1 Timothy 4:9-16

1 Timothy 4:9-16  This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.  Command and teach these things.  Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Jeremiah 1:4-9   The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”  But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.  Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 

In the above passage, Paul encourages Timothy to be consistent in doctrine and holy in his lifestyle.  He desires Timothy, as a young minister in the church, to devote himself to publicly reading Scriptures and to faithfully expounding on them.  He wants Timothy to set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  He reminds Timothy that his ministry should be consistent, in season and out of season, through hardships and through prosperity.  If he is so diligent, his life will reveal a steadfastness that will draw men to Christ.  Paul understood people would be watching this young man's progress in the Lord, so he encouraged Timothy to act maturely and with a dedication and wisdom beyond his youthfulness.  

Ministers, appointed by God, receive a special unction of the Holy Spirit to carry the Word of the Lord to the church and to a dying world.  Within the reality of the mystical church of Christ, ministers are chosen by God to explain the scriptures and to give direction to the church.  Paul did not choose Timothy, God chose him.  As surely as Jeremiah was called so are ministers of the gospel called.  If they are not called by God, then ministry is just another profession, maybe best equated with a sympathetic counselor or a wise philosopher or maybe even a community organizer.  If the Holy Spirit is not the engine that drives a minister, if the words of God are not fire within the bones of a pastor, then his calling is just another way of making a living.  

All believers have a special ministry within the body of Christ.  We might not be ministers, but we are called as Jeremiah was called.  We were called by God from the beginning of our existence.  Each of us has abilities and inclinations that are given to us by God.  Each of us has talents that He wants to use to advance his kingdom.  None of us are to be bleacher sitters.  None of us are to watch the game of life.  None of us are to put our spiritual self on the shelf and then live life as if the flesh is all that matters.  If we don't fulfill our spiritual missions on earth, we will be most miserable.  We will end our lives in some hospital bed, wondering what life is all about.  We will assess our lives and find them not as profitable as we would have desired, not touching as many lives as positively as we would have liked.  We will find too many places where we gave up, where we didn't press through to victory.  We will find too many times we didn't help others who were in need.  We will find that our lives were too oriented upon ourselves.  Not many were blessed and encouraged by our testimony, our assistance.  

Timothy was encouraged to live a consistent, worthy life so he and many others would be saved by the power of God.  We are to live similar lives.  When we feel discouraged, we need to press on, to make room for God.  As with Jeremiah, God has a purpose for our lives, and it is not that we sit and watch the game.  We are in the game and we should play it with vigor.  We should play all the way to the end.  Our church attendance should be consistent, our thought life should be pure, our actions should be helpful, our words should be healing.  If we play this game of life that way, we will be successful.  When we die, we will know we finished well.  We will hear those precious words: Well done my faithful servant.