Vol. 04, No. 14

Mt. Baker Beacon - 2025

Steven J. Wallace
04/13/25 - Mt. Baker Beacon - 2025

ENTANGLED

Bill Pierce

“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” (2 Tim. 2:4). These words were written to a young evangelist, Timothy, who, as a Gospel preacher, was not to lose sight of work through entanglement in the affairs of this life. The word “tangle” means “to involve so as to hamper, obstruct…to involve as in a mesh; ensnare” (Webster). To be entangled implies a state of being hindered or hampered in one's faithfulness to Christ - to be confused as to what is to be first in our life as a Christian.

That which is forbidden is not the “affairs of this life.” Paul often worked when it was necessary to support himself in preaching the Gospel and certainly it is right for a Christian to conduct a business to support himself and his family. But that which is forbidden is the “entanglement” - to allow the affairs of this life to ensnare us, to hinder us in our reaching the goal of eternal life - becoming too involved with our work and pleasure that we fail to be faithful as a Christian. This admonition is serious and should be considered prayerfully by all of us. If we are to be successful in our fight for truth, we will not allow ourselves to become entangled with this life and we will follow the rules, or “strive lawfully” (2 Tim. 2:5).

How can I know if I am entangled or becoming that way? I am entangled when:

I allow my work to keep me from rendering full service to Christ. (Mt. 6:33).
I allow my friends and relatives to keep me from services or from doing the will of Christ daily (Mt. 10:37).
I don't have time, because of the affairs of this life to pray, read the Bible, visit the sick, and teach others.
I enter into any relationship, whether marriage, business or pleasure that will prevent me from living as a Christian.

Love for this world will alienate us from God. (1 John 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4), it will cause us to forsake truth (2 Tim. 4:10), and it will dull our desire for spiritual things (Col. 3:1-4).

Are you entangled?

SENTENCE SERMONS:

“His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.” (Proverbs 5:22)

“Sin is never content to stay where it started—it always tightens its grip.”

“What you cling to may soon cling to you—choose wisely what you embrace.”

“The web of compromise is woven one small thread at a time until the soul is bound."

“The more you wrestle with temptation, the tighter it holds—flee instead.”

"The Titanic—boasting built it. Blindness steered it. An iceberg buried it. Humility could have saved it."
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” — James 4:10 (NKJV)

Avoiding Icebergs: Faith Lessons from Titanic Failure
AM: Proverbs 16:18-19

SECTION 1: OVERCONFIDENCE AND THE ICEBERG AHEAD

What false claim was made about the Titanic, and what does the Bible say goes before destruction? (Proverbs 16:18)
“Therefore let him who thinks he __________ take heed lest he __________.”
(1 Corinthians 10:12)
What was the ambition of the builders of Babel, and where did their pride take them? (Genesis 11:1–9)
Whom did Pharaoh not know, and what did his prideful ignorance result in? (Exodus 5:2)
What unlawful act did Uzziah demand, and what did his prideful ambition lead to? (2 Chronicles 26)
Pride made Nebuchadnezzar speak like a god—then live like a __________. (Daniel 4:28–33)

King Herod harassed some from the church and even killed the apostle James (Acts 12:1–2). He also imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:3–4). Later, he gave a speech that was praised as “The voice of a god and not of a man” (Acts 12:22). Herod took the glory that belonged to God—and it killed him! Pride fed Herod’s ego, but worms had the final word.

THOUGHT: If a king died for taking God’s glory, how seriously should we take our own?

THOUGHT QUESTION: What principle can we discover from Psalm 34:2, 8?

continued…
PM: Proverbs 1:24-28

Pride blinds us to danger. But what happens when the warnings come—yet go unheeded?

Was the Titanic capable of receiving transmission warnings, and did the crew receive warnings about ice?
“He who is often rebuked, and __________ his neck, will suddenly be __________, and that without remedy.” (Proverbs 29:1)
What did Jesus want to do, and what was Jerusalem’s response?
(Luke 13:34–35)
What were the people doing up until the day of the flood, and why were they destroyed? (Matthew 24:37–39)
When someone rejects sound teaching, what does it reveal about their heart? (1 Timothy 6:3–4)
As dangerous as reckless pride is—and as tragic as it is to ignore repeated warnings—what was the third underlying factor that led to the Titanic’s demise?
What did Nebuchadnezzar understand that all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as? (Daniel 4:35)
What does God do to behold things in heaven and on earth? (Psalm 113:4–6)
Psalm 127:1 — “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in __________ who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in __________.”