Rejecting False Teachings

GREEK WORD WITH ENGLISH TRANSLITERATION: παραιτεομmaι (paraiteomai)

PRONUNCIATION:  par-ay-TEH-ah-my

STRONG’S CONCORDANCE #: 3868

MEANING: avoid; excuse; refuse; reject;

BACKGROUND OF WORD (ETYMOLOGY): had the meaning of 'to beg off

HOW TRANSLATED IN KJV, NASB AND/OR ESV:  excuse; refuse; intreat;

# OF TIMES USED IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT: 13

KEY VERSE IN THE BIBLE WHERE GREEK WORD USED: 1 Timothy 4:7 - "But refuse (παραιτεομmaι) profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

    

The demands placed on the pastor of a large church are immense. His care for the church is nonstop. Twenty-four hours a day he must be available to the members of the congregation. Leaders must be trained; rebels must be corrected; and finances are needed to pay for the church as it grows. And in addition to church responsibilities, the pastor is most often a husband and a father as well. He has a massive church family to oversee and manage, and he also has his own personal family for which God will hold him responsible.

Timothy was just settling into the job of senior pastor when Paul wrote him the letter that became the book of 1 Timothy. At the time, Timothy's responsibilities were increasing daily. His massive church was becoming even more massive as it continued to grow. He was constantly training new leaders and replacing old, rebellious leaders who thought Timothy was too young to be pastor of such a prominent church. And in the midst of it all, Timothy was learning how to cope with being the most visible Christian leader in a large metropolitan city. It was in the midst of these developments that Paul wrote to him and said, “But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

The Bible doesn't tell us exactly what these old wives' fables were. However, it seems that Timothy may have been so exhausted that he was starting to daydream about finding an easier and more trouble-free way to do his job (like all of us are tempted to do from time to time). I have personally wondered, Was Timothy tempted to daydream about life in the ministry becoming simpler? Was he hoping that things would eventually become a lot less hectic, undemanding, and uncomplicated? If Timothy was thinking along this line, his musings would definitely fall into the category of a fable!

When God trusts you enough to give you more and more responsibility, it always demands more of you, not less. I gave up the idea many years ago of thinking that life would eventually become less demanding. Ministry is work, and none of us should ever forget that fact!

If you are mightily anointed by God, it is just a fact that your schedule will get busier, your demands will increase, and your challenges will grow. But as long as you allow God to develop your character along the way, you will find that you're able to successfully manage anything He puts on your plate!

Paul ordered Timothy to quit fantasizing about things getting easier, telling the younger man to “...refuse profane and old wives' fables....” The word “refuse” tells us how strongly Paul felt about Timothy's frame of thinking. It comes from the Greek word ‎paraiteomai‎, and it means to reject, to refuse, to rebuff, to decline, to snub, or to decisively turn away from something. It denotes the attitude of a person who is so disgusted with something that he has resolved he will have nothing to do with it. His feelings about this issue are so pungent that he sharply rejects what is being offered to him and vigorously declines any form of participation in it. Whatever these “old wives' fables” were, Paul viewed them as extremely detrimental — so much so that he strictly ordered Timothy to reject these notions.

CHALLENGE FOR THE DAY:

    

When you are physically or mentally exhausted, your mind may be tempted to daydream or to wander to other places. It is amazing how the mind tries to escape from reality. But rather than let yourself float away on a cloud of fantasy that doesn't help you fulfill your God-given assignment, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see things realistically. That's the only way you'll be able to put your whole heart and soul into completing your task exactly as Jesus wants it done! You can do great things for God's Kingdom, but it will require both concentration and commitment!

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

    

Lord, help me to stay focused on what You have called me to do and to embrace everything that comes with Your call on my life. Forgive me for the times I've tried to find a shortcut to avoid responsibility. I want to put my whole heart into the race You have set before me — to fulfill my assigned task fervently, passionately, and with the highest level of excellence.  I pray this in Jesus' name! Amen.