laid their bones in a foreign grave and never saw London again. Far different shall be the arrival of the Christian army in the "city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:10-note). Not one shall be found lacking. The words of our great Captain shall be found true: "Of those who You gave Me have I lost none" (John 18:9). Surely this is good! e. The Christian’s fight is good because it does good to the soul of him that fights it. All other wars have a bad, lowering and demoralizing tendency. They call forth the worst passions of the human mind. They harden the conscience and sap the foundations of religion and morality. The Christian warfare alone tends to call forth the best things that are left in man. It promotes humility and charity, it lessens selfishness and worldliness, it induces men to set their affections on things above. The old, the sick, the dying, are never known to repent of fighting Christ’s battles against sin, the world and the devil. Their only regret is that they did not begin to serve Christ long before. The experience of that eminent saint, Philip Henry, does not stand alone. In his last days he said to his family, "I take you all to record that a life spent in the service of Christ is the happiest life that a man can spend upon earth." Surely this is good! f. The Christian’s fight is a good fight because it does good to the world. All other wars have a devastating, ravaging and injurious effect. The march of an army through a land is a dreadful scourge to the inhabitants. Wherever it goes it impoverishes, wastes and does harm. Injury to persons, property, feelings and morals invariably accompanies it. Far different are the effects produced by Christian soldiers. Wherever they live, they are a blessing, They raise the standard of religion and morality. They invariably check the progress of drunkenness, Sabbath–breaking, profligacy and dishonesty. Even their enemies are obliged to respect them (1Pe 2:12-note, 1Pe 2:15-note). Go where you please, you will rarely find that barracks and garrisons do good to the neighborhood. But go where you please, you will find that the presence of a few true Christians is a blessing. Surely this is good! g. Finally, the Christian’s fight is good because it ends in a glorious reward for all who fight it. Who can tell the wages that Christ will pay to all His faithful people? (cp "rest from their labors"! = Rev 14:13-note, Rev 22:12-note) Who can estimate the good things that our divine Captain has laid up for those who confess Him before men? (Mt 6:19, 20, 21-note) A grateful country can give to her successful warriors medals, Victoria crosses, pensions, peerages, honors and titles. But it can give nothing that will last and endure forever, nothing that can be carried beyond the grave. Palaces like Blenheim and Strathfield say can only be enjoyed for a few years. The bravest generals and soldiers must go down one day before the king of terrors. Better, far better, is the position of him who fights under Christ’s banner (Song 2:4), against sin (Ro 7:23, 24, 25-note), the world and the devil. He may get little praise of man while he lives and go down to the grave with little honor; but he will have that which is far better, because far more enduring. He will have "a crown of glory that fades not away" (1Pe 5:4-note, James 1:12-note). Surely this is good! Let us settle it in our minds that the Christian fight is a good fight—really good, truly good, emphatically good. We see only part of it yet (1Cor 13:12, 2Cor 5:7-note, cp Ro 8:24, 25-note 2Cor 4:17-note, 2Cor 4:18-note). We see the struggle, but not the end; we see the campaign, but not the reward; we see the cross, but not the crown. We see a few (Lk 12:32, cp Mt 7:13, 14-note) humble, broken–spirited, penitent, praying people, enduring hardships and despised by the world (Jn 15:18, 19, 20, 17:14, 15, 16); but we see not the hand of God over them, the face of God smiling on them, the kingdom of glory prepared for them (Mt 25:34, cp Jn 14:2). These things are yet to be revealed. Let us not judge by appearances. There are more good things about the Christian warfare than we see. (Are You Fighting) THOUGHT Dear soldier of the Lord, before you become discouraged by thoughts of times when you have been disobedient, disloyal, downcast, etc, not desiring to be in the battle because you lacked the strength of resolve of heart and spirit, remember that at one time or another we are all in that dark place of the soul. Let the example of Paul encourage you (1Cor 11:1, 4:16), for surely no soldier of Christ has been more war weary than him, and yet he continued to charge into the enemy's camp, but the key to his continued warring for the faith of the Gospel was not in his own energy (cp Jn 15:5) but in that omnipotent, infinite supply continually provided by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, not just to him but to all weary warriors of all ages (Be encouraged!)