The Affairs of This Life May Entangle Us
J. Barlow, D. D. 2 Timothy 2:4 No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. 1. From weakness of judgment. 2. From inordinate affection. 3. From the rebellion of the will. Let us use all helps to avoid the danger; and(1) We must get a sound judgment, to understand what is the chiefest good, and how we are to dispose of all inferior things, for the procuring of it. (2) Labour to see the vanity of all earthly and sublimary things, what, and wherein their natural worth consisteth. (3) Make the Lord thy portion, and be thou assured that He only can content thy heart. (4) Refrain things indifferent (if in thy choice), and watch over thy outward senses. (5) Strive for a taste of spiritual things. They who tasted of the grapes which came from Canaan, desired to see the land: coveted more. So will it be in better things. (6) Beat Satan with his own weapons, outshoot him in his own bow. Doth he show thee the glory of this world? Tell him, it is thy Father's; and in serving of Him He will give thee a better. Tempts he thee to wear two swords? Say that thou art weak, and one sufficeth. Art thou enticed by Rebecca's beauty? Consider the king's daughter, who is all glorious within. Saith he, thou art a sinner? Reply, else what needed I a Saviour? (J. Barlow, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. WEB: No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.