Tuesday, June 21
The goal
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1-2, 1 Timothy 1
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
Observation
Paul instructs Timothy to stay in Ephesus to proclaim the gospel and “instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies” (1 Timothy 1:3-4). The Christian message was brand new and had no footing in the culture, so it faced resistance and challenge on many fronts. It was important that Timothy not only proclaim the truth but confront and correct error, which Paul instructs him to do.
In a beautiful sentence, Paul reminds him of the goal of our instruction: love. Paul reminds Timothy: here is what we’re aiming for. One commentator wrote:
“The highest goal of true religion is love—agapē, the unselfish love of full loyalty to God and boundless goodwill to our fellowmen. This must be our ultimate goal in life.” (Earle, R. (1981). 1 Timothy. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 351).)
This love flows from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith. Lose those, and our love fails.
Application
How do you know if you’re winning? What is the goal?
Here is a practical measuring tool for our ministry: are the people we lead becoming more loving? Are they loving God and loving people better and better? If not, we are not teaching the gospel or discipling well. Or they, like these Ephesians, are listening to other voices above the gospel.
The goal, the end result of the gospel message, is people who love God and love people well. If we are not growing in love for God and people, something is wrong with our ministry.
Love is doing what is best for another no matter what it costs you.
Love is the goal.
Prayer: Lord, give me a clean heart, good conscience and sincere faith so that I may love well. And use me to help others reach the goal: love.