The Repository

Just about everyone has heard that old quote that, "If I have seen farther than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." However, those of us that likely won't see much farther than others, and that don't make large strides in advancing the limits of human knowledge rarely acknowledge the weight of that truth in our own lives. For all of us, and especially us as Christians, that truth could not ring with more truth if it tried. We have been gifted with a great repository of knowledge. Or rather, we have been entrusted with it

At the end of 1 Timothy, Paul makes this charge to Timothy, "guard the deposit entrusted to you" (1 Tim. 6:20). This raises the question though. What deposit?

There are several possible (although not all entirely plausible) answers.

1. A literal deposit of money; Timothy was a banker.

This probably isn't the case. I think we can all agree that I put this in as a joke.

2. The church at Ephesus.

Here is a somewhat more likely option, one that falls more in line with what we know about Paul. Paul planted the church at Ephesus, and he labored there for two whole years (Acts 19:9-10)! That's a lot longer than he spent at some of the other churches he planted. When he said goodbye to the leaders at Ephesus for the last time it was a heartfelt moment full of tears (Acts 20:17-38). However, this is still not the most likely answer.

3. The gospel.

Here we have what the deposit entrusted to Timothy is. Paul led Timothy to Christ. He discipled Timothy into the pastor that he became. He became his "spiritual father," and it was to Timothy that he sent one of the very last letters if not the last letter he would ever send (2 Timothy). Paul had entrusted Timothy with not just the gospel, but the entire body of Paul's ministry and life. It was truly a weighty deposit.

And what is Tim to do with this deposit? He's not supposed to treat it flippantly or carelessly. He's supposed to guard it. The next two verses explain why it needs guarding, some people have been leading others away from the deposit of the true gospel that Paul left with Timothy. 

This same thing is true for us. If you're a Christian, then somebody shared the gospel with you. You accepted it as true, repented of your sin, turned to Jesus for forgiveness and healing, and bowed the knee to him as your Lord and Savior. Little did you know, you were also accepting a great responsibility: guarding the truth of the gospel.

Now let's get something straight, God doesn't actually need us to protect his truth. It's a little bit like trying to protect a lion or a grizzly bear from a man armed with nothing but a plastic whiffle ball bat (think about that image for more than a second!). At the same time though, as Christians, we are called to zealously and passionately defend the truth of the gospel.

We need to defend the true gospel from people who would distort it by preaching a gospel of health and wealth. "Turn to Jesus and all your problems will go away!" "Give x amount of money to my ministry to fund my private jet and the Lord will reward you!" These calls may sound obviously fake, but unfortunately they are all too real. And real people fall for it and believe in a false gospel.

We need to defend the true gospel from those who would reduce the gospel down to social change. "We don't need to bother with that evangelism stuff, as long as we're helping out in our community!" "Share the gospel always, when necessary use words." These things sound and look nice, but the gospel always needs words. Paul says in 1 Corinthians, "if we have hope in this life only then we are to be pitied above all people" (1 Cor. 15:19). That's what this gospel offers, hope for this life but not for the next.

We need to defend the true gospel from those who would reduce the gospel to soul change only. "We don't need to bother with that social justice stuff, as long as we're sharing the gospel." "Let's make sure that we meet people's deepest and only real need." Again, these sound nice but are also dangerous. Jesus went around Israel not just preaching the gospel, but healing people. Feeding people. Touching people who hadn't felt human touch in years (lepers). This gospel reduces the true gospel down to a momentary decision.

Let's make sure we're preaching the true gospel. That we're living the true gospel. A gospel that doesn't promise health and wealth, but promises life everlasting. A gospel that offers to fill your belly (through the community formed by the gospel) and fix your soul (through the Spirit who empowers the gospel). A good way to start would be to read the gospel of Mark. What did Jesus preach as the gospel? As the "good news of the kingdom"? How did Jesus live out the gospel?

I'm not going to tell you here, that would ruin the fun. Go and find out. Walk along with his disciples as he preaches, and teaches, and heals the sick, gives sight to the blind. Take notes in a journal about every time he preaches and tells people the "good news." What is that good news? Does it match up with what you've been preaching as the gospel?