… And we proclaim Him (Christ in us the hope [absolute assurance] of glory-Col 1:27-note), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ (mature disciples of Christ, strong soldiers for His Gospel). And for this purpose also I labor (kopiao in the present tense = continually to the point of exhaustion), striving (agonizomai in the present tense = continually - with agonizing effort, but not self effort! Read on for the secret source of Paul's power) according to His power (dunamis = inherent ability to accomplish a task!) , which mightily works (energeo in the present tense = continually energizing!) within me. (Col 1:28-note, Col 1:29-note, cp Zech 4:6, Eph 3:16-note, Gal 5:25-note) Do The Hard Work! - After living more than 80 years, I know that any claim that offers an effortless way to develop a lean, well-conditioned body is a hoax. So is any sermon title that promises an easy way to become like Christ. Author Brennan Manning tells of an alcoholic who asked his minister to pray over him to be delivered from his drinking problem. He thought this would be a quick and easy way to overcome his addiction. Recognizing his motive in asking for prayer, the minister replied, "I've got a better idea. Go to Alcoholics Anonymous." He counseled the man to follow the program diligently and read his Bible daily. "In other words," the minister concluded, "do the hard work." Do the hard work—that's what Paul was saying to Timothy when he told him how he should order his life so he could teach believers how they should live. Notice the action verbs: "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life" (1Timothy 6:11, 12). O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear —Chisholm Conversion is the miracle of a moment; becoming like Christ is the work of a lifetime. TAKE HOLD OF THE ETERNAL LIFE TO WHICH YOU WERE CALLED: epilabou (2SAMM) tes aioniou zoes, eis en eklethes (2SAPI): Take hold. Jn 7:52. 1Ti 6:19. Ps 63:8. Pr 3:18. Song 3:4. Php 3:12-14. Heb 3:14, Heb 6:18. 1Jn 2:25. Rev 3:3 Eternal. Mt 18:8. Jn 17:3. Ac 13:46 1 Timothy 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SEIZE THE LIFE GOD PROMISES IN CHRIST Take hold of - "Lay hold of." "Keep your grip on." "Get a good grip on." "Grabbing hold of the life that continues forever." (NCV). "Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you." (NLT) "Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you." (TLB). "Secure that life eternal to which you were called." (Moffatt) "Keep your grip on that life eternal to which you have been called." (Phillips) "Take possession of the eternal life into a participation of which you were called." (Wuest) Hiebert has an interesting comment - The verb "fight" is in the present tense and indicates the continuity of the struggle in this life, while the verb "take hold" is aorist and takes us to the last supreme moment of the contest when the prize is won. (Borrow First Timothy- Everyman's Bible Commentary - excellent resource)
1 Timóteo 6:13-14
Henry adds that Paul is saying to Timothy… "Keep this commandment until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; keep it as long as thou live, till Christ come at death to give thee a discharge (Ed: Until you get your "discharge papers" from active service, so to speak! cp 2Ti 2:3,4). Keep it with an eye to His Second Coming, when we must all give an account of the talents we have been entrusted with,'' Lk 16:2. Observe, The Lord Jesus Christ will appear, and it will be a glorious appearing (Mt 24:30, 25:31, 26:64, 16:27, Mk 13:26, 14:62, Lk 21:27, 2Th 1:7), not like His first appearing in the days of his humiliation (Php 2:5, 6, 7, 8). Ministers should have an eye to this appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in all their ministrations, and, till His appearing, they are to keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable. Mentioning the appearing of Christ, as one that loved it, Paul loves to speak of it, and loves to speak of Him Who shall then appear. The appearing of Christ is certain (he shall show it), but it is not for us to know the time and season of it, which the Father has kept in his own power: let this suffice us, that in time he will show it, in the time that he thinks fit for it. (1 Timothy 6 Commentary) Matthew
1 Timóteo 6:16
