Our Pursuit in Life

1 Timothy 6:11 (ESV) … “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then you have an obligation to him. That obligation is lived out in our obedience to both his word and will for our lives. For example, we are called to be light and salt in this world for him. We are expected to be a witness unto the lost. We are supposed to live for his glory in every way we live and in every day of our lives.

We are to resist those who are false teachers of his word and will. We are to remove all pride and misguided thinking and greed. However, Jesus never calls on us to give up something or forsake something without replacing it with an alternative.

In our verse, we are called to flee a list of things Paul has mentioned in verses 2-10 and replace them with six better alternatives. Jesus offers us a better way and a better day in our living. We are told to put off the old nature and put on the new (Eph. 4:22–24); we are to stop lying and speak honestly, to put away crude speech and say only beneficial things (Eph. 4:25–29). The Christian is to escape from the traps and temptations of money, selfish ambition, and intellectual sophistry. We are to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

These six qualities mark the life of a Christian. But they must be pursued with purpose. We are to “run with perseverance … [fixing] our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:1–2). This list here by Paul matches the fruit of the Spirit described by him in Galatians 5:22. Therefore, we have an obligation Paul says to live for Jesus in specific detail. We are not left to wonder about it, but rather, to pursue that type of life in our daily living. One that brings both honor and glory unto Christ.