Young People's Group

Guarding What Has Been Entrusted to Us

by Mitchell Tan
May 04, 2017

THE REASONS FOR GUARDING WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO US

Many important Biblical lessons were taught by Paul to Timothy throughout the epistle of 1 Timothy. The challenge for Timothy was to remember the lessons that he had learnt and to make them a part of his life. The apostle Paul gave a tender final word to Timothy before he ended his epistle.

“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust …”
1 Timothy 6:20

This was a deep emotional challenge to Timothy. It came from the heart of his spiritual father. There was emphatic address with regards to the way Paul called Timothy. Of course, what he was going to say what most important. He challenged his spiritual son to guard the faith and the lesson that has been taught to him. Why did Paul end his epistle on this note?

1. IF WE DO NOT GUARD THEM, WE MAY LOSE THEM

Paul gave a strong exhortation to Timothy to guard all that was entrusted to Him. The word “guard” in Greek is a military term. It was to be vigilant in keeping guard with regards to the faith that he had and the many spiritual lessons that were entrusted to him. If he does not guard them, the evil one will take them away.

2, IF WE DO NOT GUARD THEM, FALSE TEACHINGS MAY AFFECT OUR FAITH

“… Avoiding the profane and idle babble and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge – by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.”
1 Timothy 6:20-21

Timothy was also meant to totally avoid false knowledge and false teachings. The word “avoid” in Greek has the idea of turning away from it. We are to totally shun them. What was the content that the false teachers worked with? They were profane and idle babblings. They were divisive things that the false teachers promoted. When they are further evaluated, they are considered as false knowledge. The result of professing this false knowledge is that it causes people to stray from the faith. They can end up going away from the Lord.

3. IF WE DO NOT GUARD THEM, WHO WILL?

If Timothy did not guard the things that had been entrusted to him, who will? There were many who had strayed from the faith. Some had their faith shipwrecked. If he did not guard what was entrusted to him, who else will? When we don’t guard our faith, we can end up with losing much. All that Paul had worked with Timothy through the years could be lost. Let’s seek to totally keep the things that have been entrusted to us.

THE OBEDIENCE TO GUARD WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT

“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust”
1 Timothy 6:20

1. Remember what we have learnt.
2. Practise what we have learnt.
3. Guard what we have learnt.

Let’s obey the Lord in guarding our faith and the lessons of faith taught to us.

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