Original: January 7, 2008
McMinnville, OR
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6: 11
Several years ago I was hunting the Nacimiento River in Camp Roberts, California. My dad, one of the boys (I can’t remember which one), my dog Ruger, and I were waiting for legal shooting light over a dozen Mallard decoys. Patience is a prerequisite in duck hunting as times can be slow. I waited Beretta with my 301A in hand, duck calls around my neck, and anticipation of first light warming my spirit.
This was our first time hunting the river but good friends had told that us the ducks like flying up and down the river so our eyes bounced like bobble-head dolls in both directions. Out of the gray morning light two sets of the familiar rhythmic wing beats that could only be ducks were heading our way. Shooting light had arrived as I pulled up and fired on the “greenhead” that came crashing in a death plunge into the river. To my shock I had not realized the “greenhead” was actually a Green Hooded Merganser; legal, but as its razor teeth hinted, not edible. It would sure make a beautiful duck mount, but I struggled knowing that I would soon become the laughing stock of the redneck community, which I call my friends!
Have you ever chased the wind?
Have you ever chased after the wrong thing, fighting your way through the crowd only to realize you were in the wrong venue? Or, climbed your way up the corporate ladder only to discover it is leaning on the wrong building!
I have.
I know a lot of men who have chased after that dream job, dream hunt, or dream girl only to wake up to a nightmare!
A closer reading at this passage uncovers that Paul was admonishing Timothy to “flee from” controversial doctrines (4) and the “love of money” (10). In other words flee from the “controversial” or secondary doctrines are the seed of division in the church. I have a pastor friend who is so committed to a certain eschatological (end times) point of view that he bought me a 600 page text book to read so that I could be up to speed on his passion for eschatology. Convinced that I would see his side of the story and my life would be (somehow) changed forever. I read the book and was more confused about the four views of eschatology than ever before! I walked away more convinced of the futility of his view and any other subjective views of secondary doctrines.
I know another pastor who left his congregation a long time ago but his infidelity with money left scars so deep in his congregation that the board of elders still has a set of rules for succeeding pastors regarding the use, and abuse, of money. Rules that they humorously named after their released shepherd!
I love the list that Paul gives to Timothy about things that are actually worthy to hunt after-worthy of our pursuit. Notice that “godliness, faith and righteousness” are upward pursuits, or direct pursuits after God (Matthew 6:33). “Love” and “gentleness” are what I call outward pursuits; or tasks designed with the purpose of reaching out to others.
Then we come to the word “endurance”-oh, endurance! In my opinion Paul lists endurance with this prestigious set of pursuits as the only inward pursuit designed on keeping us in the faith race. In other words, upward pursuits have to do with our chasing after Christ and outward pursuits deal more with our chasing after people and inward pursuit are those that build inner character and resolve.
So there we have it. Paul’s list is as simple as 1-2-3 or in this case 3-2-1: Three upward pursuits, two outward objectives, and one inward desire focused on helping us to finish well.
