And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
To strive for mastery is to enter a regulated contest where effort and desire to win count for nothing unless the rules are kept, and the one who cheats or takes an unlawful advantage loses the prize. To strive lawfully is to do the Father's will by obeying His law, keeping His commandments at any cost, living in harmony with Him, and loving God supremely and one's neighbor as oneself. Mere assent to the truth about Christ does not meet this rule, for even evil spirits believe and are lost; lawful striving is genuine faith working by love that purifies the soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit. The crown at stake is the incorruptible crown of everlasting life in the kingdom of glory, and it is gained only through stern lifelong conflict, laying aside every weight, exercising temperance, self-control, patience and perseverance to the end with the eyes fixed on Jesus. No one who fights in this lawful way is left to defeat, for the strength of Jesus and the ministry of heavenly agencies are given to all who abide in close connection with God, and the mastery to be won is mastery over self rather than striving to be greatest over others.
Setting and Athletic Picture
The verse belongs to Paul's dying charge to Timothy, dictated from a damp prison dungeon while pressed with infirmities and with no hope of release except death at the word of wicked Nero. He greatly desired the presence of Timothy, his son in the gospel, whom he had urged to come without delay, and therefore he repeated his last testimony through a fellow-laborer and companion in bonds to be written down. It stands joined to enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ without entangling with the affairs of this life in order to please Christ who chose him, and to committing what was heard to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. In that setting it lays down the rule that one striving for the crown must strive lawfully or he is not crowned, so that even avarice excused as working for God's cause fails the rule and gains no reward, for God does not want money obtained by overreaching or by any semblance of dishonesty.
The picture is taken from the regulated public games, where competitors accepted strict training and discipline for a temporary laurel crown. Striving for victory alone is not enough, for victory requires competing according to the rules. A contestant who reaches the goal by taking an unlawful advantage receives no prize and no crown except by obeying the rules. As applied to Christians, this means they must study and obey the Word of God, endure hardship, give themselves fully to the spiritual contest, and exercise strict self-control, temperance, discipline, and steady effort. The reward is eternal life and an incorruptible crown, and therefore it should be kept in view and desired above earthly things, with the eyes fixed on Jesus and the prize for renewed strength to run the race with patience and persevere to the end.
Bicycle races illustrate a wrong kind of contest under this rule. There people seek to outdo one another in striving for victory in a contest, yet that striving fosters strife and selfish indulgence rather than serving God's work. Such competing does not meet the requirement that a person is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
What Lawful Striving Means
Not all who run obtain the prize, and not all who strive for mastery are victorious, for effort, activity, and seeking victory alone do not earn the crown. The crown is received only by competing according to the rules and striving lawfully, so the goal never excuses ignoring the way God requires, and faithful striving and endurance must remain governed by His requirements. Faithful Christian service is therefore disciplined effort under God's revealed order, calling for perseverance in the work of the gospel and warning against departing from what He has revealed for human inventions and side issues.
To strive lawfully is to do the will of the Father in heaven and obey the claims of the law of God. It means keeping His commandments, including the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, maintaining His law and its principles at any cost, holding fast to the pure principles of Bible truth and living out the high, holy principles of His Word. It is living in perfect harmony with God, free from worldly entanglements, loving God supremely and one's neighbor as oneself, and showing others the light of a life conformed to God's will. Those who strive in this harmony triumph over opposition, and holy angels guard them as they carry forward God's work.
Lawful striving is coming into conformity with the will of God in life and spirit and character. It is genuine faith that works by love and purifies the soul, cleansing the soul-temple from sin and putting away everything that defiles, all filthiness of flesh and spirit. Mere belief in all recorded in the Old and New Testaments about Christ as man's Redeemer, His mighty miracles, His oneness with the Father, His shameful death to save fallen man, His resurrection, His ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Father, and His soon coming with power and great glory taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel is not enough. The devils believe all this and will not be saved, and entering in through the gates into the city requires loving Christ by keeping His commandments.
