DISENTANGLED

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier – 2 Timothy 2:4

The Ordered Life is a DISENTANGLED Life. Part of Paul’s last words to Timothy were: “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (1Tim.2:4). To be “entangled” is to be interwoven, wrapped or twisted together in such a manner as not to be easily extricated from what binds or hinders. The Greek word for “entangle” is empleko (en = in + pleko = to weave) which literally means to “weave in,” to intertwine closely by wrapping or twisting together; to be involuntarily interconnected to the point of immobility. It was used to describe a runner entangled in his long robe, which would hinder his ability to run in such a way so as to win (1Cor.9:24-27; Heb.12:1). Figuratively it means to become so entwined in an activity that it interferes with other activities or objectives. Paul warned soldiers of Christ to avoid being entangled with civilian pursuits. A good soldier of Christ must continually choose to focus on eternal priorities, not temporal peripherals; holding the temporal loosely and prizing the eternal passionately.

Are you entangled? This is not only about entanglement in sin, which for the Christian should be obvious. The greater disentanglement is from things that would be right for you but for the fact that you have taken upon you the vows of God. He demands not only that you repent from sin, but actually re-structure your life totally around His Kingdom and its priorities. There is disentanglement for your own soul’s sake, from the things that could ensnare; and disentanglement for God’s sake. Believers must disentangle from many things that would benefit us but that could turn us aside from being broken bread and poured-out wine in the Lord’s hands. Paul argued: “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1Cor.8:13). Again, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1Cor.6:12). Also, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify” (1Cor.10:23).

If anything in you, right or wrong, is hindering God’s work and causing another to stumble, you must give it up, even if it is the most legitimate thing on earth. Jesus in His sovereign wisdom sometimes calls us to leave behind professions, friends, and family. Disentanglement from the mundane is a cost of discipleship. Consider Jesus’ tough word: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt. 10:37). When He invited Peter, Andrew, James and John, to detach from their legitimate fishing business, follow Him and learn to catch men instead of fish, they dropped their nets, abandoned their business, and followed (Mt.4:18-19). The disentangled life could actually mean: “God before family; God before profession; God before pleasure. God before nation”!

As you engage in legitimate secular activities you must inwardly detach from their hold: “those who have wives should be as though they had none…those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away” (I Cor. 7:29-31). Disentanglement or detachment does not mean that you shouldn’t enjoy secular relationships and pursuits with energy and enthusiasm. It just means that your possessions, relationships and all your daily activities must be placed on the altar, offered up to God as a living sacrifice. And you must be ever ready to walk away from everything at a moment’s notice, should Jesus call you to do so. Every relationship and pursuit you engage in must be a tributary of God’s eternal Purpose for your life. May you not pass away with the passing world, in Jesus name!