Tidings for Tuesday
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself. 1 Timothy 6:5
Today’s text shoots big holes in the idea that we should all get along and be one big happy family. Paul tells Timothy that there are some people that he should not associate with. They are not nice people, not appropriate people to be among. Timothy was to avoid these people because they would have a bad influence on him. There are people we should avoid, for the same reason.
These were people with corrupt minds and they spent time arguing and debating, no doubt about corrupt things. We have lots of these folks around us today. Proponents of immorality, homosexuality, mysticism, mohammedanism, and other evils that should not be named are getting their newspaper ink and broadcasting airtime to spread their filth. These are not things for the Christian to debate or discuss. Avoid and ignore these people, don’t give them any attention or place. Their despicable doctrines and ideas will contaminate us if we let them.
The Psalmist tells us of his dismay at the prosperity of the wicked until he went into the House of the Lord and understood where the wicked were going. It can be discouraging for Christians to see the prosperity of the evildoers. While we struggle with problems of various kinds, the wicked seem to be thriving. They are not experiencing the difficulties that some of the Lord’s people are going through. They make a big show of their wealth, even giving much of it away to so-called good causes. Maybe if we ignored these folks, we wouldn’t be caught up in envy at their prosperity.
Count your blessings today; you are wealthier than any of the wicked. Shun those evildoers, and enjoy the company of the Lord’s people. -Jim MacIntosh