Pursuing Righteousness, Faith, Love and Peace

    “Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

    Among most Christians, righteousness and faith are often much more vigorously pursued than are love and peace, in the sense that many feel it necessary to defend that they are more “right” and that their “faith” is more pure than that of others.  But the context does not speak of defending what we have, but pursuing these to gain them!  “Righteousness” in this context is not primarily about being “right” and “faith” is not primarily the “purity” of what we believe.  Righteousness is about living out God’s principles.  Faith is about being faithful to what we call our “faith.”  The Christian must live out all that he holds as right and his faith, or else as James tells us, what we only hold, is dead!

    But rather than pursue that line (though profitable), it seems good to consider the rest of the title verse.  The four key words are connected in such a way that we see that living righteousness and living faith are necessarily connected with living love (agape) and living peace all at the same time, so that these work in harmony to accomplish God’s perfect will in our lives.  The context points out that ALL who call on the Lord out of a pure heart are pursuing these four principles together in all that they do, whether in conversation with others, in actions for others, and in what is witnessed in all of our conduct.  The verse states that we call on Him out of a “pure” heart; a heart not having its own motives and goals, but one that is “pure” from these and fully devoted to the Lord’s will, as was Christ’s. 

    This same Greek word is also used in Mt. 5:8; 1 Tim. 1:5 and 1 Pet. 1:22 for purity of heart.  And it is used in 1 Tim. 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3 and Titus 1:15 for purity of conscience.  These also mean that such wisdom is free and clear of all worldly and selfish thought or motive, and is thus pure and ready to receive the full wisdom of God for the blessing it gives him, as well as all those with whom he relates. And we see that our theme context is also applied to our dealings with others as is shown clearly in verses 23–26.

    Thus, the challenge for us to consider is if in every conversation we have with everyone; brethren, family, colleagues, strangers, but especially with our brethren, we are aware of and seeking to apply all four of these principles together to maintain our pure heart, and to plant with others seeds of righteousness  and  peace  (James 3:18). This needs to be our  goal, not  only when  we seek  to  comfort  and encourage others and uplift them, but also when we discuss items of difference between us, or when we seek to correct them in a view or an action as in 2 Tim. 2:25 and 26.  The Lord has placed us with them for their good.  And they should be with us for our good. 

    Those who have had this experience with another as they both share in this way, with both being blessed, and matured and appreciating the work God is doing then and there among them, have a glimpse and taste of heavenly things, and a great and wonderful appreciation of how it is to live in the spirit and will of God!  But often, only one in such a situation is striving to share in this way, while the other is being defensive of his personal “right” and “faith.”  On some occasions, both are being defensive and no righteousness or peace can be sown at all, and neither can profit from the other. We need to look at ourselves in all such encounters and see that we are living up to the profitable admonition of this text.  Whatever the other is doing, if we are “calling on God out of a pure heart” concerning this encounter, then we need to be sure that we are applying all four principles in mind attitude, heart sentiment, and with the motive and goal of sowing seeds of righteousness and peace.

    When we contend earnestly and kindly, and yet strongly in sincere conviction of our own faith and a desire to help the other, do we stay alert to the responses of the other one with us?  As long as they respond in kind, the discussion can go on and on as both sides are seeking the whole truth of God’s word, and they credit each other with the same motive and thus are willing to listen longer to the reasoning of the other.  But when reason no longer seems to be available, and kindness flies out the window, and the respect for the other’s motive declines, are we alert enough to notice this, and see that profit from the continuing conversation is no longer possible?  When we notice this, can we stop our own presentation, and suggest to the other that it is better to end the discussion at this point, than to continue and have the result of falling further apart from each other?   If we can do this, we demonstrate a greater concern for the other than for ourselves, and a greater love for the other in wanting to do them only good and no harm at all. The wind of contention can only produce a much higher flame that will burn up what remains of any friendship or fellowship.  It is far better to end the flame by changing the topic to something more mutually profitable, or if necessary, walking away to end it if the other presses to continue it. If we need to end it, let us be sure it is not with any disparaging words, nor with any form of condescension, showing rather, continuing respect by preferring to preserve the friendship than to do any more harm, so we can continue to call on God out of a pure heart.     
                                                                                    J. Knapp  ©CDMI