Flee and Follow

Two Directions

The Christian life only has two directions. You’re either heading toward worldly distraction and pleasures, or toward Christ, who has redeemed us from those things.

Paul shows both in one verse:

"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." — 1 Timothy 6:11 (KJV)

Watch this week’s Shorts: Bible Memory Bros playlist

What Does “Flee These Things” Mean?

“These things” are what Paul just warned about: the love of money and the will to be rich.

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." — 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)

Notice it’s the love of money, not money itself. You can have very little and still love it, and you can handle a lot of money and not love it. The question is what your heart is running after.

Flee Means Run

“Flee” doesn’t mean negotiate. It means run.

Joseph didn’t debate with Potiphar’s wife. He left his garment in her hand and ran (Genesis 39:12). He didn’t stay to see how close he could get without falling.

Fleeing the love of money looks like this:

• unfollowing the accounts that make you lust after the world
• saying no to the debt you’d take on to keep up with everybody else
• ignoring the many activities that would draw your attention away from God’s Word

Here’s what that can look like this week:

• Delete the shopping appson your phone, and unsubscribe from store emails and sale alerts.
• Wait before you buy.Give any purchase that isn’t a need a waiting period, like thirty days. Most wants fade.
• Stop browsing for fun.Window shopping, online or in person, feeds the wanting.
• Give first.When money comes in, set aside what you’ll give to real needs before you spend on anything else.

That’s what you run from.

But You Have to Run Toward Something

Fleeing is only half of it. If you only run away, you’ll leave an empty space, and something worldly will fill it again. You have to follow after something:

• Righteousnessdoing right when nobody’s watching. Try this: be honest about your hours, your grades, and your money this week, even in the small things.
• Godlinesstime in the Word and in prayer, and putting it into practice. Try this: read a chapter before you check your phone each morning.
• Faithtrusting God for what you need. Try this: pray about a need before you try to fix it with money.
• Lovegiving instead of getting. Try this: do something kind for someone who can’t pay you back.
• Patiencewaiting instead of buying it now. Try this: use the thirty-day wait on the next thing you want.
• Meeknessnot needing to show off what you have. Try this: skip posting the new thing you got.

Who You Run With Matters

Paul told Timothy the same thing again:

"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." — 2 Timothy 2:22 (KJV)

Notice who you follow with: people who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Choose your friends carefully.

It’s hard to flee the love of money when every friend is chasing the next upgrade. Look for friends who talk about God’s Word more than the newest stuff. Find people who will pray with you, memorize Scripture with you, and call you out when you start drifting.

The Same Pattern Jesus Gave

It’s the same pattern Jesus gave His disciples:

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." — Matthew 16:24 (KJV)

Deny yourself is the fleeing. Follow me is the following.

This Week’s Verse

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." — 1 Timothy 6:6 (KJV)

Keep reading: See where the will to be rich leads, and the message that sells it. Does God Want You Rich?