Entangled in affairs of everyday life.

[Pamelasv]

1 Timothy 2:4

'No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.'

What does this look like?  How are we entangled in the affairs of everyday life rather than just dealing with them?

[Ezra]

1 Timothy 2:4

'No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.'

Just as a soldier on active duty must not be distracted by non-military affairs, a Christian "soldier" cannot be distracted by the things of this world because the Kingdom of God is his first priority. "Entanglement" speaks of a web within which a creature becomes trapped, and worldly cares can become an entangling web. Christians must constantly strive for a proper balance between legitimate business involvement and things which are for "empire-building" and self-aggrandizement.  Too many successful and worldly business owners focus on the toys and the perks rather than use their wealth for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Too many wage earners focus on keeping up with the Joneses rather than being content with what they have.

[Willa]

Young mothers chasing pre school children, attending to shopping, washing clothes, fixing meals are by necessity entangled with the affairs of everyday life.  Dads are consumed with their work details and come home to tired kids and moms who also want his attention and help.  It takes a little time to get our priorities in order and look at it all through God's priorities, putting Him first.  He restores the peace and order.

Just my take on it.  It is a matter of turning to God first to solve our problems, no matter how small.

[gdemoss]

1 Timothy 2:4

'No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.'

What does this look like?  How are we entangled in the affairs of everyday life rather than just dealing with them?

it is 2 Timothy not 1 Timothy my inquisitive sister  

We are soldiers of Christ in his army fighting a very old war in the world we live in.  If we are focused on this life rather than the war going on all around us we are in error.

Jesus taught us not to worry about our basic necessities but rather to trust that God will provide for us.  We all must eat, clean up and do basic things which pertain to this life but we are not to be consumed with that which pertains to this life but God and pleasing him rather.

Paul speaking to Timothy is talking to him about his primary pupose in instructing others concerning the faith.  His calling and living for it.  We should all be consumed by our own personal calling of God as Paul explains in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12-14 about gifts as we are called to give as we are gifted.  God calls each of us to a task and equipts us to complete it.  We need not concern ourselves with much else as there is a great big world full of the walking dead who need Christ in them that they might have life.

Peace

 

[thereselittleflower]

1 Timothy 2:4

'No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.'

What does this look like?  How are we entangled in the affairs of everyday life rather than just dealing with them?

You have to remember who this was written to.  Timothy was a bishop of the Church, ordained by Paul.  He is speaking to him in this context.

 

If you look at what Jesus and Paul had to say about marriage vs remaining unmarried, it follows the same concept.  If you get married your attention is divided between God and your spouse.   If you remain single and celibate you can single heartedly serve God and not become entangled in the affairs of life that marriage entangles you in.

 

 

Edited September 7, 2015 by thereselittleflower

[Ezra]

1 Timothy 2:4

'No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.'

What does this look like?  How are we entangled in the affairs of everyday life rather than just dealing with them?

You have to remember who this was written to.  Timothy was a bishop of the Church, ordained by Paul.  He is speaking to him in this context.

Therese,

The elders of the churches were called either bishops or elders, and in reality they would be the pastors (plural) of the churches.  There was NO SINGLE BISHOP in any New Testament  church [see Phil 1:1 -- "bishops" (plural) and "deacons" (plural)] and Timothy and Titus were what one might call apostolic overseers of local churches, since they did not replace the elders, but made sure that the elders/bishops were fulfilling their responsibilities. The concept of a clerical hierarchy came much later and was a departure from the NT pattern. 

As to the Scripture quoted, while its primary application is to the one addressed (Timothy), its secondary application is to all believers.  As Jesus Himself said -- "No man can serve two masters".  This is a further expansion of that teaching.

[thereselittleflower]

1 Timothy 2:4

'No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.'

What does this look like?  How are we entangled in the affairs of everyday life rather than just dealing with them?

You have to remember who this was written to.  Timothy was a bishop of the Church, ordained by Paul.  He is speaking to him in this context.

