1 Timothy 6:10, 11  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. (CSB)

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You can chase the Good Life, or you can chase a Life of Goodness, but you can’t chase both. 

As the old proverb says, “The man who chases two rabbits catches neither.”

The news regularly reports on preachers in sneakers that cost more than my car. We drove by the BMW Church in Tampa last Thursday. That’s not the congregation’s name, but it is the nickname given by those who pass by it with regularity. 

This comparatively small church building has a parking lot full of some of the finest automobiles on the road. They also have a nice fence to protect those fine rides from those who would do more than look. 

Verse 10 above is well-known and oft-quoted or misquoted. Verse 11 is the focus today. Take a look at how the first half of it is translated in the New Living Translation:

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these things. 

The Apostle Paul tells Timothy, his protege, to run from the love of money and all the problems it causes. Then, he tells him what to pursue instead.

Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Righteousness is a matter of doing the right thing the right way for the right reason in the right timing.

Godliness means to live and love like Jesus.

Faith trusts God’s heart even when it can’t trace his hand.

Love seeks the highest good for others. 

Perseverance sticks to God’s plans even when things seem not to be working as intended; knowing the end result of all God’s instructions leads to the best possible outcomes. 

Gentleness is the grand attribute of the author of Psalm 23 and Matthew 11:28-30. Gentleness is evidence of true transformation.

Chase what matters. 

Don’t chase what those who do not understand the heart of God consider valuable and meaningful. Instead, pursue the character-building qualities of someone who knows Jesus in an ever-deeper and abiding relationship. 

Don’t chase the Good Life. Instead, Pursue the Life of Goodness.

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I will pursue a life of true goodness.

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Our Father, you provide me with all I need and so much more. I don’t have to chase big bucks and maximized bank accounts. Empower me to pursue today, and every day for the rest of my life, a life of true goodness. Shape me into a person who lives and loves like Jesus. Amen.