On Guard

1 Timothy 6:17 – 21

"Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.  By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.  May God’s grace be with you all."

The game "Capture the Flag" is the closest I have come to doing any guard duty.

Two teams play each other over a large wooded area, each seeking to capture the other's flag from their home base. The flag had to be accessible and easily seen but we were to keep the other team from stealing it. At the same time, our team was out trying to capture their flag. We set ambushes and made plans so the symbol of our team would be kept safe.

Spiritual warfare is similar to Capture the Flag except the "playing field" is in the spiritual realm. These last words to Timothy remind us of our part in guarding "…what has been entrusted…" (v. 20).

Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ in other parts of the world would literally risk their lives to have a copy of the Word of God and easy access to the truth. How much does it mean to you? Are you on guard when it comes to the truth of the Word of God?