HOLD FAST THE WORD OF LIFE (8)

“O Timothy! GUARD what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions…” – 1 Timothy 6:20a

Apostle Paul directed Timothy, his son in the faith, on the need to HOLD FAST the WORD of LIFE: “O Timothy! GUARD what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge – by professing it some have STRAYED concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen” (1Tim.6: 20-21). The Truth is our Treasure. Paul reminded Timothy to steward over his Treasure! Our Lord Jesus is The Truth (Jh.14:6). But He also prayed: “Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word is Truth” (Jh.17:17).

Paul had counselled on the stewardship of earthly treasures: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God…that they may LAY HOLD on eternal life” (vv.17-19). The wealth of this world should be used to attain the true treasure – Eternal Life, which comes through the Word of Life. God entrusts more to us than just money or material wealth. We are Stewards of His Mysteries: “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God…” (1Cor.4:1-2).

Believers are Stewards of God’s Truth, Grace, and Life: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as GOOD STEWARDS of the MANIFOLD GRACE of GOD. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies…Amen” (1Pet.4:10-11). This same truth is implied in Romans 12: 6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the GRACE that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation…” A significant aspect of our stewardship centres on the TRUTH!

Unbelievers cannot know the things of God “because they are spiritually discerned” (1Cor.2:14). But God’s children are enabled to know and understand these, as Stewards of the Truth. Paul had earlier reminded Timothy: “…I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the TRUTH” (1Tim.3:14-15). Believers are Stewards of Truth. The Church is “the pillar and support of the Truth.” God has entrusted to His Church the priceless Treasure of Truth!

The world is steeped in deception. The Truth is under intense attack. This makes our stewardship the more crucial. We are called to Guard, Preserve, Proclaim, Practise, and Trust the Truth.

Guard the Truth: “O Timothy, guard what was committed to your trust.” 2 Timothy 1:14 says, “That good thing which was committed to you, KEEP by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” The world has launched a full-scale attack to steal the truth and erode righteousness. We must defend it: “…contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3b). God entrusts His treasure to us. We also have entrusted our treasure to Him (2Tim.1:12). Just as we want Him to guard our treasure, He wants us to guard His!

Preserve the Truth from the temptation to go “astray from the faith.” We must focus on truth; avoid carnal, crude, idle chatter and unfruitful arguments (Eph.4:29; 5:11-12; Col.2:8; 4:6). The Church must focus on the Truth, not error; spend time speaking truth, not fighting error! Also, we must not water down or dilute the Truth.

Proclaim and Practice the Truth: God’s Word is never meant for the museum; but for the highways and the hedges, and for doing (Mt.5:15; Rom.1:16; Jam.1:22).

Trust the Truth: Paul’s final words were, “Grace be with you. Amen” (v.21). Grace is far more than a salutation. It is the very Power of the Church – the God-provided Strength to make His Word work (Heb.4:16; 2Cor.12:9). God promises to honour His Word (Isa.55:11).

Whoever desires to not stray concerning the faith must learn to Hold Fast to God’s Word, Hold Tight to the Truth – Trust the Truth!