Henry - God having all power and honor to Himself, it is our duty to ascribe all power and honor to Him. (1.) What an evil is sin, when committed against such a God, the blessed and only Potentate! The evil of it rises in proportion to the dignity of Him against Whom it is committed. (2.) Great is His condescension, to take notice of such mean and vile creatures as we are. What are we then, that the blessed God, the King of kings and Lord of lords, should seek after us? (3.) Blessed are those who are admitted to dwell with this great and blessed Potentate. Happy are thy men (says the queen of Sheba to king Solomon), happy are these thy servants, who stand continually before thee, 1Ki 10:8. Much more happy are those who are allowed to stand before the King of kings. (4.) Let us love, adore, and praise, the great God; for who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name? For Thou only art holy, Rev. 15:4. GIVE HONOR TO GOD The noun time is repeatedly used to give honor to God and Christ - 1Ti 1:17; Heb 2:9; 1Pe 1:7; 2Pe 1:17; Rev 4:9, 11; 5:12, 13; 7:12; 21:26 Honor (5092)(time from tio = to pay honor or respect) is the worth or value ascribed to a person or thing. That which is paid in token of worth or value. Richards writes that time "refers predominantly to "honor" that is given in recognition of one's service or rank. It can also refer to the "price" or "value" of a person or thing." The NT uses time in primarily 4 ways - (1) Honor, respect, status (2) Price, proceeds, cost; (3) Value, worth or merit of something or someone (1Co 12:23) (4) Honorarium (1Ti 5:17). The following section summarizes the 41 uses of time into categories (See also Vines entry for similar "descriptive definition"): Time refers to honor or respect - Jn 4:44 (honor of a prophet), Acts 28:10 (Paul, et al), Ro 2:7,10 (honor to people from God), Ro 12:10 (believers to one another), Ro 13:7 (honor to those in authority positions), (1Cor 12:23, 24- members of the body of Christ whom seem less honorable), (1Th 4:4 could refer to one's wife or own body), (Honor to God - 1Ti 1:17, 1Ti 6:16, Heb 2:9, Rev 4:9, 11, 5:12,13, 7:12, Rev 21:26) (1Ti 5:17 - of elders, possibly referring to what we today call an "honorarium"). (Honor of slaves to masters - 1Ti 6:1) (Man had honor in creation - Heb 2:7) (As builder has more honor than house - Heb 3:3 - so Jesus has more honor than Moses) (Honor allotted to a high priest - Heb 5:4) (Honor of believers or of Jesus at His revelation - 1Pe 1:7) (Husbands grant honor to wife - 1Pe 3:7) Time refers to money or funds in (literally and figuratively) - Mt 27:6, 9 ("price of blood"), Acts 4:34, 5:2, 5:3, 7:16, 19:19, (1Cor 6:20, 7:23 - believers bought with price of Jesus' blood) Time refers to value (in spiritual sense) - Col 2:23 (no spiritual value), 2Ti 2:20, 21 (metaphor of vessels in a house picturing honor of members in a church body, of believers who are useful to God, cp metaphorical use in Ro 9:21), (Precious value - 1Pe 2:7 - refers to Jesus) (Honor bestowed on Jesus when He was a Man - 2Pe 1:17) Here is another way some lexicons have chosen to categorize time… Time in the active sense means - showing of honor, reverence, respect as an action (To masters - 1Ti 6:1) (To God - 1Ti 1:17, 1Ti 6:16, Heb 2:9, Rev 4:9, 11, 5:12,13, 7:12, Rev 21:26) Time in the passive sense means - the respect one enjoys, esteem or recognition received, honor as a possession (1Pe 2:7, Jn 4:44, Heb 3:3, Ro 13:7, 1Cor 12:24, Rev 4:9, 1Pe 3:7, 1Cor 12:23, 2Pe 1:17, Rev 4:11, 5:12) Time can mean an honor conferred by compensation, a payment received for service (1Ti 5:17) In secular Greek it described a physician's honorarium. Time can mean the amount at which something is valued - price, value. ("Price of blood" - Mt 27:6, 9) (Proceeds, price from sale of land - Acts 4:34, 5:2, 3) (Price of the occult books - Acts 19:19) ALL THE NT USES OF THE NOUN TIME = HONOR Time - 41x in 40v in the NAS and is rendered in NAS by following words - honor(28), honorable use(1), marks of respect(1), precious value(1), price(7), proceeds(1), sum(1), value(1). Matthew 27:6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood." Matthew 27:9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; John 4:44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. Acts 4:34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales Acts 5:2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? Acts 7:16 "From there they were removed to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. Acts 19:19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. Acts 28:10 They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed. Romans 2:7-note to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; Romans 2:10-note but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 9:21-note Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? Romans 12:10-note Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; Romans 13:7-note Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 1 Corinthians 6:20-note For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 12:23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, Colossians 2:23-note These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. 