¹¹But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

Paul’s instruction about contentment and avoiding the love of money are not just minor suggestions for Timothy and others to consider. We must “flee from these things.” There is an urgency. The Greek lexicon defines the word “flee” as to escape, to shun. We are to make a concerted effort to avoid the love of money at all costs! Paul speaks straightforwardly without using kid gloves, as one man of God to another. This concept is not just something for juveniles or the young in faith. It is true manliness in the spiritual sense. Take control of these things, Timothy, like the man of God you are.

Of course, this teaching is not limited to males only, but Paul uses masculine terms to convey spiritual maturity and robustness, as the phrase “man of God” conveys. Using today’s vernacular, he challenges Timothy to “man up.” Coupled with his earlier admonition to “let no one look down on your youth” (1 Tim. 4:12), this verse helps us peer into the relationship between discipler and disciple, mentor and mentee. Timothy needs to assume his role as a fully mature servant of the Lord, and that, alongside Paul.

As Paul begins to conclude his letter, he gives less detail, but strings together a series of attributes one should pursue: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. These seem rather unremarkable on first glance, when we consider their overlap with other lists (for example, Gal. 5:22, 2 Peter 1:5–8). Here, though, we see the emphasis being made for those who serve in spiritual leadership. These are Christian characteristics that should not be left behind as though one ought to be pursuing more important things. These are the important things. We should never leave them behind. Spiritual maturity does not mean we no longer need to pursue them. There is a continual striving for spiritual growth to greater and greater Christlikeness.

We are already righteous, but we should continuously live out the righteousness in our lives, seeking new ways to act in accordance with being righteous people. We are already godly, but we must continuously resist the godless world around us. Our faith must grow. We must set as our highest goal love (1 Cor. 13:13). Perseverance must grow, for our earlier perseverance does not suffice for our present and future perseverance. We must never forget gentleness, for in our maturity, we must remain humble and not arrogant, lest we become callous in our treatment of others. These things, while being acquired, are never stagnant but remain alive by virtue of our pursuit of them.

Lord, I desire the continual pursuit of Christ, that I might be like Him.