Unlawful striving includes having light on the truth yet keeping Sunday to avoid being singular, unpopular, and losing influence in the world, while supposing God will still give the reward for sincerity in everything else. Such a course will not be crowned, just as departing from what God has revealed for human inventions and side issues forfeits the crown that effort alone cannot earn. Striving to be greatest is also unlawful striving; it puts a person in the lowest place, leads away from God, and leaves a person dead and lifeless instead of a living epistle. Lawful striving instead keeps learning from Christ, develops the talents God has given, presses onward humbly in unity and love, improves by practice, and remains a constant learner in the school of Christ.
The Crown and How Won
The prize held out is the crown of life, the immortal and incorruptible crown of everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. It is given only at the end of the race and only to those who strive lawfully. For conquest, toil, self-sacrifice and working faith the overcomer receives the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God. Glorious triumph that lifts from the selfish and the sensual and glorifies life with the hope of immortality awaits the faithful who are true to the high calling in Christ.
Not one of the faithful receives that honor without passing through severe conflicts and trials. The struggle is a stern, lifelong warfare and a life struggle from which there is no release. It requires day by day seeking piety and moral excellence, laying aside every hindrance and weight, and pressing forward toward the goal of perfection in Christ. Everyone who wins in running the race for the immortal crown strives lawfully and remains faithful in the struggle.
Winning calls for single-hearted purpose, strict self-control, temperance, discipline and steady effort. It calls for patience and perseverance to the end, being steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. The eternal reward and incorruptible crown must be kept in view and desired above earthly things, with the eyes fixed on Jesus and the prize for renewed strength to run with patience. To strive lawfully is to do Jesus' will and grow into His image, and failures and defeats should lead to greater dependence on Christ with courage and determination, not abandonment of the effort.
Grace is given to all who fight lawfully, nobly striving and fighting for the victory in the good fight of faith. Every soul who strives lawfully for the mastery receives the strength of Jesus and, while competing according to the rules, is not left to defeat in the conflict. Heavenly agencies are ever at the side of such a one, and angels who excel in strength guard, minister to the heirs of salvation, and impart divine power so that by sharing the divine nature and escaping worldly corruption through lust they gain the victory. This requires staying in close connection with God, seeking Him with all mind, heart and soul, discerning His Spirit, and letting grace transform the life into the likeness of Christ, so His Spirit remains instead of leaving like water from a leaky vessel.
Lawful Striving in Character
Lawful striving calls for constant watchfulness and daily self-denial, with self crucified day by day in the Christian warfare. The will must be brought into harmony with God's will by accepting Christ as personal Saviour and following His self-sacrificing life. Lifting the cross cheerfully and pressing forward opens the way to guidance by His Spirit and afterward to reception into glory.
The mastery to be sought is mastery over self, not the highest place over others. Striving to be greatest is unlawful striving, putting a person in the lowest place, leading away from God, and leaving one dead and lifeless rather than a living epistle. Instead of seeking supremacy, believers are to keep learning in Christ's school, develop the talents God has given, and press onward humbly.
This means humbling the soul before God as a little child, giving up the idea of being supreme and of controlling the minds and work of others. Brethren are to be given respect and room to work, helped in unselfish love, and joined in unity and love. Talents are to be made the most of, improved by practice and learning to do better, with direct speech without tedious long discourses and short spiritual prayers directly to the point, as constant learners who are living epistles. Practical godliness is zealous following of the Lamb, believing the Word and practicing all its principles with hearty faith, looking every moment to Jesus and His worth on the cross rather than to own abilities or exalting self, living and abiding and walking in Him as righteousness and strength.
As soldiers of Christ, lawful strivers are ever on duty, never yielding to temptation, never unjust, neither yielding nor fleeing. Integrity is firm and will not yield an inch, holding fast to the Word with It is written and standing on vantage ground because Christ has overcome and made every provision to overcome. Divine power stands behind every will resolutely set to do right, so with the armor and weapons God provides, even the whole armor of God, there is no flinching at Satan's attacks. Clean holy principles quickly discern the slightest taint of evil, every step diverged from truth is promptly corrected, higher attainments are constantly sought, others are helped to climb heavenward, Christ is laid hold of by loving faith, and evil is resisted if need be unto blood in striving against sin.