1 Thessalonians 4:4-note that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 6:1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. 1 Timothy 6:16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 2 Timothy 2:20-note Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 2Timothy 2:21-note Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Hebrews 2:7-note "YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; Hebrews 2:9-note But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 3:3-note For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. Hebrews 5:4-note And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 1 Peter 1:7-note so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 2:7-note This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 1 Peter 3:7-note You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 2 Peter 1:17-note For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased "-- Revelation 4:9-note And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, Revelation 4:11-note "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Revelation 5:12-note saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." Revelation 5:13-note And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." Revelation 7:12-note saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." Revelation 21:26-note and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; Time is used about 57x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (Lxx) - Gen 20:16; 44:2; Exod 28:2, 40; 34:20; Lev 5:15, 18; 6:6; 27:2f, 5ff, 13, 15ff, 19, 23, 25, 27; Num 20:19; 2 Chr 1:16; 32:33; Esther 1:20; Job 31:39; 34:19; 37:22; 40:10; Ps 8:5; 29:1; 44:12; 45:9; 49:8, 12, 20; 62:4; 96:7; 99:4; Pr 6:26; 12:9; 22:9; 26:1; Isa 10:16; 11:10; 14:18; 35:2; 55:1; Ezek 22:25; Dan 1:9; 2:6, 37; 4:30, 36; 5:18, 20; 7:14 Eternal (166)(aionios from aion) means existing at all times, perpetual, pertaining to an unlimited duration of time (Ro 1:20 - God's power, Mt 18:8 - God's place of judgment, Ro 16:26 - God's attribute). Aionios (eternal) is the exact antithesis of proskairos (temporal). Dominion (2904)(kratos) means strength or might, especially manifested power, the power to rule or control or dominion where our English word dominion describes the power to rule, supreme authority, sovereignty, the right to govern or rule or determine. Kratos denotes the presence and significance of force or strength rather than its exercise. It is the ability to exhibit or express resident strength. Kratos is used in doxologies in 1Pe 4:11; 5:11; Jude 1:25; Rev. 1:6; Rev 5:13. Most of the NT uses (10/12) are in references to God Almighty, and make the point that ultimate dominion belongs to God Alone. Kratos - 12 uses - Lk. 1:51; Acts 19:20; Eph. 1:19; 6:10; Col. 1:11; 1Ti 6:16; Heb. 2:14; 1Pe 4:11; 5:11; Jude 1:25; Rev. 1:6; 5:13, translated in the NAS as dominion, 6; might, 1; mightily, 1; mighty deeds, 1; power, 1; strength, 2. AMEN Amen (281) (amen ) is transliterated from the Hebrew word "amen" (See study of the Hebrew use of amen) and primarily has the idea of "firm". Amen "came to be used as an adverb by which something is asserted or confirmed." (Thayer). At the beginning of a sentence amen conveys the sense of "truly" or "surely". Only Jesus uses "amen" at the beginning of a sentence. Zodhiates writes that…Throughout the Gospel of John, the Lord uses the word amen, doubled in John 1:51, "Amen, amen, I say unto you," or "Verily, verily, I say unto you," which could be rendered, "I who am the Amen [Truth itself] tell you as a most certain and infallible truth". (Borrow The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament) The NAS renders "amen" 30x as "amen" and 99x as "truly." Amen is a Paul's confirmatory punctuation of what has just been said about God. And all God's people (I pray) add their "Amen!" 1 Timothy 6:16 Does only God have immortality or do humans also have it? - Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask PROBLEM: According to Paul in this passage, God “alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light.” However, in other places, Paul speaks of Christians being raised in “immortal” physical bodies (1 Cor. 15:53) and partaking of “immortality” through the Gospel (2 Tim. 1:10). But if God alone has immortality, then how can anyone else have it? SOLUTION: God is the only one who has immortality intrinsically, by virtue of His very nature. All believers get it as a gift from God, but it is not inherent to their very nature as creatures. Or, to put it another way, only God is immortal—human beings simply have immortality. Likewise, God alone is existence (cf. Ex. 3:14)—creatures only have existence (cf. Acts 17:28). Further, God’s immortality is without beginning or end. Our immortality has a beginning with no end. In summary: GOD’S IMMORTALITY - Intrinsic to His nature, Something God