"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

Fleeing In Full Pursuit (6:3-11)

INTRODUCTION
  1. In 1Ti 6:11, we find an interesting contrast concerning the "man of God"...
    1. He is told to "flee" (Grk., pheugo)
    2. He is told to "pursue" (Grk., dioko)
    3. In the Grk. NT, these two words are next to each other, highlighting the contrast between them
  2. So while one is fleeing from some things, he should be pursing other things...
    1. Are we fleeing those things from which we ought to flee?
    2. Are we pursing those things we need to pursue?

[Ask yourself these questions as we consider "Fleeing In Full Pursuit". First, there are...]

  1. THINGS TO FLEE
    1. DOCTRINAL ERROR...
      1. Contrary to the words of our Lord and the doctrine according to godliness - 1Ti 6:3
      2. Especially any error related to:
        1. The practice of fornication ("flee sexual immorality") - 1Co 6:18
        2. The practice of idolatry ("flee from idolatry") - 1Co 10:14
      3. This implies that we must learn the truth - how can we flee from an unknown enemy?
    2. DISPUTES AND ARGUMENTS OVER WORDS...
      1. What might be described as "word battles" - 1Ti 6:4-5
        1. Some people become obsessed with such things
        2. They love to argue religion, just for the sake of arguing!
      2. The outcome of such discussions are often:
        1. envy - the ill will one has when bested by an opponent
        2. strife - the condition that exists while argument is being discussed and people refuse to admit defeat
        3. reviling - abusive language (e.g., slander, scorn) regarding the opposition
        4. evil suspicions - mistrust, suspecting and impugning another's motives
      3. Where discussions become "useless wranglings"
        1. By men "of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth"
          1. They can't think straight
          2. They don't even know what is really true
        2. By men who think "godliness is a means of gain"
          1. Some think such arguing will make them famous
          2. Others think it will give them power, position, even wealth
      4. Timothy was told to stay away from such "wranglers"! - 1 Ti 6:5; 2Ti 2:14-16,23
    3. DESIRE FOR WEALTH...
      1. Godliness with contentment is the great gain - 1Ti 6:6-8
        1. "You can't take it with you"
        2. Food and shelter are the only true "necessities"
        3. Contentment is a grace to be learned - cf. Php 4:11-13
      2. Those who "desire to be rich" endanger themselves - 1Ti 6:9
        1. They fall into temptation and a snare
        2. They fall into foolish and harmful lusts which drown them in destruction and perdition
      3. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil - 1Ti 6:10
        1. Some have strayed from the faith in their greediness
        2. They found not happiness, but much sorrow!

        [Such things we are to "flee" (1Ti 6:11). Are we fleeing from them, or flirting with them? It helps to flee when we are in full pursuit of certain things...]

  2. THINGS TO PURSUE
    1. RIGHTEOUSNESS...
      1. The quality of being right, and doing right, in the sight of God
      2. The righteousness we seek is that found in Christ, and Paul illustrates the "pursuit" one should have for it - cf. Php 3:7-14
    2. GODLINESS...
      1. This can be defined as "devotion to God which results in a life that pleases Him"
      2. I.e., one who is godly displays a truly pious conduct
      3. This godliness requires effort or exercise on our part - cf. 1Ti 4:7
      4. The pursuit of godliness is well worth it, according to Paul - 1Ti 4:8
    3. FAITH...
      1. Faith in its subjective sense, "active reliance on God and His promises" - Hendriksen
      2. Such reliance comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17
      3. At times, we must battle to maintain this reliance - 1Ti 6:12
      4. There is the danger of developing a heart of unbelief, which is why we must always be in pursuit of faith - cf. He 3:12-15
    4. LOVE...
      1. We are to love God, brethren, even enemies - Mt 22:36-40; 5:44
        1. This love is from the Grk. agape, "active good will"
        2. It involves a decision of the will, not the heart
      2. Such love does not come naturally, we must be taught it - e.g., 1Th 4:9; 3:12
      3. Thus it is something we must pursue, or we will not have it!
    5. PATIENCE...
      1. Steadfastness, "the grace to bear up under adversities" - Hendriksen
      2. Especially in times of persecution, discouragement, hard times
      3. "Endurance" would be another word - e.g., Jesus, He 12:1-4
    6. GENTLENESS...
      1. This word is akin to "patience", but with respect to people rather than circumstances
      2. It affects how we treat others, even those with whom we differ - cf. 2Ti 2:24-25
      3. Where the virtues of righteousness, godliness, faith, love and patience are present, the virtue of gentleness naturally follows
CONCLUSION
  1. These things to flee and things to pursue were important to Paul...
    1. He not only warned Timothy in this passage
    2. He warned Timothy again in another epistle - 2Ti 2:22-23
  2. Perhaps because there is something in human nature...
    1. To pursue things we ought to be fleeing
    2. To flee things we ought to be pursuing
  3. Hopefully these words of the apostle will serve us well...
    1. To keep us on the right track
    2. To motivate us to be more diligent about moving in the right direction

Are we "Fleeing In Full Pursuit", fleeing that which is wrong, pursuing that which is right...?