Striving for grace and perfection of Christian character must follow God's will and ways, for abiding in Christ produces fruit that leads to eternal life. The crown of life is gained only by giving Christ the entire heart and undivided allegiance, cooperating with Him and abiding in Him with His words abiding. Continual pure childlike faith lays hold of God's sure and unbounded promises, looking beyond self to a crucified, risen and ascended Saviour and Advocate who intercedes and gives all required power and efficiency as His righteousness is revealed. United with Christ, the striver fights manfully in successful warfare against seen and unseen agencies working to uproot confidence, conquering self where Satan meets to deceive and conquer. Such faith must make Him a personal Saviour and not remain pretentious, sharing His mission to save the lost and perishing, lift up fallen man, reveal the Father's love, and bring them to look and live and thereby bring many sons and daughters to glory.
It is living faith showing itself in sacrifice and devotion, standing under Prince Emmanuel and waging successful warfare against the powers of darkness by doing whatever the Captain of salvation commands. The striver is an example in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living righteously while fighting the good fight of faith to lay hold on eternal life. Self is denied and the cross taken up daily to follow in the Redeemer's footsteps, with cleansing from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Jesus is made the way, truth, and life and followed as example, the cross lifted, the high wall scaled and the ladder climbed by realizing personal inefficiency, crying for divine power, and taking hold of Christ's strength with His abiding presence to the end.
Subduing natural defects requires striving in the right way, for no one is crowned unless the striving is lawful. Prayer for wisdom from above helps bring rough manners and uncontrolled temper into obedience to the divine law so as to become like God. A rough, dictatorial spirit is a wrong course that cannot be approved and may teach others to follow it. Success or prosperity does not prove a person right with God, for financial success and popularity can still be part of Satan's snare; physicians and all others must act with justice, fairness, honesty, and Christian principle rather than stubborn independence, and those who follow God's counsel will be honored by Him and help save souls.
Even when the work itself is right, a man is crowned only if he strives lawfully. Genuine religion must bring its sanctifying influence into all he thinks, says, and does, discharging aright the duties God has laid upon him. The heart is kept free from every scheme of selfishness and all that savors of selfishness is purged away, so that not one thread of selfishness is drawn into the fabric in any business transaction or any line of service. Loving God supremely and neighbor as Christ has loved fulfills the divine law.
Lawful Striving in God's Work
All who open the Scriptures to others must strive lawfully in that work if they are to be crowned, for the charge joins enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ without entanglement in the affairs of this life in order to please Him who chose him, committing what was heard to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also, and laboring as a husbandman who first partakes of the fruit. Lawful striving in this calling is the solemn responsibility to teach faithfully and to keep the truth committed to those able to teach others, while warring unentangled and pleasing Christ. No one is crowned for mere activity, however active, unless he strives lawfully, which means working with sanctified zeal and not mere entrusted ability, with a clear conscience in harmony with God and under His direction, doing justice and judgment. For teachers and gospel workers this means first walking humbly with God, first becoming learners before attempting to teach, and first becoming partakers of the fruit, the grace of God, which is the essential element in all service, rather than boasting or trying to teach without sound spiritual experience. Those who have not given evidence by the quality of fruit borne that the tree is good show they have not striven lawfully and are not fit to be placed in positions of trust.
Unlawful striving in teaching is striving about words to no profit, subverting hearers and ruining their faith by inculcating ideas and principles from Satan that turn them away from the truth, so that instead of being a savor of life unto life one becomes a savor of death unto death. It is moving by erroneous opinions to counterwork the work of God, which gives Satan place, and acting from mistaken ideas or against conscience instead of following right principles. In spiritual service lawful striving means working for God by correct principles with the Word as guide, refusing envy, selfish or unholy ambition, and the pursuit of human glory. It means carrying out a right work without selfish schemes, with genuine religion sanctifying thought, word, and deed so that every duty and every business transaction or line of service is free from selfishness, loving God supremely and neighbor as Christ has loved, which fulfills the divine law. Applied to getting money, avarice excused by saying it is working for God's cause still fails the rule and obtains no reward, for God does not want money obtained by overreaching or by any semblance of dishonesty.
