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But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 ESV
The hippopotamus is a surprising animal. Bull hippos can weigh up to 6,000 pounds and run up to 30 miles per hour on land—faster than Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest human. According to BBC News, it’s the world’s deadliest large land mammal, killing an estimated five hundred people per year in Africa. The majority of these attacks happen along rivers where people get their fresh water for the day.
But the hippopotamus is not the only deadly animal to inhabit Africa’s rivers. Crocodiles kill more humans than hippos do. So if you find yourself along an African river band and a hippopotamus charges at you, pay attention to where you look for safety. A man being chased by one predator would be wise not to run into a different predator’s mouth.
The apostle Paul said something similar in a letter to Timothy. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9)
It isn’t enough to flee the temptation to be rich and the desires that accompany it. You must run toward the attributes of God to be safe—“Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11).
Prayer: God, be my goal and my strength.
The hippopotamus is a surprising animal. Bull hippos can weigh up to 6,000 pounds and run up to 30 miles per hour on land—faster than Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest human. According to BBC News, it’s the world’s deadliest large land mammal, killing an estimated five hundred people per year in Africa. The majority of these attacks happen along rivers where people get their fresh water for the day.
But the hippopotamus is not the only deadly animal to inhabit Africa’s rivers. Crocodiles kill more humans than hippos do. So if you find yourself along an African river band and a hippopotamus charges at you, pay attention to where you look for safety. A man being chased by one predator would be wise not to run into a different predator’s mouth.
The apostle Paul said something similar in a letter to Timothy. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9)
It isn’t enough to flee the temptation to be rich and the desires that accompany it. You must run toward the attributes of God to be safe—“Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11).
Prayer: God, be my goal and my strength.
