The Running Man

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12)

I often see some people out running. It’s hard to know whether they are running toward something or away from something! Actually, they run because they are trying to improve their health. I was one of them until I damaged some vertebrae in my back. Some things are worth running toward. And some things we should run away from. God’s man is to know which we should flee from and which we should follow.
Have you ever seen someone caught in the trap that greed sets? Not too long ago, a pastor resigned under a cloud of suspicion of financial misconduct in a church nearby. In another instance, a financial secretary of a thriving business was charged with embezzlement. She happened to be a Sunday School teacher. These kinds of painful and embarrassing episodes are becoming more and more common in the Christian community. The love of money is a powerful lure. The attraction of material possessions is tempting to our human nature. That is why Paul counseled so strongly as to the method and means of escape from this snare. Run for your life!
Restoration after a financial scandal is difficult. Trust is breached and often can never be rebuilt in certain situations. But God can be glorified even in scandalous situations. In shameful and humiliating trials, God will hear the prayer of repentance.

GOD’S MAN IS TO RUN FOR HIS LIFE.

I. GOD’S MAN IS TO RUN FROM FAITH-DEPLETING DESIRES. Loving money causes faith to wither. Loving money blinds us to temptation. Loving money will soon develop into a trust relationship. We will soon worship this god who is no god. Our Godly faith will be displaced with idolatry. The result is destruction and ruin. God’s man is admonished to turn and run away from that which lures him away from God.
II. GOD’S MAN IS TO RUN AFTER FAITH-BUILDING PRACTICES. The pursuit of God is the race worth running. While we pursue Him, we will find practicing a godly lifestyle begins to shape us into a godly person. Not that our works can produce righteousness, but we find that godly living has its own rewards. When we choose to demonstrate our faith, love, perseverance and gentleness by our actions we show the world a different way to live. Our biblical worldview bears more weight if we show we believe what we say we believe.
Are we running away from the love of money? Are we running toward God?

THE RUNNING MAN’S PRIZE IS ETERNAL LIFE.