Nobody would look at me and mistake me for a weightlifting champion. But I do like to go to the gym and try to fight the effects of aging on my body. It gives me a little more energy and helps me sleep better at night.
I’m not as disciplined when it comes to what I eat. Sometimes, I undo the benefits of my gym workouts by the bad food I put in my mouth.
But I am absolutely not the one to blame. As you walk into the gym, you’re met by a big poster announcing that every Friday, from 10:30 until noon, there’ll be a “big chocolate chip cookie sale.” The poster features a huge picture of homemade desserts. Every time I head towards the elliptical machine, I have that vision in my mind. The whole time I’m using that machine, I’m thinking about those chocolate chips.
Obviously, the people responsible for that poster are evil. Many older people frequent the gym I use. Our metabolism isn’t what it used to be. We’re set in our ways. We’re used to eating things we shouldn’t. We go to the gym to fight those temptations. But the workers of darkness know our weaknesses. When I eat desserts, it’s because they have tempted me to do so. When I was younger, a famous comedian summarized the reason I eat one of those large cookies: The devil made me do it.
In 2 Tim 2:22, Paul writes to a young Timothy. He tells him to “flee youthful lusts.” We probably assume that Paul is talking about sexual sins. Timothy was probably in his thirties, and Paul might have been reminding him that such sins remained a danger, even for one in fellowship with the Lord.
But I think Paul may have had something else in mind. Timothy was the lieutenant of the great apostle to the Gentiles. For Timothy, a more dangerous lust was pride. The Christians to whom he ministered would tell him how they admired him, and that they thought he was something special since Paul chose him for this honor. It isn’t easy to remain humble when people tell you how great and holy you must be. A younger person can be especially prone to falling into the sinful trap of pride. To use a sports analogy, a young believer can read too many of his own press clippings. Paul spoke of that danger in 1 Tim 3:6.
A Christian can commit any sin. But if we’re wise, we’ll notice which sins we are particularly susceptible to committing. For some, it might be alcohol. They should flee situations in which alcohol is being served. A believer who understands his weakness for pornography will ask his wife to put filters on his computer. Less conscientious believers might not take such measures.
Maybe Paul had recognized pride as a particular danger for Timothy. It is also possible that he understood that to be a problem for any young leader in the church. Every young servant should flee the desire for the praise of others. At every opportunity, he should point out how great other servants in the church are (Rom 12:10).
What sins do you struggle with? The NT tells us to take additional measures to avoid those situations where we will be tempted. Flee them. That will look different from one believer to another.
I’m going to practice what I preach. I’m going to find another gym.
