The Daily Pursuit – 1 Timothy 4:12-16
What kind of daily routine do you have? Swedish movie director and producer, Ingmar Bergman, did not drink alcohol or use medicine. He was also highly disciplined in his daily rituals, so disciplined that he ate the same lunch every day. ”It’s some kind of whipped sour milk, very fat, and strawberry jam, very sweet—a strange kind of baby food he eats with corn flakes” said the actress Bibi Andersson.
Around A. D. 62-64, the apostle Paul was traveling, preaching the gospel, and left Timothy in the city of Ephesus to continue the work Paul had earlier started. It was Timothy’s responsibility to continue preaching the truth, opposing false teachers, and strengthening the church.
In 1 Timothy 4, he gives Timothy several items to which he should give careful attention. I want to encourage us, today, to make these matters a part of our daily pursuit in living the Christ-centered life…
LET NO ONE LOOK DOWN ON YOUR YOUTHFULNESS – 4:12:
We might date Timothy around 35 years old. Paul’s point here is that we should not despise the youth for their lack of wisdom or naiveté. Nor, for that matter, should the youth despise the older people for their lack of energy or lack of novelty. The church of Christ includes both youth and elderly and we need to build on and utilize the advantages and strengths of both groups.
SHOW YOURSELF (lit. “Be”) AN EXAMPLE – 4:12:
In speech – how you talk; in conduct – how you live; In love; In faith; In purity. If we give attention to faith, love, and purity – inner characteristics – these will show in our speech and conduct – the outer, visible, behavior.
GIVE ATTENTION TO – 4:13:
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Each of these three have the definite article with them, suggesting that these are established aspects of Christian life & worship.
Reading – God’s Word. In our time, the fact that we all have multiple copies of God’s word at home gives us no excuse not to read God’s word daily.
Exhortation – to others to follow God’s word.
Teaching – others what God’s word means.
So, in your daily pursuit of the Christ-life, read your Bible and be prepared to encourage and instruct other people based on your reading of God’s word.
DO NOT NEGLECT THE SPIRITUAL GIFT – 4:14:
It seems that Paul’s meaning here is that the Holy Spirit had communicated to Paul that he should lay his hands on Timothy. This was also during the period of church history in which the guidance of the congregations of Christians was being turned over from the apostles (Paul, in this incidence) to the elders of the local congregation.
Again, this is in the context of miraculous abilities given by the Holy Spirit in the first century. Romans 12 suggests that there are other items which – through God’s providence – are also given to Christians for the benefit of others (like teaching, encouragement, and giving).
Daily read the Word so the Spirit can permeate your thinking and your emotions, then work through your life to be a good example to others.
–Paul Holland
