2 Timothy 2:22-23 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
This letter came from Paul to Timothy, from his house arrest in Rome. Timothy
was a younger man who Paul had brought up in the Lord, and over the years, he
had become like a son to Paul. Here Paul gives Timothy advice for ministry and
his life. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Paul that his life was coming to an
end, and he wanted to provide Timothy with advice one last time. Paul then
presents godly wisdom all Christians should take to heart, should dwell and
meditate upon, and then try to emulate in our lives. Here Paul gives solid
spiritual advice to avoid lust, pride, desires for wealth and power, and to
avoid jealousy and envy. And to do so by focusing on Jesus and submitting to
the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
There will always be those we run into who have varying and different views of the scripture than what we hold to be the truth of the Gospel. However, teaching the truth is the scriptural method for approaching those in error; it is not persecution or intimidation. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God that brings about a discovery of the truth, and it is by the grace of God that we acknowledge that truth. Anything short of that would keep us in complete and total rebellion.
Paul is encouraging Timothy not to give into self-assertiveness, pride, and argumentative spirit, which would be the "evil desires of his youth." These are character traits that our world today values. However, they have no place in the character of God's children. Paul tells Timothy to avoid foolish arguments that serve no purpose and produce quarrels. Paul is telling Timothy to avoid the world's ways and understand that we do not gauge right and wrong on argument or debate. Instead, based on the truth of God's word and His moral laws. All these things mentioned above are the skills the world tells us we are to cultivate. The world would have us believe that we require this type of behavior for success. However, Paul reveals God's truth, which contrasts wonderfully for us the difference between a life spent in the world, and one spent in service to Christ Jesus our Lord.
We can spend our lives seeking worldly success that is only temporary, or we can focus on the eternal instead of the temporal. Everything we accomplish in worldly matters, or all we acquire in this life, will be of no value when we draw our last breath. The only thing that will matter then is the treasures we have stored up in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).
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