in longing desire to do acceptable service for the Master。 And as he
advances in the Christian pathway he becomes 〃strong in the grace that is in
Christ Jesus。〃 This grace enables him to be a faithful witness of the things
that he has heard。 He does not despise or neglect the knowledge that he has
received from God； but commits this knowledge to faithful men； who in their
turn teach others。
In this his last letter to Timothy； Paul held up before the younger worker a
high ideal； pointing out the duties devolving on him as a minister of
Christ。 〃Study to show thyself approved unto God；〃 the apostle wrote； 〃a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed； rightly dividing the word of truth。〃
〃Flee also youthful lusts： but follow righteousness； faith； charity； peace；
with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart。 But foolish and
unlearned questions avoid； knowing that they do gender strifes。 And the
servant of the Lord must not strive； but be gentle unto all men； apt to
teach； patient； in meekness instructing those that oppose
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themselves； if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth。〃
The apostle warned Timothy against the false teachers who would seek to gain
entrance into the church。 〃This know also；〃 he declared； 〃that in the last
days perilous times shall come。 For men shall be lovers of their own selves；
covetous； boasters； proud； blasphemers； disobedient to parents； unthankful；
unholy； 。 。 。 having a form of godliness； but denying the power thereof：
from such turn away。〃
〃Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse；〃 he continued； 〃deceiving；
and being deceived。 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of； knowing of whom thou hast learned them； and that
from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures； which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation。 。 。 。 All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God； and is profitable for doctrine； for reproof； for correction； for
instruction in righteousness： that the man of God may be perfect； throughly
furnished unto all good works。〃 God has provided abundant means for
successful warfare against the evil that is in the world。 The Bible is the
armory where we may equip for the struggle。 Our loins must be girt about
with truth。 Our breastplate must be righteousness。 The shield of faith must
be in our hand； the helmet of salvation on our brow； and with the sword of
the Spirit； which is the word of God； we are to cut our way through the
obstructions and entanglements of sin。
Paul knew that there was before the church a time of great peril。 He knew
that faithful； earnest work would
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have to be done by those left in charge of the churches； and he wrote to
Timothy； 〃I charge thee therefore before God； and the Lord Jesus Christ； who
shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom； Preach
the word； be instant in season； out of season； reprove； rebuke； exhort with
all long…suffering and doctrine。〃
This solemn charge to one so zealous and faithful as was Timothy is a strong
testimony to the importance and responsibility of the work of the gospel
minister。 Summoning Timothy before the bar of God； Paul bids him preach the
word； not the sayings and customs of men； to be ready to witness for God
whenever opportunity should present itselfbefore large congregations and
private circles； by the way and at the fireside； to friends and to enemies；
whether in safety or exposed to hardship and peril； reproach and loss。
Fearing that Timothy's mild； yielding disposition might lead him to shun an
essential part of his work； Paul exhorted him to be faithful in reproving
sin and even to rebuke with sharpness those who were guilty of gross evils。
Yet he was to do this 〃with all long…suffering and doctrine。〃 He was to
reveal the patience and love of Christ； explaining and enforcing his
reproofs by the truths of the word。
To hate and reprove sin； and at the same time to show pity and tenderness
for the sinner； is a difficult attainment。 The more earnest our own efforts
to attain to holiness of heart and life； the more acute will be our
perception of sin and the more decided our disapproval of any deviation from
the right。 We must guard against undue severity toward
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the wrongdoer； but we must also be careful not to lose sight of the
exceeding sinfulness of sin。 There is need of showing Christlike patience
and love for the erring one； but there is also danger of showing so great
toleration for his error that he will look upon himself as undeserving of
reproof； and will reject it as uncalled for and unjust。
Ministers of the gospel sometimes do great harm by allowing their
forbearance toward the erring to degenerate into toleration of sins and even
participation in them。 Thus they are led to excuse and palliate that which
God condemns； and after a time they become so blinded as to commend the very
ones whom God commands them to reprove。 He who has blunted his spiritual
