1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Life is a succession of choices, though many of them are unconscious. Here Paul is writing to his son in the faith, probably the person dearest to him on earth, about the choices he needs to make. He has just been writing about the thirst for material wealth, which consumes vast numbers of people, and here he tells Timothy to flee all of that, and what he should choose to pursue instead. The qualities he lists here are aspirational; we can’t really generate them on our own. However, if the choice is there, God is faithful to manifest them in and through us. We can’t take pride in them, because they don’t originate in us, but we can certainly choose to seek them and rejoice when God provides them. Frankly, this doesn’t agree with the world’s value system. The world says, “He who dies with the most toys wins,” but they are still dead, and have to face their Creator! The things Paul lists are all intangibles, which means they have value for eternity, in contrast to everything material. We need to have discernment to recognize what is eternally valuable, and seek that. As Jesus said, if we will do so, everything we need materially will be provided to us as well. (Matthew 6:33)

I have never been all that tempted by wealth as such, but I have certainly lusted after various material things that money could buy, such as computers and cameras. God has dealt with me pretty thoroughly on that score, and now, due to a totally unexpected inheritance, I’m about to have funds that logically should be invested. I’m very grateful to have a daughter who’s a banker, because I know nothing about it! My concern is the risk of my values being distorted. I need to be consistent in following Paul’s advice to Timothy, choosing the intangibles and making use of the material to that end. I don’t think I have the strength to do it on my own, but as Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) I am to follow the Holy Spirit in choosing God’s kingdom and His righteousness at every turn, knowing that is the way of true blessing.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for yesterday and all it held. It held various unexpected things, but I recognize Your hand in it. Thank You for the wisdom you gave us. Thank You for Your plans for today. I pray for the sister who will be delivering the message, that she would have joy and liberty in letting Your Spirit flow through her. I pray that my interpreting would be accurate and not distracting, so that Your Spirit may flow through me as well. May Your Word accomplish everything for which You send it, in the hearts and lives of all who hear, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!