When To Retreat - Timothy

You, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:11

Many times throughout history, an overmatched military force failed to retreat when conditions required it. As one modern example, think of Saddam Hussein’s refusal to order the retreat of Iraqi forces from Kuwait in the face of certain destruction by the vastly superior U.S.-led coalition. When the megalomaniac Hussein refused to retreat, untold Iraqi deaths resulted.

Every competent military strategist needs to understand when to retreat. Retreat does not mean defeat; it simply makes room for a later victory.

Do you realize that wise believers must also learn when to retreat? That’s the lesson the apostle Paul taught his young protégé Timothy.

Paul’s “battle plan” called for Timothy to handle certain kinds of temptation by a strategic retreat. “Run from all these evil things,” Paul instructed Timothy. Don’t just avoid them, don’t bargain with them, and don’t stand and fight them . . . run! As an experienced man of faith, Paul knew the wisdom of his counsel.

From what evil things was Timothy to run? Paul warned him to flee the love of money, for one thing. Those who make earthly riches their life’s goal often find themselves involved in spiritually destructive activities (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Paul didn’t just counsel retreat, however; he also directed Timothy to counter with something good. He urged the young man to seek righteousness, a godly life, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. A diligent pursuit of such things would shelter Timothy from the temptations of the world and equip him to enjoy a spiritually successful life.

God instructs you to beat a hasty retreat from certain kinds of temptation, the love of money being just one example. Instead, pursue things that hold out the promise of a spiritually productive future. When you pursue a godly life, you protect yourself from temptations that the devil intends to use to trip you up.