Pursue Righteousness and Godliness!
This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 6: “Pursue Your Future with Grace!” (WATCH HERE)
Many of us have just finished or are finishing a season this spring of going to high school and college graduations. At these events, there is usually a class speaker or a key note speaker that gives some type of encouragement and advice to the graduates. Often you hear phrases like, “Go out and change the world!” Or, “Follow your dreams!” Or, “Pursue your passions!”
But what if the Apostle Paul were invited to be your keynote speaker at your commencement? What would he say? Perhaps we have a good idea as he wrote to Timothy:
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11).
In essence, the heart of Paul’s message would be to flee from the materialistic trap that wealth and earthly pursuits can present to you and rather pursue the things of God. I’m not sure how that would come across in today’s commencement culture, but for the Christian, it’s a great verse to guide us in what the Spirit of God desires we pursue with our time, energy and effort.
Pursue Righteousness.
By definition “righteousness” is the right adherence to a standard. For the Christian, it is a following of the law of God, i.e. the will of God. It is the desire of the Christian to more and more align our thoughts, words and actions to the will of God so that in everything we do, we reflect Him to the world.
But it’s not easy.
Just like a doctor doesn’t just decide one day to be a surgeon and the next show up in an operating room to do open heart surgery, a Christian is encouraged to “train in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Paul reminds us that training in righteousness comes with regular time in the Scripture. Scripture is the tool for training. Little by little, with intentional priority, the word of the Lord communicates the will of the Lord to our heart. And when our heart is filled with the Word of the Lord, the righteousness of God displays itself more and more often. When we pursue righteousness, the power of the Spirit through the Word leads us to live more righteous lives.
Pursue Godliness.
Godliness is being a reflection of God himself because we are in relationship with him. Perhaps a silly example, but when I act in a way that honors and represents well the Geiger family, one might say I am being “Geigerly.” It’s because I have a relationship with my parents and family that I desire to represent our family well and not bring shame on them. Godliness represents God well because he has brought us into relationship with him through the waters of baptism and the power of his Spirit. As God’s children, we want to be who God created us to be: godly.
What does that mean? Paul guides us through his words to Titus (2:11-14):
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Christ purified us and made us to be his own with a resulting reality that we are “eager to do what is good”… to be godly.
Pursuing godliness is pursuing your relationship with Christ. A stronger relationship with Christ drives our desire to represent and reflect Christ in the world around us. As we represent Christ to the world around us, we are seen as godly. Pursue godliness.
The commencement speech isn’t over…look forward to tomorrow to hear the next part of Paul’s encouragement to you!
Apply: Consider the pursuits of righteousness and godliness. What time can you set aside in your day to train in the Word of God and develop your relationship with the Lord? As you do both your life will exhibit more righteousness and godliness to the praise of God himself!
Prayer: Forgive us for our lack of zeal to pursue righteousness and godliness. Spark in us by your Spirit a desire and discipline to daily pursue your word and a relationship with you. We know when we do, you enable us to show righteousness and godliness more prominently. AMEN.
What are you pursuing?
This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 6: “Pursue Your Future with Grace!” (WATCH HERE)
“I’m in hot pursuit!”
I remember these words from Sheriff Roscoe P. Coletrane in every episode of the Dukes of Hazard. The Duke boys inevitable were in trouble with the law “since the day they were born” and whether they actually did anything wrong or they were framed on drummed up charges, Boss Hog and his Sheriff Roscoe were bound and determined to catch the Duke Boys. When they had the chance…they were in “HOT PURSUIT!”
When you pursue something you make it a priority and give it your best effort to obtain it. One may pursue a degree. One may pursue a boyfriend or girlfriend for marriage. Another may pursue a destination vacation.
We can pursue a lot of things in life and it will consume much of our attention and energy.
The interesting thing about Roscoe’s pursuit of the Duke Boys…it usually ended in vain. The Duke Boys would get away, escape from jail, and the pursuit would continue. I give Roscoe credit for being persistent!
