WHAT ARE YOU PURSUING?

1 Timothy 6:11, "...follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

The Apostle Paul was instructing Timothy about the need for and the blessing of contentment. Money and/or material items will steal our attention away from that which is spiritual if we are not careful. Paul admonishes Timothy of the following:

• We brought nothing into this world and we will take nothing out (vs. 7)

• Those that seek to be rich fall into temptation and a snare (vs. 9) • The love of money is the root of all evil (vs. 10)

Paul instructs Timothy that godliness with contentment is great gain (vs. 6) He teaches that we should be content with food and clothing (vs. 8). And finally, Paul speaks to Timothy about those things he ought to pursue. Paul lists six things we should pursue, they are:

  1. Righteousness - in the context he is speaking of, living rightly and justly before others.

  2. Godliness - holiness in heart, spiritual in focus, changed by God.

  3. Faith - continue looking at things which are eternal rather than temporal. Have

    confidence in God and His eternal promises.

  4. Love - be filled with love for God, and for other people. All the commandments

    rest on these two truths.

  5. Patience - Bible patience always speaks of enduring through trials and

    difficulties.

  6. Meekness - this speaks of dealing with the issues of life with gentleness and

    humility.

I pray we will learn to pursue the things Paul taught Timothy to pursue. May we not be sidetracked by the things of this world. Rather, may we pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.

Allow God to build your character into the likeness of Jesus Christ, and follow after the very things Paul mentions in today's reading.

Your Friend and His,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. What, if anything, seems to get in the way of you fully pursuing God?

2. How does an abundance of a desire to be rich pull people from loving the Lord?

3. Does your life reflect a pursuit of the six godly virtues listed above? Where could you use some improvement?

4. Is your desire to be conformed to the image of Christ what it should be? How so?

Brownsburg Baptist ChurchComment