Abide Together: Reflections on 1 Timothy 6 and 2 Timothy 1

In 1 Timothy 6 Paul gives instruction to slaves as to how they are to serve for the glory of God.  He warns about false teachers and how they love to create dissension.  He also gives instruction about contentment and warns about the love of money.  He also charges Timothy to fight the good fight of faith, because it is worth it.  He encourages the rich in the world to be generous.  The thing that stands out to me this morning is the importance of godliness with contentment and being generous.  When a person is content with all the Lord has blessed them with, then they have no problem being generous.  Lord, help me be content with all you have given me, so that I might be generous for Your glory.

In 2 Timothy 1 Paul writes with his death soon to take place.  He commends Timothy for his sincere faith and encourages him to use the gift God has given him. He does this based on that fact that God had not given them a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self control. He then encourages Timothy not to be ashamed of the Gospel and be willing to share in the suffering for the Gospel by the power of God.  He also charges Timothy “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”  With each admonition Paul gives Timothy (fan into flame the gift of God, share in suffering for the Gospel, guard the good deposit entrusted to you), he also reminds him that God supplies the means to accomplish the admonition (a spirit of power, love and self control; by the power of God; By the Holy Spirit who dwells within).  Lord, thank You so much for empowering me every step of the way to do what You have called me to in every area of life.

– Bryan McKenzie