"The Good Deposit"

by Caldwell, H. | Category: For Young Believers | Nov 1955

"O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee" (1 Timothy 6.20) It is an interesting question as to what was meant by the apostle by "the deposit," "my deposit," "the good deposit." The references to himself and to Timothy both imply something personal, over and above what is given in common to all saints. It is not limited to "the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints," for that is a deposit of a general nature. Both Paul and Timothy had a special deposit and a special charge, which required their cleaving to the Lord that there might be no failure. The service which they were to render however could not have been faithfully rendered had they in any way departed from the faith delivered to the saints. Thus the good deposit, while it is not the faith is intimately related to it through the responsibility expressly given to such men as Paul and Timothy.

We can almost feel and hear the appealing note in the voice of the beloved apostle Paul as he implores his true child in the faith to hold fast and guard that which had been committed to him by the apostle himself and others.

Here we have presented to us a picture of a faithful young man brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord receiving from Paul the aged (himself a faithful and tried servant' of divine instruction deposited in earthen vessels by God that His people may conform more and more to His will, and that men may know, among many other things, how to behave themselves in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3.15).

It was a solemn charge that was given to this young man who as we see from 1 Timothy 5.23, was prone to indifferent health. As we ponder upon this scene our thoughts turn to other somewhat similar instances in the Scriptures. In Numbers 27.18 in answer to the request by Moses "that a man be appointed over the congregation, that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd" the LORD said "Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thine hand upon him." The mantle of Moses, the servant of God fell on the worthy shoulders of Joshua.

So also did Elijah's mantle fall upon Elisha, and we see God's hand moving, through the ages as "He putteth down one, and lifteth up another according to His will (Psalm 75.7). We hear afresh the words of Nabothin answer to Ahab, " The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee" (1 Kings 21.8), as the covetous king of Israel sought to wrest from him the precious inheritance won for him by his fathers at great cost We remember Shammah, wielding his sword mightily in the pot of lentils on behalf of his beloved master (2 Samuel 23.11, 12). Worthy men! whose names appear indelibly written upon the pages of Holy Writ. Yes, God has appointed His men today in this line of witness to bear the golden vessels of divine truths.

Satan is ever trying to delude men concerning the truth of God, and we, whose lofty privilege it is to find ourselves numbered with God's people and sharing in the glorious privilege of worshipping in God's house, are required to quit ourselves like men and be strong. The apostle John writes, "I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2.14). Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 6 to "put on the whole armour of God ... and having done all to stand." We are likewise urged by Jude "to contend earnestly for THE FAITH which was once-for-all delivered unto the saints." Once for all, though not all at once, was the faith given; for God's Holy Spirit used different men at various times in the first century, and breathed through them this precious body of doctrine. It is ours to guard, maintain and cherish what we have received once for all.

May it be ours then in the closing days of this dispensation to feel the weight of this charge, as undoubtedly Timothy did. Let us hear afresh the words of Ezra as God's remnant people journeyed from Babylon to Jerusalem carrying with them the precious contents of the House of God-" Ye are holy unto the LORD, and the vessels are holy ... Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them

in the chambers of the house of the LORD" (Ezra 8.28, 29).

May it be our happy experience at the judgement seat of Christ to earn the Master's "Well done", as the golden vessels of divine truths deposited with us on our earthly journey are found returned, not wanting in weight! May we be found to have been good stewards of the mysteries!

"I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus

For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but . . . will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Timothy 4.1-4).

Caldwell, H. | Nov 1955
For Young Believers