O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.
(1 Tim 6:20)
We look at champion athletes or military heroes and admire them for their determination, skill, and accomplishments. They are examples of what it means to give your best and ultimately come out victorious.
But that is the duty of every Christian, not just pastors. In the spiritual sense you have to be an elite Navy Seal. All believers, whether fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, grandparents, all Christians are entrusted with a priceless treasure- and you have to guard it to the end!
The word for guard in Greek is phylássō (φυλάσσω) which means guarding like a military guard on duty, or a shepherd keeping a constant watch. May we all be encouraged and empowered by the Holy Spirit to guard it.
You are given this deposit- The Ultimate Truth
All believers are entrusted with a deposit/treasure (1 Tim 6:20)
The doctrines of grace are our treasure: wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness (1 Tim 6:3)
Beware! You Can Lose the Treasure
Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him. (Luke 8:18)
God gives all believers the opportunity to learn about the doctrines of grace, the ultimate treasure. If you are not diligent to dig deeper in the Word, you can lose the treasure. We get attacked from all sides in this life, and it’s easy to get distracted, be led astray by false teaching, or fall in sin.
…but the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:19)
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. (Matt 24:4-5)
Steps to Guard it by the power of the Holy Spirit
The steps we must take to guarding the treasure are outlined in 1 Timothy chapter 6 and repeated throughout the New Testament.
Be rooted in Truth. Avoid false teachers and depraved minds: If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words…men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth…From such withdraw yourself. (1 Tim 6:4)
Live in godliness, and live content in Christ: Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:6)
Do not pursue futile and worldly goals: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Tim 6:9)
Flee sin, worldly pursuits, and false teaching: But you, O man of God, flee these things (1 Tim 6:11)
Be diligent in living a Scriptural lifestyle: pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness (1 Tim 6:11).
Defend your faith, expose false teaching, and spread the Gospel: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Tim 6:12).
Trust in God, and you will be rewarded: nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Tim 6:17)
Invest in your riches in heaven by blessing others around you: Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (1 Tim 6:18,19).
Don’t spend time in empty philosophy and profane speech: avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge- by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith (1 Tim 6:20-21).