Wednesday, November 23, 2011

2 Timothy 4:10


Copyright Ó 2011 J. Neely
2 Timothy 4:10

10 For [gar] Demas [Demas] hath forsaken [egkataleipo] me, having loved [agapao] this present [nun] world, [aion] and [kai] is departed [poreuomai] unto [eis] Thessalonica; [Thessalonike] Crescens [Kreskes] to [eis] Galatia, [Galatia] Titus [Titos] unto [eis] Dalmatia. [Dalmatia] KJV-Interlinear

10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. NASB

Here, three more names are mentioned of men who had served and helped Paul over the years.  Some faithful and some not so faithful.

Demas was first mentioned in Colossians and later in Philemon, as a close and fellow associate.  These mentions occurred prior to the wring of this current letter.

But somewhere along the line, Demas grew weary of the life and pressures in his association with Paul, and thus left for Thessalonica as mentioned here.

The word for forsaken, ‘egkataleipo,’ is a strong word for abandonment or fleeing.  It implies a difference of opinion and purpose, and fear for their present circumstances.  One does not flee when things are ok.  Only fear and pressure causes one to flee or run away.  And, when mentioned along with his ‘love of the world,’ then that paints a picture of spiritual breakdown in Demas.

Crescens is next mentioned.  And nothing is known about him except what is implied within this verse.

Where Demas ran away, Crescens did not flee, but was sent.  ‘To Galatia,’ carries the connotation of one being sent on or with a mission, as opposed to one who takes off on their own.  So this was a good relationship.

Titus, was both known in history and faithful to Paul.  Titus is mentioned several times both here and in the Book of Titus, as well as in 2 Corinthians and Galatians.  Titus handled the tough assignments for Paul and was dedicated in his work.

So, beyond those names recorded in these collective books, there were a variety of people who were active in Pauls life.  Some are known to us, and most probably there were many more whose names we do not know.

Those listed in the Bible are not the only people who have succeeded in their spiritual lives.

Your name for instance, could be included among those who are faithful or unfaithful, depending on your attitude toward your spiritual life.  Faithfulness should be directed toward God, through a daily study, through an obedience toward Gods mandates, through a faithfulness to your obligations as spelled out in the scriptures, excluding pretense and your own ideas of that which is convenient to you.

Each person stands or falls on their own, and not on the basis of the actions or inactions of others.  You are never criticized for the failures of others, but you are also not given credit for the actions of others.

God looks on each individual for spiritual results and you are either committed or not, to Gods plan for your life.

You have an obligation toward God first.  You have an obligation to your own spiritual life.  You have various obligations to other people in your life (spouse, family, work).  You have an obligation to people in general through your support of doctrine.

You can excel or fail in any or all of these relationships, but you cannot pick and choose what you will or will not agree to when it comes to that which God expects from you.

Your objective is to win in all categories of your own personal spiritual life, not in just some of them.

One day, you will stand before Christ and that is when the books of your life will be opened, and your story will be read and presented in your behalf for your reward. 

How will your story read?  Well, it will read exactly as you write it, and you write it by means of the pattern of life you decide to live.  So, your destiny and future and reward are in effect, in your own hands.  You can make your life’s story a good one or a bad one.

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