Chapter 2, Verse 21 “For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Who are the ‘all’ in this verse? Surely not Paul’s other companions, Titus and Luke, for instance. Does he have someone or some group in mind? There is an obvious reference to the good qualities of Timothy and all the more reason that Paul has chosen him to make the trip. Could he have been speaking of the Roman church as some have suggested? The use of ‘all’ seems to negate that idea. Surely this put down could not have been meant for the entire church.
In Paul’s mind there seems to be a type of people whom he has encountered in his journeys that are mostly interested in their own personal gain rather than the gospel of Jesus. It is certain that Paul never entertains a theology of lukewarmness in regard to the Lord. For Paul, serving Jesus was an all in activity. That’s the kind of Christian Timothy was and Paul continues to make the distinction known.
Task for Today: We start every day with a choice of being a Timothy or one of the ‘all’ Paul describes. How you start your day may well indicate how you will finish it. We can say to ourselves “Today is for me,” or we can say “Today is for Jesus.” How about it? Today are you looking out for ole number one or is your goal to glorify Jesus in word and deed? Satan and his world will try to take your eyes off Jesus. Today don’t let them.
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