Episode 58: 1 Tim 4:12-16

11/12/19 • 5 min

1 Timothy 4:12-16 (NLT)

12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

In 1 Timothy, Paul is advising Timothy on how to handle a difficult situation. At the time, Timothy is being sent in to address areas of concern within the church. No doubt, this was an overwhelming task. Timothy was younger than many of the people he would be advising, and he also likely had less religious experience. This, however, was not concerning to God. What we see in others and ourselves is not what God sees. God sees the heart. God is concerned not with age or experience, but with our conduct, love, faith and purity.

Paul tells Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because of his age, but the principle extends far beyond just age. The broader message is that God has a plan for us no matter what our perceived limitation. As believers, we are called specifically to pursue God’s will above all else. This means that no matter our situation, we are without excuse when it comes to saying yes to what God puts in front of us. If we aren’t dead, God’s not done.

God is not waiting for us to reach a certain age, theological understanding or level of income to be used by Him. Our value to God lies in our obedience — not our age, race, gender or how much or how little we may have. Despite all the shortcomings we see in ourselves, we have the ability to confidently share Jesus’ message with those around us.

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1 Timothy 4:12-16 (NLT)

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Previous Episode

Episode 57: 1 Tim 4:7-11

Running a marathon isn’t something we just wake up and do. To build the endurance to finish a 26.2-mile race takes months of strict, physical training. To get up every morning and run, whether or not you feel like it, takes commitment and discipline.

While there are physical benefits to this kind of training — strong legs, a healthy heart, there’s a spiritual benefit to learning discipline as well. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul compares the drive it takes us to finish the Christian life well to the drive it takes to train for a race.

There are going to be mornings where we don’t feel like reading the Bible. There will be Sundays where we don’t feel like serving. There will be people we don’t feel like forgiving. But like the athlete who pushes through to reach his goal, we make a conscious choice each day to push past our feelings and circumstances to keep following Jesus.

The difference between physical training and mental training is the reward. "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

The medal we receive at the end of a race is nothing compared to the spiritual strength we receive when we learn to value discipline. Striving toward physical goals are great goals to have. But striving toward godliness has value in this life and the one to come.

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Episode 59: 1 Timothy 5

When the word “church” comes up in conversation, the first thing we think of is a building. We have this mindset that church is a place we go to on Sundays. As we get our family dressed, fight through traffic and get a good seat, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we aren’t just going to church; we are the church.

In 1 Timothy 5, Paul describes the church as people dedicated to doing whatever it takes to reach out and help others. We have a responsibility to serve and help others in need as the church. Caring for each other as well as those outside of the church is the quickest way to see Jesus change lives. Too often, we see a need and wait for the pastor or someone on staff to take responsibility. But that’s not the way church works.

Each of us has been given skills, abilities and opportunities to serve. In Timothy’s church, for example, the women ran a widows ministry (1 Timothy 5:16), and elders directed church affairs while others were devoted just to teaching and preaching (1 Timothy 5:17).

In the Bible, church is always a reference to people, not a place. The church is a body of believers that live out the Gospel in their words and actions. The church is at its best when people inside the building take Jesus’ message outside the building and serve those they meet.

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