Guard the good deposit?!?!Timothy has just spent several ...
Timothy has just spent several verses speaking “sound words” regarding the shared experience with Christ; his teachings, his presence with them, his example of life and love, his commands to love God and love others, etc. He has talked about how those experiences have impacted others and changed their lives. He has stated that he is convinced that God will guard what was entrusted to him until the final day…and here on verse 14 Timothy is telling his readers to do the same.
The word “guard” is interesting, it comes from the root idea of an offshoot that is germinating within a tribe or clan. As I ponder that I think about the tender identity of a tribe and how that needs to be cultivated, nurtured and protected. It speaks to the value of that identity and it speaks to the need to protect and watch over that identity as that is what sets the clan or tribe apart from others…that identity for Timothy’s audience (Christ followers) is the command to love like Christ did!
Timothy is telling his readers that they have been given a gift; the teachings of Christ, the example of Christ and the command of Christ to love and walk in love. This good deposit sets them apart and identifies them as a tribe…that’s what it looks like to be a Christ Follower, that’s what it means to be a Christ Follower - to be so focused on, protective of and identified with the Love of Christ that there is no doubt whose we are and where we belong.
As followers of Christ we need to protect that command and live it out for the good of others and for the kingdom….and the only way we do this is with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, guides us, protects us and serves as a reminder of Christ’s life and love on earth.