The whole second chapter must be impressed on the heart and brought into practical life when a special effort is made to proclaim the truth. Church members must not remain self-satisfied, indifferent, and backslidden while the Word is presented, but must awake, draw near to God, search their hearts, confess and repent of discovered sin, and be in good working order. They must clear the King's highway, show perfect harmony, help with their means, be on hand at meetings armed and equipped for service, pray daily and while going about daily duties, work and pray for the lost sheep, draw strength from Christ, and be laborers together with Him in sustaining the work being done and actively supporting the sharing of truth with the lost. Lawful striving uses all capabilities and gifts to work the cities, save perishing souls, win others to become co-laborers with Christ, and build up His kingdom, with the result that the knowledge and powers given will be largely increased in that work, made urgent by a season of great trial ahead. Publishing houses that hold fast to the pure principles of Bible truth, keep the commandments of God, and live out the high, holy principles of His Word retain the favor of God and are built up in the most holy faith, and their faithfulness converts thousands who do not obey the truth, who in turn win many souls from the ranks of the enemy.
It calls for fighting the good fight of faith without relaxing effort and seeking greater power each day to help others. God's people must fight faithfully in the Lord's battles, following Christ's commands and never doing what He could not commend, in a stern warfare that never grows weary in the work. This striving is expressed in pure, truthful, sympathetic, loving words and helpful actions that bless the weak, continuing with courage and cheerfulness through trial to bring joy and courage into other lives. Lawful striving means guarding every word and controlling every emotion, speaking no careless assertion or impulsive word, nothing in a spirit of retaliation or with even the appearance of railing accusation, and giving opposers of the faith and Satan no advantage. When workers strive in this lawful way, they will not be confused and confounded in strait places when their own words are reproduced against them before kings and rulers, magistrates and powers. It is also striving for mastery over foolishness by training the mind on the sound truths of God's Word and yielding life to the Spirit's control, so as to resist temptation, act as a Christian, and avoid dishonoring God before the world.
To strive for mastery is to enter a regulated contest where effort and desire to win count for nothing unless the rules are kept, and the one who cheats or takes an unlawful advantage loses the prize.
To strive lawfully is to do the Father's will by obeying His law, keeping His commandments at any cost, living in harmony with Him, and loving God supremely and one's neighbor as oneself.
Mere assent to the truth about Christ does not meet this rule, for even evil spirits believe and are lost; lawful striving is genuine faith working by love that purifies the soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit.
The crown at stake is the incorruptible crown of everlasting life in the kingdom of glory, and it is gained only through stern lifelong conflict, laying aside every weight, exercising temperance, self-control, patience and perseverance to the end with the eyes fixed on Jesus.
No one who fights in this lawful way is left to defeat, for the strength of Jesus and the ministry of heavenly agencies are given to all who abide in close connection with God, and the mastery to be won is mastery over self rather than striving to be greatest over others.
Setting and Athletic Picture
The verse belongs to Paul's dying charge to Timothy, dictated from a damp prison dungeon while pressed with infirmities and with no hope of release except death at the word of wicked Nero. He greatly desired the presence of Timothy, his son in the gospel, whom he had urged to come without delay, and therefore he repeated his last testimony through a fellow-laborer and companion in bonds to be written down. It stands joined to enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ without entangling with the affairs of this life in order to please Christ who chose him, and to committing what was heard to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. In that setting it lays down the rule that one striving for the crown must strive lawfully or he is not crowned, so that even avarice excused as working for God's cause fails the rule and gains no reward, for God does not want money obtained by overreaching or by any semblance of dishonesty.
The picture is taken from the regulated public games, where competitors accepted strict training and discipline for a temporary laurel crown. Striving for victory alone is not enough, for victory requires competing according to the rules. A contestant who reaches the goal by taking an unlawful advantage receives no prize and no crown except by obeying the rules. As applied to Christians, this means they must study and obey the Word of God, endure hardship, give themselves fully to the spiritual contest, and exercise strict self-control, temperance, discipline, and steady effort. The reward is eternal life and an incorruptible crown, and therefore it should be kept in view and desired above earthly things, with the eyes fixed on Jesus and the prize for renewed strength to run the race with patience and persevere to the end.
