If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy
and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but
set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council
of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
One of the things we tried to do as parents was to keep our children away from fads. We didn’t want the culture dictating to us or to them what they “had to have” and
definitely tried to stay away from “cool” whatever that meant at the time.
So, when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles took the country by storm, we, in keeping with our so-called principles, didn’t participate and explained to our kids why.
Sure enough, one of the neighbor children came outside with a Mutant Ninja Turtle sweatshirt on and one of my sons, who was about 6 told the young boy that he was going to hell because he was wearing that sweatshirt.
I still think fads are a bad idea, but so is raising your children to be good little Pharisees.
The text is filled with admonitions to Timothy with regard to his ministry, that is, what a faithful minister is to be doing. But don’t get too comfortable, and for
two reasons. First, as we saw with elders and deacons, all the commands regarding Timothy’s personal life and behavior are true for all Christians and second, the specific instruction about faithful ministry assumes a congregation that is humble to receive
that ministry.
There is plenty here to pinch all of us. Here is the point that Paul is making and it is quite simple: A good or faithful minister of Jesus Christ is someone who faithfully
imparts the truth as that truth was laid down by the prophets and the apostles in the Word of God and who lives that truth faithfully in his own life.
Implied in all of that is that of a faithful congregation who humbly receives that word as coming from the Lord and seeks in like manner to live the word faithfully.
Sadly, there are folks who want to find a church and a minister who they know will not push them…who will stay away from the passages that cut us open, which remember is what
the Word of God is to do…it is after all, a two-edged sword, and even more disturbing, is that there are plenty of ministers who will oblige them.
I want to admonish you as I must admonish myself: Listen to what God says in His Word…all of it. I know there are passages that you wish were not there, that God had not said
certain things because to obey Him in those things, makes your life difficult…hard…even having to choose the Lord and His Word over relationships…or because of your commitment to Him, it means not getting the promotion, not moving up the ladder. But the reward
in obedience is far greater than the cost.
Timothy had been brought up with the truth, learning it from his infancy from his mother and grandmother, and then under the tutelage of Paul himself. He is told:
Train yourself to be godly. The term Paul uses is a variation of the word from which we get our word gymnastics. One can train himself in spiritual things as one can train
himself or herself physically.
The questions is: What is the training? Well, in this context it is the mastery of the teaching of the Word of God, as we see from Paul’s use of a similar term in v. 6: “being
trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine…”
A Christian trains in godliness by digesting the Word of God, mastering its teaching, and taking it to heart, and then by practicing it in his or her life…its quite simple. (RSR)
I didn’t say it is easy, but it is simple.
Paul compares physical training to spiritual training. Today our culture is obsessed with their bodies…with staying or rather, looking, young. Dana and I used to drive by a sign
on I-75 just outside of Atlanta that advertised for the Anti-Aging clinic. A clinic that is anti, against, aging. It seems to me, the only way you can NOT age, is to not be alive! I am not sure what the clinic is promising.
Nonetheless, folks are obsessed with their bodies, whether to make them look better, less wrinkled, lined and flabby or to run a marathon but how many folks do you suppose are
doing anything at all to train their souls? Seriously, I would bet that for some, they spend more time in the mirror than they do in God’s Word! And I am referring to those in the Christian church!
But, says Paul, train your body all you want, the effect is temporary. You can’t stave off death. But the effect of godliness is eternal; because it is part of God’s salvation
that delivers us to eternal life and because in the next world it will receive its reward.
And then, Paul says to have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths, that is, don’t get distracted from the main thing…from preaching the word and living a godly life.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for my many words for in many words there is much sin. Forgive me for thinking I know and think to be the instructor of others when
I should be silent and be one who is taught. I especially ask that I would have a mind and heart of humility when approaching You and when going into Your presence in worship. Give me deeper contemplations of Your holiness, righteousness, grace, justice and
mercy that I might truly know You, Your ways and my duty before You, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Hymn: Be Still My Soul