Gary Gleans

Paul,   an apostle of Christ Jesus   by the will of God according to   the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,   To Timothy,   my beloved child:   Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Relationships are one of the most precious gifts we enjoy on this earth.  We have relationships with our family members as well as friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  The most important relationship any of us have is with God.  That relationship impacts all the other relationships around us and is intended to make them more profound and meaningful.  The relationship between Paul and Timothy enjoyed that kind of depth due to their mutual commitment to the Lord. PAUL: A FATHER IN THE FAITH: Paul introduces himself in this letter as an apostle of Christ by God’s will according to the life he received in Christ.  Paul was born and sinner and continued to live as a sinner even after his salvation.  However, because of God’s sovereign plan in his life, this sinful man

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you.   Avoid the   irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”   for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Paul concludes his letter to Timothy summarizing two important principles that we would all do well to remember.  In life and ministry there are convictions to which we must hold no matter the cost, but there are also controversies we need to avoid.  Unfortunately, it can be difficult to discern between the two.  The people around us may be far more concerned with the controversy of the moment than the fundamental convictions of the faith.  As leaders, we must be able to distinguish between the two and help those entrusted to our care to be able to tell the difference.  HANG ON TO TRUE CONVICTIONS: Paul gave Timothy, and us, many truths that were to guide and inform his life and ministry.  These truths are vital and must be both retained and defended.  Ministry in a fallen world is busy, confusi

As for the rich in   this present age, charge them   not to be haughty, nor   to set their hopes on   the uncertainty of riches, but on God,   who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.    They are to do good,   to be rich in good works, to be generous and   ready to share,   thus   storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may   take hold of   that which is truly life. Once again, we see the importance of money and our attitudes and actions surrounding money coming into play.  We have seen the dangers that the love of money can produce.  However, money is not evil or sinful.  It is a blessing from God that we are to steward for God’s glory and the benefit of the kingdom of God.  There are at least three important principles we can learn from this passage.   MONEY COMES FROM GOD: Paul tells Timothy that is one of his jobs to instruct those who are rich about their attitudes towards and use of money.  Ministers who are fulfilling their du

But as for you,   O man of God,   flee these things.   Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.    Fight the good fight of the faith.   Take hold of the eternal life   to which you were called and about which you made   the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.    I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus,   who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made   the good confession,   to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until   the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,   which he will display   at the proper time—he who is   the blessed and only Sovereign,   the King of kings and Lord of lords,   who alone has immortality,   who dwells in   unapproachable light,   whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. God calls us to be different as a contrast to the world around us and the false teachers that are being greedy for money.  The minister of Go

But   godliness   with contentment is great gain,   for   we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.    But   if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.    But   those who desire to be rich fall into temptation,   into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that   plunge people into ruin and destruction.    For the love of money is a root of   all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. One of the clearest windows that allow us to view the condition of our hearts is our finances and our attitudes about money.  The issue is not the amount of money that we possess, how we view money in general.  Both the rich and the poor can please or displease the Lord with their treatment of money and possessions.  In general, God’s requirement is that we be content with His provision for our lives.  One characteristic of false teachers is a lack of c

Teach and urge these things.    If anyone   teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with   the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching   that accords with godliness,   he is puffed up with conceit and   understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for   controversy and for   quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,   and constant friction among people   who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth,   imagining that godliness is a means of gain. A minister of the Gospel must be committed to teaching the truth because false teachers are not.  The reason they are called false teachers is because they reject Christ and His teachings.  One of the greatest difficulties and dangers in ministry is dealing with the impact and influence of false teachers.  Paul calls Timothy to be dedicated, persistent and courageous in performing this all-important task of confronting these evil men.  In this passage, he describes these fals