Bicycle races illustrate a wrong kind of contest under this rule. There people seek to outdo one another in striving for victory in a contest, yet that striving fosters strife and selfish indulgence rather than serving God's work. Such competing does not meet the requirement that a person is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
What Lawful Striving Means
Not all who run obtain the prize, and not all who strive for mastery are victorious, for effort, activity, and seeking victory alone do not earn the crown. The crown is received only by competing according to the rules and striving lawfully, so the goal never excuses ignoring the way God requires, and faithful striving and endurance must remain governed by His requirements. Faithful Christian service is therefore disciplined effort under God's revealed order, calling for perseverance in the work of the gospel and warning against departing from what He has revealed for human inventions and side issues.
To strive lawfully is to do the will of the Father in heaven and obey the claims of the law of God. It means keeping His commandments, including the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, maintaining His law and its principles at any cost, holding fast to the pure principles of Bible truth and living out the high, holy principles of His Word. It is living in perfect harmony with God, free from worldly entanglements, loving God supremely and one's neighbor as oneself, and showing others the light of a life conformed to God's will. Those who strive in this harmony triumph over opposition, and holy angels guard them as they carry forward God's work.
Lawful striving is coming into conformity with the will of God in life and spirit and character. It is genuine faith that works by love and purifies the soul, cleansing the soul-temple from sin and putting away everything that defiles, all filthiness of flesh and spirit. Mere belief in all recorded in the Old and New Testaments about Christ as man's Redeemer, His mighty miracles, His oneness with the Father, His shameful death to save fallen man, His resurrection, His ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Father, and His soon coming with power and great glory taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel is not enough. The devils believe all this and will not be saved, and entering in through the gates into the city requires loving Christ by keeping His commandments.
Unlawful striving includes having light on the truth yet keeping Sunday to avoid being singular, unpopular, and losing influence in the world, while supposing God will still give the reward for sincerity in everything else. Such a course will not be crowned, just as departing from what God has revealed for human inventions and side issues forfeits the crown that effort alone cannot earn. Striving to be greatest is also unlawful striving; it puts a person in the lowest place, leads away from God, and leaves a person dead and lifeless instead of a living epistle. Lawful striving instead keeps learning from Christ, develops the talents God has given, presses onward humbly in unity and love, improves by practice, and remains a constant learner in the school of Christ.
The Crown and How Won
The prize held out is the crown of life, the immortal and incorruptible crown of everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. It is given only at the end of the race and only to those who strive lawfully. For conquest, toil, self-sacrifice and working faith the overcomer receives the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God. Glorious triumph that lifts from the selfish and the sensual and glorifies life with the hope of immortality awaits the faithful who are true to the high calling in Christ.
Not one of the faithful receives that honor without passing through severe conflicts and trials. The struggle is a stern, lifelong warfare and a life struggle from which there is no release. It requires day by day seeking piety and moral excellence, laying aside every hindrance and weight, and pressing forward toward the goal of perfection in Christ. Everyone who wins in running the race for the immortal crown strives lawfully and remains faithful in the struggle.
Winning calls for single-hearted purpose, strict self-control, temperance, discipline and steady effort. It calls for patience and perseverance to the end, being steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. The eternal reward and incorruptible crown must be kept in view and desired above earthly things, with the eyes fixed on Jesus and the prize for renewed strength to run with patience. To strive lawfully is to do Jesus' will and grow into His image, and failures and defeats should lead to greater dependence on Christ with courage and determination, not abandonment of the effort.
Grace is given to all who fight lawfully, nobly striving and fighting for the victory in the good fight of faith. Every soul who strives lawfully for the mastery receives the strength of Jesus and, while competing according to the rules, is not left to defeat in the conflict. Heavenly agencies are ever at the side of such a one, and angels who excel in strength guard, minister to the heirs of salvation, and impart divine power so that by sharing the divine nature and escaping worldly corruption through lust they gain the victory. This requires staying in close connection with God, seeking Him with all mind, heart and soul, discerning His Spirit, and letting grace transform the life into the likeness of Christ, so His Spirit remains instead of leaving like water from a leaky vessel.