is, Possesses by His essence, Inherent, No beginning or end HUMAN IMMORTALITY - Not intrinsic to our nature, Something humans have, Possess by participation, Derived, A beginning but no end 1 Timothy 6:16—Does God dwell in darkness or in light? - Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask PROBLEM: According to Paul, God “dwells in unapproachable light.” However, the Bible repeatedly says things like “the Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud” (1 Kings 8:12) because “He made darkness His secret place (Ps. 18:11; cf. 97:2). Which is it—darkness or light? SOLUTION: In considering this discrepancy, we must remember, first of all, that “light” and “darkness” may be figures of speech and need not be taken literally. Both describe God’s unsearchableness (cf. Rom. 11:33). Furthermore, even if taken literally, they are not necessarily contradictory, for what is light to God can be darkness to us. For example, the dawn brings light to the robin, but darkness to the bat. Indeed, the blinding light of His transcendent deity can create darkness for our finite attempt to comprehend God. So there is no necessary conflict, even if light and darkness are understood literally Single Focus - Pam Sneddon was taking a class in photography. For one assignment, she chose her 6-year-old daughter as her subject and asked her to sit on a serene hillside. Close by was an apple tree in full bloom. Pam just couldn't resist. She gave the tree a prominent place in the picture. Pam was surprised when her instructor pointed out a problem with the photo. The apple tree distracted from her primary focus, the little girl. "See how it catches the eye," the instructor said. "It competes with your subject. You need to choose one subject and leave the other out." This observation applies to more than good photography skills. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must center our attention only on Him. Like amateur photographers, we are often attracted to the "apple trees in full bloom." We pay more attention to our hobbies, friends, family, or work. Christ commands our attention because He is "the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality" (1Ti 6:15, 16). That may mean relegating something we deem to be important to the background--or cropping it out of the picture altogether. In Christ alone the earth shall find its answer, A refuge from its doubts, its fears, its strife; This God-revealed-in-flesh, this precious Savior, Forever is the Way, the Truth, the Life! -Calenberg If Christ is the center of your life, you'll always be focused on Him. CROWN HIM LORD OF ALL A few years ago, Jack Eckerd, founder of the Eckerd drugstore chain, committed his life to Christ. Shortly afterward as he walked through one of his stores, he noticed the magazine racks with their glossy copies of Playboy and Penthouse. Although Eckerd was retired from active management, he called the president of the company and urged him to get rid of those pornographic magazines. The president protested because substantial profits were gained from their sales. Being the largest stockholder, Eckerd himself stood to lose a lot of money by such a decision. But he remained firm in his objection, and he prevailed. The offensive magazines were removed from all 1700 drugstores. When he was asked what motivated him to take this action, Eckerd replied, "God wouldn't let me off the hook!" When the apostle Paul surrendered his life to Christ, his first response was a question that would govern his decisions for the rest of his days. He asked, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" So too, we must seek an answer to that penetrating question--whether in the home, in business, in school, in the community, or in politics. Our Eternal God - Late one afternoon I stood at the stern of a ferry boat churning its way from New York City across the Hudson River to New Jersey. As the towering structures of Manhattan receded from sight, my mind suddenly recalled these words from a poem: “These all shall perish stone on stone, but not Thy kingdom nor Thy throne.” A few years later the devastating terrorist attack on the World Trade Center left an ugly gap in that soaring skyline. Everything in the world around us is subject to decline. Beautiful flowers wither and die. Even California’s towering sequoias, hardy survivors for long centuries, are gradually being eaten away by the gnawing tooth of time. As for our bodies, we grow older daily and lose the vitality of our younger years. God alone possesses immortality in Himself, which means that He abides forever (1 Timothy 6:16). The simple truth must be faced that nothing is permanent-only God is everlasting. Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious-Thy great name we praise. -Smith To give your life to Christ now is to keep it forever.