Focus On What’s Most Important

In this passage, Paul encourages Timothy to focus on what is most important. That doesn’t mean there are issues in our world that lack importance, It simply means that the gospel is the MOST important issue. Here’s what I mean… Imagine for a minute that you are cutting up some apple slides in your kitchen. Suddenly, your hand slips and you catch your finger with the knife. Ouch! You run to tell your parents so they can help you. Your mom looks at you and says: “Yikes your fingernails are really long! Let’s get the nail trimmers and get that taken care of!” Obviously, that would be ridiculous. There’s a problem that is much more important that needs to be addressed before you start taking care of cosmetic issues. 

When Christians focus on secondary issues above the gospel, we fail to point people to the good news, which is the most important news in the history of the world! Paul urges Timothy to hold tightly to God’s Word. We have to stand for the truth of the gospel! However, he also urges Timothy not to get involved in useless arguments because they only produce meaningless fights. How often do we get caught up in these arguments that distract from the gospel? Paul would challenge us to think before we speak. He would also say that loving others is often more important than being right about an issue that probably doesn’t matter as much as we think it does.  

Lastly, Paul challenges Timothy to fight against the sin in our lives. As followers of Jesus, we have to learn how to fight against the things that don’t honor Christ. We can’t just sit by while sin runs rampant in our hearts and expect God to bless us. We have to fight against it! So how do we fight against sin? Well, not by “trying harder to be good,” but by repenting and running to Jesus. He is the only one who can cleanse us. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Take some time today to confess your sins to God and repent. It’s the way we fight!