“Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You,” says the subtitle in Paul’s second letter to Timothy. I kept reading…”Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not b/c of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me…By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
I have been sitting on this chapter for quite some time. Both convicted and humbled, I sat in my living room the first morning I read this passage and realized that the “treasures” I have been “granted” (ie. my house, car, clothes, etc) really were nothing more than rubbish in comparison with the gospel. All the ways I attempt to live the best life- reading Dave Ramsey so my finances aren’t too out of control, attempting yoga b/c those people look happy and fit, finding the new vegetable that will grant me the energy I’ve been lacking, or figuring out how to have a great relationship with my husband, all of this is treasured in my life, b/c my time is invested in it and, to be honest, it’s what others tell me my treasures are- yes, even Christians. How many times have you heard a sermon on being a good steward of your finances? Now don’t get me wrong I will continue to invest in the things I’ve just listed above, and I do find value, as a human, living a life of balance. My point is I am all too often swayed by the love of things that I miss what has ultimately been entrusted to me. It’s the very reason Paul was in chains and in Second Timothy he paints a beautiful picture that I can’t get out of my head. The gospel is precious and valuable, dangerous and life threatening, and God has chosen whom to trust with it. Now, to this may I be a good steward.