Lawful Striving in Character
Lawful striving calls for constant watchfulness and daily self-denial, with self crucified day by day in the Christian warfare. The will must be brought into harmony with God's will by accepting Christ as personal Saviour and following His self-sacrificing life. Lifting the cross cheerfully and pressing forward opens the way to guidance by His Spirit and afterward to reception into glory.
The mastery to be sought is mastery over self, not the highest place over others. Striving to be greatest is unlawful striving, putting a person in the lowest place, leading away from God, and leaving one dead and lifeless rather than a living epistle. Instead of seeking supremacy, believers are to keep learning in Christ's school, develop the talents God has given, and press onward humbly.
This means humbling the soul before God as a little child, giving up the idea of being supreme and of controlling the minds and work of others. Brethren are to be given respect and room to work, helped in unselfish love, and joined in unity and love. Talents are to be made the most of, improved by practice and learning to do better, with direct speech without tedious long discourses and short spiritual prayers directly to the point, as constant learners who are living epistles. Practical godliness is zealous following of the Lamb, believing the Word and practicing all its principles with hearty faith, looking every moment to Jesus and His worth on the cross rather than to own abilities or exalting self, living and abiding and walking in Him as righteousness and strength.
As soldiers of Christ, lawful strivers are ever on duty, never yielding to temptation, never unjust, neither yielding nor fleeing. Integrity is firm and will not yield an inch, holding fast to the Word with It is written and standing on vantage ground because Christ has overcome and made every provision to overcome. Divine power stands behind every will resolutely set to do right, so with the armor and weapons God provides, even the whole armor of God, there is no flinching at Satan's attacks. Clean holy principles quickly discern the slightest taint of evil, every step diverged from truth is promptly corrected, higher attainments are constantly sought, others are helped to climb heavenward, Christ is laid hold of by loving faith, and evil is resisted if need be unto blood in striving against sin.
Striving for grace and perfection of Christian character must follow God's will and ways, for abiding in Christ produces fruit that leads to eternal life. The crown of life is gained only by giving Christ the entire heart and undivided allegiance, cooperating with Him and abiding in Him with His words abiding. Continual pure childlike faith lays hold of God's sure and unbounded promises, looking beyond self to a crucified, risen and ascended Saviour and Advocate who intercedes and gives all required power and efficiency as His righteousness is revealed. United with Christ, the striver fights manfully in successful warfare against seen and unseen agencies working to uproot confidence, conquering self where Satan meets to deceive and conquer. Such faith must make Him a personal Saviour and not remain pretentious, sharing His mission to save the lost and perishing, lift up fallen man, reveal the Father's love, and bring them to look and live and thereby bring many sons and daughters to glory.
It is living faith showing itself in sacrifice and devotion, standing under Prince Emmanuel and waging successful warfare against the powers of darkness by doing whatever the Captain of salvation commands. The striver is an example in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living righteously while fighting the good fight of faith to lay hold on eternal life. Self is denied and the cross taken up daily to follow in the Redeemer's footsteps, with cleansing from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Jesus is made the way, truth, and life and followed as example, the cross lifted, the high wall scaled and the ladder climbed by realizing personal inefficiency, crying for divine power, and taking hold of Christ's strength with His abiding presence to the end.
Subduing natural defects requires striving in the right way, for no one is crowned unless the striving is lawful. Prayer for wisdom from above helps bring rough manners and uncontrolled temper into obedience to the divine law so as to become like God. A rough, dictatorial spirit is a wrong course that cannot be approved and may teach others to follow it. Success or prosperity does not prove a person right with God, for financial success and popularity can still be part of Satan's snare; physicians and all others must act with justice, fairness, honesty, and Christian principle rather than stubborn independence, and those who follow God's counsel will be honored by Him and help save souls.
