AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE

2 Timothy 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. KJV

He or she that truly desires to please God will find it increasingly difficult to do so if they find themselves entangled with earthly affairs; In fact, it is impossible. To be sure, every man or woman should be engaged in some profitable employment, family matters, secure material goods and become engaged in serviceable engagements in society. Yet and still, (even as a soldier) such things should never require the sacrifice of one’s duties that are consistent with assignments issued by one’s commander. And in this God’s soldiers have often become entangled.

If one’s vocation (calling) is driven by figures and not God’s calling, one has become entangled. Or if one’s expensive home has come at the expense of a goodly family, one has become entangled. Or if one’s financial expenditures serve only ourselves (and creditors) and not others, we have become entangled.  Or finally, if the whole of our service is directed towards pleasing others and not God, we have most certainly become entangled. For there are a great many pursuits that we might be rightfully become engaged in (for here and now) yet those things that will remain hereafter are what pleases the One in whose command we are forever under:

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”-John 15:16