Fight for It, week one: The Good Fight
1 Timothy 1:18-19 and 6:11-12
We do a lot of fighting
Context: Timothy (“God’s honor”) is being sent to Ephesus to deal with a lot of issues, infighting, confusion, false teaching, et al and Paul is sending him a letter so that he and also the leaders in Ephesus know exactly why he is there and what he’s fighting for.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. —1 Timothy 6:11-12
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. —1 Timothy 1:18-19
Knowing what we’re fighting for changes
we fight.
- Fighting for - righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness
- How we fight - holding on to faith and good conscience
We waste time and energy and influence fighting about things that don’t matter when we need to spend time, energy, and influence fighting for things that have eternal significance.
Are you fighting the good fight, or are you just fighting?
- You can fight in your marriage or about your marriage, or you can fight for your marriage.
- You can fight with your kids, or you can fight for your kids.
- You can fight about politics, or you can fight for your community, for the vulnerable, for the good of others.
- You can fight to be right, or you can fight for righteousness.