Therese,

The elders of the churches were called either bishops or elders, and in reality they would be the pastors (plural) of the churches.  There was NO SINGLE BISHOP in any New Testament  church [see Phil 1:1 -- "bishops" (plural) and "deacons" (plural)] and Timothy and Titus were what one might call apostolic overseers of local churches, since they did not replace the elders, but made sure that the elders/bishops were fulfilling their responsibilities. The concept of a clerical hierarchy came much later and was a departure from the NT pattern. 

As to the Scripture quoted, while its primary application is to the one addressed (Timothy), its secondary application is to all believers.  As Jesus Himself said -- "No man can serve two masters".  This is a further expansion of that teaching.

I never said there was ever a single bishop, so I am confused as to why this would become a point of argument for you?

I said Timothy was A bishop.  That means he was one of others.   And my point was not to argue what a bishop was in the Early Church, but to point out Timothy had set aside his life in service to the Church, and this is the context of Paul's words.

The secondary application is to those who set themselves apart for service to the Church today.

As Jesus said:

 

Matthew 19:9-12

"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."

"His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry."

"But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given."

"For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."

 

And Paul:

 

1 Corinthians 7:1-2:

...  It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

1 Corinthians 7:7-9:

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1 Corinthians 7:32-38: 

 32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

 

 

 

[Willa]

At one time worldly affairs meant the things of the world that do not pertain to godliness such as gong to night clubs, gambling in Las Vegas, or other forms of gambling, pornography, drugs, alcohol and other addictions, dancing, television, or allowing hobbies to be a consuming priority that distracts from serving Christ.  But the affairs of life gives the connotation that it is everyday things that can distract us and choke out the word.  

Luke 8:14 NKJV Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares,  riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  

To me this implies that anything can distract us from growing in Christ that so consumes our time and attention that we fail to keep our mind and thoughts in Him.  We need to be so disciplined and so consumed with love for Christ that he becomes first in all things, and family and work should should still keep Christ foremost in our hearts.  Often in the busy ness of life we are tempted to shove Him to the side till we have time.  For instance, putting God first means that He directs me to serve my husband and supervise my home in an orderly manner, loving and disciplining the the kids as necessary.  That way I call upon Him first when the toddler comes inside holding a half eaten toadstool. Instead of panic, I experience calm.

[FreeinChrist]

The verse prior to this give us a hint:  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  II Timothy 2:3  Paul is reminding Timothy that he is to suffer for the gospel's sake, and not to care for the things of the world.  In Paul first letter to Timothy he explain to Timothy how to wage good warfare.

15)  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom i am chief.   16)  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that to me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.  17)  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen.  18)  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare.  19)  Holding faith, and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.  I Timothy 1:15-19

IMO Paul is telling Timothy and us believers that we are to remember that we are sinners the chiefest of sinners, but because of the longsuffering of Jesus Christ or simply our Savior's mercy and grace to us even though we are sinners deserving hell fire, we have life eternal.  And because Jesus saved us from our sins, we should never glory in anything we do, but always glory in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.  Thus remembering we have a good conscience because of the work the Holy Spirit is doing in us, but we must remember it is the Holy Spirit doing these works, not we ourselves.

[Pamelasv]

1 Timothy 2:4

'No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.'

What does this look like?  How are we entangled in the affairs of everyday life rather than just dealing with them?

it is 2 Timothy not 1 Timothy my inquisitive sister  

We are soldiers of Christ in his army fighting a very old war in the world we live in.  If we are focused on this life rather than the war going on all around us we are in error.

Jesus taught us not to worry about our basic necessities but rather to trust that God will provide for us.  We all must eat, clean up and do basic things which pertain to this life but we are not to be consumed with that which pertains to this life but God and pleasing him rather.

Paul speaking to Timothy is talking to him about his primary pupose in instructing others concerning the faith.  His calling and living for it.  We should all be consumed by our own personal calling of God as Paul explains in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12-14 about gifts as we are called to give as we are gifted.  God calls each of us to a task and equipts us to complete it.  We need not concern ourselves with much else as there is a great big world full of the walking dead who need Christ in them that they might have life.

Peace

 

Actually, this is what I was thinking. Exactly. You just put it into words very well.