KEEP…AVOID. 1st Timothy 6:20. The conclusion of 1st Timothy is a heartfelt command and appeal from a senior saint to a younger servant of the Lord who has a heavy burden to carry. Timothy was entrusted with a deposit of truth to guard as a precious treasure and to pass on with a sense of urgency. A person must stay alert to everything happening around him because of the danger posed by those who want to steal that treasure of truth and replace it with a counterfeit. "Vain babblings" simply refer to those who belittle holy things with foolish chatter, thereby deceiving the saints. The opposition from those who claim to have superior knowledge is actually ignorant of what it truly means to be a Christian.
Due to its significance, a guardian has been entrusted with the responsibility of executing, safeguarding, and passing on a commission. The guardian is not authorized to alter what they are responsible for. The fact that this charge is “committed” indicates there is a legal obligation to keep it in trust according to the intention of the person who entrusted it.
The challenge is that some people want to alter the message or highlight a specific part of the charge while ignoring others. Usually, these are individuals who haven’t even received the charge but believe they have the right to speak on it because of their man-made qualifications. Human speculations, presented as “knowledge” by those claiming superior education or status, should be rejected, and those promoting their own message should be avoided.
Gnosticism was a heresy that blended Hellenistic thought from Greek culture with Oriental religions, along with Jewish apostasy and some of Plato's writings. Its followers believed they possessed superior knowledge compared to the Spirit-guided writers of the Bible, especially the Book of Genesis, the Gospel of John, and the epistles of Paul. The confusion and danger to the truth of God’s word caused by this must be rejected and avoided today, just as the false teachers promoting this line of thinking should be.
The saints of God who gather here do so to hear what you share. When God's truth is given to you to pass on, it’s a charge from the highest source, and you are responsible for delivering it with the authority of His written words behind it. So don’t excuse yourself by saying you can’t do it. God gave you this task, and He will empower you to communicate it clearly and protect its message once delivered.
Some will challenge you, claiming you're wrong or that you lack the qualifications that religious ordinances grant to those educated in their denomination's beliefs. Stay focused on the scriptures in what you speak, knowing you have the support of the Holy Spirit and the message of God's word to deliver. In weakness, you are made strong. God's word has told you that if you are living righteously in Christ Jesus, there will be persecution. So don’t worry about your perceived lack of ability or what others might think; just avoid man-made opposition.
Their attacks will often be, “I think this or that,” which is simply an opinion. Use the scriptures to counter such talk and show them where the truth about that subject is in the Bible. Then, leave it there and walk away. It won’t be long before the light of truth is revealed, and they will have nothing to say. Keep what God has entrusted to His people and, through others, given to you. Speak the truth with confidence, no matter what others might say. Lead God's people with assurance by practicing what you preach. Use chapter and verse, read the passage aloud, and rightly divide the truths you intend to teach.
Avoid foolish talk and challenges that only lead to more conflict. When conversing with such men, insist that they understand about eternal life and find out if they are personally committed to Jesus Christ as the Son of God manifested in the flesh. Remember, salvation is only through His blood. When I receive something from God, I must hold onto it with all my strength. The truth revealed to my soul guides me to walk by faith, reading and applying the Word of God properly. It really makes sense to avoid man’s opposition and arguments and instead dedicate myself fully to the biblical position.