2 Timothy: Lessons on the Word, Part 4

In 2 Timothy, Paul is instructing Timothy in some of the areas of godly leadership.  One area in particular that we have been looking at is the power of God’s Word to help leaders address and overcome some specific problems.  For example, we have seen that when a person feels inadequate in any way – when they feel insecure or weak – studying the Word of God will put a mark of authority and confidence in their spirit.  Or, when a person encounters petty problems from the people he/she is called to lead, the Word of God gives clear direction and prevents being distracted by those petty problems.

That brings us to the third problem Timothy faced in keeping the fire of love and leadership burning in his heart:  outside influences.  People who are not even believers can be a distraction by attacking the internal desire to succeed. 

In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul urges Timothy to “flee youthful lusts.” 

Now while the word “lust” may have some moral implications, what it really deals with is the youthful desire to succeed according to the world’s standards.  It deals with worldly ambition.  There are the lusts to be financially successful and not really care how that wealth is accumulated.  It deals with compromise in order to get ahead or in order to be accepted by men or to gain more creature comforts.  This is basic lawlessness.

Can’t you hear non-believers saying to Timothy, “C’mon, man – why suffer when you don’t have to?  You can go to church…you can even be a worship leader – prayer leader – Bible teacher, and enjoy life, too.  You don’t have to be like Paul!  You don’t have to go to jail.  You don’t have to suffer persecution.  You can still be a Christian and be a respectable citizen of Rome.”

Those outside voices playing on the youthful lust to succeed can quench the fire inside.  Man, we live under grace!  No rules – lawlessness.

Then there are also those on the other end of the spectrum – the rigid legalists who keep all the religious rules, but because they have no love for anyone but themselves, they have no power.

That’s what 2 Timothy 3:1-5 is talking about. 

¹But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ² For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,⁴ treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

These are the ones who deny that which gives power to godliness – they deny the presence of God – they know the rules, but they have never had that encounter which leaves its mark on the heart.  A person who is controlled by youthful lust wants to be accepted.  They will yield to those who say, “If you don’t keep the rules the way we interpret and teach them, you can’t join our group.”

Those are the two extremes that a Christian leader must avoid – lawlessness and legalism.  Paul even explains in 3:9 that those who go in either direction don’t grow; he says that “they will not make further progress.”  They will never gain that “wisdom that leads to salvation” according to 3:15.

So what is the solution to this problem?  How did Paul instruct Timothy to overcome this problem?  Once again, according to 2 Timothy 3:15-17, the solution is found in God’s Word.

¹⁵…from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Timothy was to draw from the deep well of Scripture that was already in him.  Timothy had a deep heritage of the faith.  There was more in him than he knew. 

Now for those who are just beginning their journey into the Scriptures, this should give some incentive to learn more and more.  The Bible is the only stable source of objective truth.  The Bible is the only way to develop the stability needed to avoid the youthful lusts of lawlessness and legalism.

In 2 Timothy 3:1, Paul says, “difficult times will come.”  Since that is indeed true, now is the time to store God’s word in your heart!  You can’t put it off!