2 Timothy 4:9-11 Do your diligence to come shortly to me:… I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ACCORDING TO DEMAS. , assuming that Demas left Paul in order to go back to his friends, expressively describes his purpose by saying, "He chose to luxuriate at home." If that was so, he did only what most Christian people are doing now. He still believed in Jesus as the Saviour of sinners, and hoped to be accepted for His sake; he purposed to abstain from the things forbidden by the law; and, this done, he thought himself at liberty to seek and enjoy the full measure of worldly good which he was able to obtain. In other words, he wished to lead a Christian life, but with the least possible quantity of self-denial. He wished, in the selfish acceptation of the phrase, to make the best of both worlds. His Christian ideal was a negative one, and consisted in not breaking the gospel commandments, rather than in laboriously doing, or being, anything great or good. It may often happen — in our case it will generally happen — that the best service we can render to others and to Christ is to be done at home; yet it is possible, it is common, to remain at home, and not to render it, but simply to luxuriate there, our lives regulated by that love of this present world which Demas showed. Indeed, whatever the sphere may be in which we are best able to serve others and Christ — whether the home circle, or the wider arena of social life, or the haunts of business, or the Sabbath-school, or the sick, or the poor — are we not tempted to occupy it after the manner of Demas? II. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ACCORDING TO PAUL. Not, how little can I do, but, how much, was the ruling principle with Paul. Not, what would be easiest for me, but, what most acceptable to Christ. Not a cold calculation in the interest of self, but a warm devotion to the welfare of all. Loyalty, gratitude, generous enthusiasm, are its features; and, surely, they are among the noblest qualities of human character. Cold and grudging selfishness marks the other conception. They hardly deserve to be called two forms of the Christian life, for only one has the Spirit of Christ at all. Yes, let us remember even the nobleness of Paul was but a reflection of the nobleness of Christ. It was at that source the flame of his soul was kindled: "The love of Christ constrained him." III. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGUN WITH PAUL AND ENDED WITH DEMAS. The Spirit which founded the Christian Church was the spirit of Paul; but, as soon as the days of its freshness and persecution were over, the spirit of Demas prevailed. And the history of individuals is apt to be similar. (T. M. Herbert, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: |
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