Many things we pursue in life are elusive. And even if we think we finally achieved them, we realize they get away from us and the pursuit is never over.
So what really are meaningful pursuits in life that will really make a difference in life and for that matter in eternity?
Paul writes to TImothy in 1 Timothy 6:11, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
What Timothy was fleeing FROM were the traps of wealth and the pursuit of wealth that was leading many away from their Savior and into the temptations and traps of Satan. Rather, Timothy was to pursue the six things Paul mentions (which we will cover in our devotions this week).
But is this pursuit going to be worth it? Paul is real and knows it will be a battle, “12 Fight the good fight of the faith.” To be in “hot pursuit” of these things of God is not going to be easy. However, you pursue something you perceive is going to be of great value to you. Will pursuing these six things make a big difference? Paul continues, “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” The pursuit of the Christian is not couple of elusive boys from the hills of Tennessee, but rather the pursuit of the Christian is to take hold of the blessing of eternal life. This is an end that will not escape or get away. When Jesus, appears in glory, he will share this gift of grace to all who have fled the temptations of the world and pursued him!
Apply: Evaluate what you are pursuing? Do they match Paul’s list? What changes need to be made in what you are pursing. What happens when your heart and life let go of worldly pursuits and pursue God?
Prayer: Lord thank you for your love and grace the is so amazing that I desire each and every day livin i
Value the eternal!
This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 5: “Let Grace Lead Your Finances!” (WATCH HERE)
Death is a sobering reminder of one reality. We will leave everything in this world behind. There is no need for a U-haul behind a hearse at your funeral. People like the ancient Egyptians have tried it as they would bury material wealth with the rulers so it could be used in the afterlife. Unfortunately it was just the fortune of grave robbers. You can’t take it with you.
Yet, we often don’t live that way. Or let me just speak for myself, “I often don’t live that way.” It is easy to focus on stuff, find security in stuff, want to have stuff around, and find our value in stuff. We can look at it, use it, and hold on to it. But we can’t take it with us.
Paul told Timothy: For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it (1 Timothy 6:7).
So if we can’t take it with us, what are we to do with the material blessings we have been given? Paul gives Timothy this encouragement to pass on:
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Enjoy material wealth as a blessing from God, but don’t let material wealth supplant your hope in God.
Use material wealth to do good and be generous to others. Let what God has given to you flow freely back to Him and to others.
Use material wealth to invest in Gospel ministry that has eternal blessings, not just temporal pleasure.
Our world has created a challenge for us to keep our hearts valuing the eternal over the temporal. It has promoted financial wealth and all it can buy as what it means to truly live. However, Paul points out to Timothy that if you want to take hold of life that is TRULY life, value the eternal over the temporal.
For when grace leads us to value the eternal over the temporal…
- Our hearts are content.
- Our hope is in God.
- Our wealth is a tool.
- Our joy is in giving
- Our impact is in sharing.
- Our treasure is heaven.
So then it doesn’t matter if we can’t take it with us because what is most valuable, the grace of God, we can.
So let grace lead your finances. Allow the Spirit of God to direct your heart and attitude toward wealth, not the world around us. Grace will lead us to see wealth as a tool, not an idol. It will enable us to be godly, not greedy and value the eternal, not the temporal.
Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Apply: Take time today to reflect: Am I more focused on the temporal or the eternal? What changes when your focus shifts more to the eternal from the temporal?
Prayer: Lord thank you for providing all the material things I have for my enjoyment. Let the blessing of wealth never become the curse of idolatry. Keep my heart focused on the eternal even as I live in the temporal world. AMEN.
Greed or Godliness?
This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 5: “Let Grace Lead Your Finances!” (WATCH HERE)
Luke 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Jesus’ parable is a poignant reminder of the temporary nature of material things. It is also a stern warning of how easily our heart can be captivated and driven by the accumulation of things.
The request seemed innocent and a matter of fairness.