Even when the work itself is right, a man is crowned only if he strives lawfully. Genuine religion must bring its sanctifying influence into all he thinks, says, and does, discharging aright the duties God has laid upon him. The heart is kept free from every scheme of selfishness and all that savors of selfishness is purged away, so that not one thread of selfishness is drawn into the fabric in any business transaction or any line of service. Loving God supremely and neighbor as Christ has loved fulfills the divine law.
Lawful Striving in God's Work
All who open the Scriptures to others must strive lawfully in that work if they are to be crowned, for the charge joins enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ without entanglement in the affairs of this life in order to please Him who chose him, committing what was heard to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also, and laboring as a husbandman who first partakes of the fruit. Lawful striving in this calling is the solemn responsibility to teach faithfully and to keep the truth committed to those able to teach others, while warring unentangled and pleasing Christ. No one is crowned for mere activity, however active, unless he strives lawfully, which means working with sanctified zeal and not mere entrusted ability, with a clear conscience in harmony with God and under His direction, doing justice and judgment. For teachers and gospel workers this means first walking humbly with God, first becoming learners before attempting to teach, and first becoming partakers of the fruit, the grace of God, which is the essential element in all service, rather than boasting or trying to teach without sound spiritual experience. Those who have not given evidence by the quality of fruit borne that the tree is good show they have not striven lawfully and are not fit to be placed in positions of trust.
Unlawful striving in teaching is striving about words to no profit, subverting hearers and ruining their faith by inculcating ideas and principles from Satan that turn them away from the truth, so that instead of being a savor of life unto life one becomes a savor of death unto death. It is moving by erroneous opinions to counterwork the work of God, which gives Satan place, and acting from mistaken ideas or against conscience instead of following right principles. In spiritual service lawful striving means working for God by correct principles with the Word as guide, refusing envy, selfish or unholy ambition, and the pursuit of human glory. It means carrying out a right work without selfish schemes, with genuine religion sanctifying thought, word, and deed so that every duty and every business transaction or line of service is free from selfishness, loving God supremely and neighbor as Christ has loved, which fulfills the divine law. Applied to getting money, avarice excused by saying it is working for God's cause still fails the rule and obtains no reward, for God does not want money obtained by overreaching or by any semblance of dishonesty.
The whole second chapter must be impressed on the heart and brought into practical life when a special effort is made to proclaim the truth. Church members must not remain self-satisfied, indifferent, and backslidden while the Word is presented, but must awake, draw near to God, search their hearts, confess and repent of discovered sin, and be in good working order. They must clear the King's highway, show perfect harmony, help with their means, be on hand at meetings armed and equipped for service, pray daily and while going about daily duties, work and pray for the lost sheep, draw strength from Christ, and be laborers together with Him in sustaining the work being done and actively supporting the sharing of truth with the lost. Lawful striving uses all capabilities and gifts to work the cities, save perishing souls, win others to become co-laborers with Christ, and build up His kingdom, with the result that the knowledge and powers given will be largely increased in that work, made urgent by a season of great trial ahead. Publishing houses that hold fast to the pure principles of Bible truth, keep the commandments of God, and live out the high, holy principles of His Word retain the favor of God and are built up in the most holy faith, and their faithfulness converts thousands who do not obey the truth, who in turn win many souls from the ranks of the enemy.
It calls for fighting the good fight of faith without relaxing effort and seeking greater power each day to help others. God's people must fight faithfully in the Lord's battles, following Christ's commands and never doing what He could not commend, in a stern warfare that never grows weary in the work. This striving is expressed in pure, truthful, sympathetic, loving words and helpful actions that bless the weak, continuing with courage and cheerfulness through trial to bring joy and courage into other lives. Lawful striving means guarding every word and controlling every emotion, speaking no careless assertion or impulsive word, nothing in a spirit of retaliation or with even the appearance of railing accusation, and giving opposers of the faith and Satan no advantage. When workers strive in this lawful way, they will not be confused and confounded in strait places when their own words are reproduced against them before kings and rulers, magistrates and powers. It is also striving for mastery over foolishness by training the mind on the sound truths of God's Word and yielding life to the Spirit's control, so as to resist temptation, act as a Christian, and avoid dishonoring God before the world.