perceptions by sinful leniency toward those whom God condemns； will erelong
commit a greater sin by severity and harshness toward those whom God
approves。
By the pride of human wisdom； by contempt for the influence of the Holy
Spirit； and by disrelish for the truths of God's word； many who profess to
be Christians； and who feel competent to teach others； will be led to turn
away from the requirements of God。 Paul declared to Timothy； 〃The time will
come when they will not endure sound doctrine； but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers； having itching ears； and they shall
turn away their ears from the truth； and shall be turned unto fables。〃
The apostle does not here refer to the openly irreligious； but to the
professing Christians who make inclination their guide； and thus become
enslaved by self。 Such are willing to listen to those doctrines only that do
not rebuke their sins
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or condemn their pleasure…loving course。 They are offended by the plain
words of the faithful servants of Christ and choose teachers who praise and
flatter them。 And among professing ministers there are those who preach the
opinions of men instead of the word of God。 Unfaithful to their trust； they
lead astray those who look to them for spiritual guidance。
In the precepts of His holy law； God has given a perfect rule of life； and
He has declared that until the close of time this law； unchanged in a single
jot or tittle； is to maintain its claim upon human beings。 Christ came to
magnify the law and make it honorable。 He showed that it is based upon the
broad foundation of love to God and love to man； and that obedience to its
precepts comprises the whole duty of man。 In His own life He gave an example
of obedience to the law of God。 In the Sermon on the Mount He showed how its
requirements extend beyond the outward acts and take cognizance of the
thoughts and intents of the heart。
The law； obeyed； leads men to deny 〃ungodliness and worldly lusts；〃 and to
〃live soberly； righteously； and godly； in this present world。〃 Titus 2：12。
But the enemy of all righteousness has taken the world captive and has led
men and women to disobey the law。 As Paul foresaw； multitudes have turned
from the plain； searching truths of God's word and have chosen teachers who
present to them the fables they desire。 Many among both ministers and people
are trampling under their feet the commandments of God。 Thus the Creator of
the world is insulted； and Satan laughs in triumph at the success of his
devices。
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With the growing contempt for God's law there is an increasing distaste for
religion； an increase of pride； love of pleasure； disobedience to parents；
and self…indulgence； and thoughtful minds everywhere are anxiously
inquiring； What can be done to correct these alarming evils？ The answer is
found in Paul's exhortation to Timothy； 〃Preach the word。〃 In the Bible are
found the only safe principles of action。 It is a transcript of the will of
God； an expression of divine wisdom。 It opens to man's understanding the
great problems of life； and to all who heed its precepts it will prove an
unerring guide； keeping them from wasting their lives in misdirected effort。
God has made known His will； and it is folly for man to question that which
has gone out of His lips。 After Infinite Wisdom has spoken； there can be no
doubtful questions for man to settle； no wavering possibilities for him to
adjust。 All that is required of him is a frank； earnest concurrence in the
expressed will of God。 Obedience is the highest dictate of reason as well as
of conscience。
Paul continued his charge： 〃Watch thou in all things； endure afflictions； do
the work of an evangelist； make full proof of thy ministry。〃 Paul was about
to finish his course； and he desired Timothy to take his place； guarding the
church from the fables and heresies by which the enemy； in various ways；
would endeavor to lead them from the simplicity of the gospel。 He admonished
him to shun all temporal pursuits and entanglements that would prevent him
from giving himself wholly to his work for God； to endure with cheerfulness
the opposition； reproach； and persecution
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to which his faithfulness would expose him； to make full proof of his
ministry by employing every means within his reach of doing good to those
for whom Christ died。
Paul's life was an exemplification of the truths he taught； and herein lay
his power。 His heart was filled with a deep； abiding sense of his
responsibility； and he labored in close communion with Him who is the
fountain of justice； mercy； and truth。 He clung to the cross of Christ as
his only guarantee of success。 The love of the Saviour was the undying
motive that upheld him in his conflicts with self and in his struggles
against evil as in the service of Christ he pressed forward against the
unfriendliness of the world and the opposition of his enemies。
What the church needs in these days of peril is an army