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Seems like a reasonable request. Seems like any of you with siblings would do if your brother or sister wasn’t sharing something that was meant to be shared.
But is it really a question of equity between siblings or a matter of greed in my heart.
Jesus deflects the “fairness” question and directs his response to greed that lurked in the man’s heart.
Jesus knew that the question wasn’t about fairness, but about the accumulation of wealth. He knew that the heart of this individual was set on material things more than anything else. The parable that follows strengthens his point. When we focus and invest life in material things, death will be our demise. When we focus on building value in our hearts that focuses on love of God over things, our wealth will be realized in eternity.
This is a good reminder of how dangerous the sin of greed can be. Our 21st century American culture feeds our sinful nature’s desire for more stuff. It is easy to defer spiritual matters for the sake of a job or career that is moving us up on the pay scale. Jesus says, “Watch out!”
A lesson like this leads us to pause and reflect, “Am I the fool whose heart is set on accumulating wealth? Or am I the wise person whose heart is set on developing a relationship with the Lord?” Remember our heart can only serve one master.
There is nothing sinful with being wealthy. God may choose to bless you in that way. The danger from which we must flee is that wealth captivating the love of our heart. If and when it does, we must be willing to let go of all worldly wealth to allow only God to take the first love of our heart and lives.
Apply: Look past the questions you ask about money and wealth and evaluate, “Is this coming from a heart of greed or a heart of godliness?”
Prayer:
Take the world, but give me Jesus! All its joys are but a name.
But his love abides forever, Through eternal years the same. AMEN.
Grace Teaches Contentment!
This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 5: “Let Grace Lead Your Finances!” (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
I will be the first to admit. I struggle at times with contentment.
We are bombarded in our world with messages to make us discontent with our current circumstances. Watch any advertisement that comes up on TV, YouTube, Facebook or anywhere else and the goal of that advertisement is to make you discontent with your current circumstances and desire to have a need filled with their product. As you scroll Facebook or Instagram, are there not times when you desire the life or vacation you see your friends or random people have? Would you not agree that no matter what your present station in life is, there is a subtle unrest in your heart yearning for something different? If you’re at work this morning, you may be longing for retirement. If you are in retirement, you may be wishing you had something meaningful to do. If you have plenty of resources, you may be longing for the next level of social status.
Discontent is not an amount of money or material things. Discontent is a matter of the heart.
Really, the heart has been discontent from the beginning because we are all born with a sinful nature. Our sinful nature thinks first of ourselves. Ask any mom who has had to wake up to an infant crying for food. Our first reactions in life are caused by discontent, even though we are way too young to label it as such. To be clear, I’m not saying a person shouldn’t express their needs when they have them, but again, discontent is a matter of the heart, not a situation or station in life.
Paul wrote to the Philippians in 4:11-3 two times, “I have LEARNED to be content…” Contentment has to be learned. It is not natural to us. He had to LEARN the secret to being content.
What is the secret to contentment?
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
This popular passage is on may plaques and wall hangings and often applied to every situation in life. Yes, it is true we can get through any situation in life with the strength the LORD provides, however, Paul writes this as the answer to discontentment. I can be CONTENT because the LORD gives me strength.
Discontent comes when my trust and hope are in material things. Contentment comes when my trust and hope are in the LORD.
So how does that work? If I have plenty. I am content because I trust that the LORD has provided. If I am in want, I am content because I know the LORD will provide all my needs. When the Lord is the strength of our heart, our heart can always be content in the LORD, no matter what our external circumstances, our internal circumstance rests in the strength of the LORD.
Here’s the truth: When God’s grace leads our finances, we can always be content.
Apply: Evaluate your heart today. List the things in your life right now that are leading you to be discontent. What truth of God’s Word can replace the messaging of discontent and lead you to be content in today’s circumstances?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for providing every day for my needs. Forgive my heart of discontent and replace it with contentment that only comes from your presence and strength. AMEN.