Keep the Faith

I believe our true character shows up when life changes or the unexpected happens. When we experience financial loss, have a broken relationship, or even lose a competition, our response can tell the world a lot about us. Anger, bitterness, and being sore losers can be showcased in our actions. However, it is not only negative situations that will put our true colors on display, but also seemingly good things can too. A financial windfall, a new relationship, or winning a competition can also highlight the condition of our hearts. Pride and arrogance can rear their ugly heads when we are enjoying great success and let us stray from the Lord. This is why we must also be careful to check what our hearts’ desire.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10  

This can be difficult because we often desire more out of life. We would like more money, more fame, more friends, and better cars, homes, and jobs. We want more and more, and better and better. Now, these desires aren’t inherently wrong, but when they become idols, then we start a slippery descent away from God.  And instead of keeping the faith, we stray from it. If we start doing anything to get everything we want, then God may have nothing to do with us, as too many of us will often sell our souls to gain the world at the expense of our relationship with Him. I don’t think anything is worth a broken relationship with the Lord.

But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:14-21

A life lived for material gain without Christ is meaningless. If we love money or fame, it will be difficult to be satisfied with what we have. As I examine the Apostle Paul’s life, I realize how he gave up everything to follow Christ. When we read 2 Timothy, which many Bible scholars regard as Paul’s final will or his last testimony to his disciple, Timothy, we may recognize how much hurt he was going through.  He wrote about being deserted, harmed, resisted when preaching the Gospel and standing alone with no one coming to his defense. Paul penned this letter near the end of his life, and he understood that his earthly mission was drawing to a close, so he ensured that he wrote some directives to Timothy while being an example of keeping the faith during difficult times.  

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of  season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:1-5

This is good advice for any Christian. We need to be ready to speak God’s Word when necessary, while not only understanding what we are sharing, but also living it. Paul was a great example of this. He truly knew what it meant to be longsuffering, but that didn’t stop him from preaching the Word and encouraging, or even rebuking, others so that they would keep the faith and grow in Christ. It is necessary that we like Paul, not back down and preach the Gospel, as we fight the good fight of faith. And we too must comprehend, like Paul did, that this life was temporary and that much more awaited him once he kept the faith.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8