Do NOT be Divided Over Secondary Issues

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Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14

Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

Insights: Parents are notorious for saying things like, “Do what I say, not what I do.”  We all know the good we ought to do, but all too often get sidetracked by other things.  When that happens, we get off balance and start to make life decisions which are detrimental to our well being.  In today’s verse we see Paul instructing Timothy to remind his congregation of the three things we looked at last week, which were Paul’s values, his mission and his vision for the future.  At the core of who Paul was as a human being one would find Jesus Christ.  His relationship with Jesus was the primary focus of Paul and he would not allow anything to sidetrack him from this principle relationship.  It was for this reason he instructed Timothy to “not wrangle about words, which [was] useless and [led] to the ruin of the hearers.”  On Wednesday nights at FBC Bowling Green we have just started studying Daniel chapter seven.  As we continue moving through the book of Daniel we will be forced to discuss end time theology.  If you want to be a pre tribulation rapture believer, then great.  If you want to be a post tribulation rapture believer, then great.  If you want to be a pre wrath rapture believer, then great.  My point is this: Jesus’ return is primary.  He is going to return, period.  When He is going to return, is secondary.  There have been very intelligent scholars who have written far greater works than I could possibly comprehend on these positions.  The problem is for some of these theologians, the return of Jesus became secondary and the when of His return became primary.  When that subtle shift occurred, they got themselves wrapped up in wrangling over words and it was useless and often times lead to the ruin of the individuals overall ministry.  Beloved, let us keep the main thing, the main thing.  Remain in a relationship with Jesus and all these other issues will have there right place. 

Questions:

 1. Do you ever find yourself sidetracked by secondary issues?

 2. What are some ways in which you can put safeguards in place in order to make the primary issue to remain in first position?

Prayer: Father, all too often I find myself distracted by secondary issues.  Help me to keep my relationship with You first and Your commission to me right behind it.  Let me not get distracted by all the other activities which confuse life and my focus.  Amen.

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