COULD USE YOUR INSIGHT

[just-me]

When we are told in I Tim. 2:4 not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of the world, I would like to hear some thoughts on what this means for us - and how to strike a good balance with being involved vs. being entangled.

2 Timothy 2:4 (ASV) No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:4-10 (CJB)
1 So then, you, my son, be empowered by the grace that comes from the Messiah Yeshua.
2 And the things you heard from me, which were supported by many witnesses, these things commit to faithful people, such as will be competent to teach others also.
3 Accept your share in suffering disgrace as a good soldier of the Messiah Yeshua.
4 No soldier on duty gets involved with civilian affairs, since he has to please his commanding officer.
5 Also an athlete can't win a contest unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The farmer who has done the hard work should be the first to receive a share of the harvest. 7 Think about what I am saying, for the Lord will enable you to understand everything.

Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].
13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one].
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

A child of God has a *duty to proform for God's glory. We are not to be sidetracked, but our duty should never be self induced with works minus the gift of faith.

 

[dcontroversal]

A couple verses come to mind.....and it seems obvious we are to be in the world, but not of the world and like Jesus said...Not to be weighed down with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this world.....Too many people get so wrapped around the axle in daily living and worldliness that their witness and service began to wane and falter to the extent they wander and or drift aimlessly with no real purpose and or ability to understand what the will of God is for them.....Redeem your time wisely.....

Just a thought or two....!

 

[just-us-2]

When we are told in I Tim. 2:4 not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of the world, I would like to hear some thoughts on what this means for us - and how to strike a good balance with being involved vs. being entangled.

Personally, I have learned a lot more when I take scripture in context rather than a single verse at a time. In essence, the passage including the surrounding verses, is saying whatever your job is – do it. Don’t be distracted and/or meddle elsewhere. We have been given the Great Commission to go and teach others and to do this well, we have to pay attention to what we are doing. I particularly like verse 7:
2 Timothy 2:1 So then, you, my son, be empowered by the grace that comes from the Messiah Yeshua.
2 And the things you heard from me, which were supported by many witnesses, these things commit to faithful people, such as will be competent to teach others also.
3 Accept your share in suffering disgrace as a good soldier of the Messiah Yeshua.
4 No soldier on duty gets involved with civilian affairs, since he has to please his commanding officer.
5 Also an athlete can't win a contest unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The farmer who has done the hard work should be the first to receive a share of the harvest.
7 Think about what I am saying, for the Lord will enable you to understand everything.

Having said that, I would like to advocate praying as we respond to or start threads in here. At least read the whole post before replying. If people did that, they would have caught the typo in the OP and when reading would have immediately noticed it should be Second Timothy instead of 19 replies to an error.

 

[The_highwayman]

When we are told in I Tim. 2:4 not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of the world, I would like to hear some thoughts on what this means for us - and how to strike a good balance with being involved vs. being entangled.

Everyone has posted some very good things about this verse and I agree with all of them.

One thing that nobody mentioned is that Paul was also exhorting Timothy to not entangle himself with religious arguments/debates/traditions among believers.
This context is found starting in Vs14 and runs through VS 14-18.

The church is full of sheep that love to entangle other sheep in their, hurt and offense, their drama, their views, their beliefs, pleasing them and a host of other foolishness, that can entangle a true soldier of Christ. You love these people as Christ loves you, but as you spiritually mature, you should break away from this kind of believer that is still a spiritual babe or carnal Christian.

We see this really bad with young Pastors and their wife who are not spiritually mature or understand that their validation and approval come's from God, instead of the people in the congregation. People pleasing Pastors crash and burn out in 2 years or less. You can love all your sheep and guide them to spiritual maturity without being entangled in their current spiritual age, whether they are babes, adolescent carnal christian, spiritually mature adult, spiritually mature elder.

Many in the congregation believe it is their Job to entangle the pastor in all their drama, this is not Biblical in the least. These are the ones that throw fits and get hurt and offended when a Pastor wont pay attention to them, despite the fact the Pastor has correctly and repeatedly taught them or tried to teach them, to grow up spiritually.

 

[Elin]

When we are told in I Tim. 2:4 not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of the world, I would like to hear some thoughts on what this means for us - and how to strike a good balance with being involved vs. being entangled.

Would that be 2Tim 2:4?

I think he is saying, "Keep your eye on the ball."

"Sit loose to the world."

 

[joeyruready]

When we are told in I Tim. 2:4 not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of the world, I would like to hear some thoughts on what this means for us - and how to strike a good balance with being involved vs. being entangled.

1 tim 2:4 reads
[SUP]4 [/SUP]who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." fyi.

The verse you mention brings to mind other verses to me.

John 17:14
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

1 Corinthians 5:10
not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [SUP]2 [/SUP]Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Galatians 5:16[SUP]16 [/SUP]So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

AS children of God we have set aside the old way of the flesh and now walk in the new way of the spirit. The flesh is concerned with things that are passing away. The spirit is concerned with all tings eternal. It is my opinion that this is what the verses you speak of are talking about. Being entangled by the things of this world to me is another way of saying following our flesh or our own spirit rather than the Spirit of God who indwells us.

I find it interesting however that the verse you actually numbered fits into these thoughts. What is our job here? To LOVE one another. The only thing we can do here that we can not do in paradise is lead sinners to repentance. (there will be no sinners where we re going) Jesus taught us to pray "God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and 1 tim 2:4 expresses something very important about God's will. God wants all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

This is exactly what you are doing in this post. Seeking the truth. While it is true most people can not spend 8 hours a day studying scripture I do something anyone else can do but most don't. I listen to scripture as I sleep. I used to drive a truck and could listen as I drove (ten hours a day). When I stopped driving I missed it so I took to listening in the evening and often fell asleep. I recommend listening to scripture(preferably all night long) reading it at least an hour a day and studying it at least a few hours a week. Knowing the word of God is very important but useless unless we also put it into practice. God bless you.

 

[psychomom]

When we are told in I Tim. 2:4 not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of the world, I would like to hear some thoughts on what this means for us - and how to strike a good balance with being involved vs. being entangled.

sweetie, i just wanted to say i noticed it was 2 Tim to which you were referring,
but as the Queen of Typos didn't think it worthwhile to point out. ♥

pretty sure classical Greek has that word "affairs" to mean jobs, chores, relationships, etc. etc...
the stuff it's easy to get focused on to the exclusion of what's really important.

love,
ellie