What Should We Learn From The Life Of Timothy? - EBible

Jeremiah Kaaya Supporter Pastor at Springs of Power Church, Teacher by professional Surely, there is a lot to learn from Timothy but this can also be seen in two major ways: a) How Timothy conducted himself b) How Timothy related with Paul in the work of God. How Timothy conducted himself (character) Timothy's character is one to be admired, when you read how Paul addresses Timothy, the following will cross your mind; 1) Timothy was humble 2) He was a willing learner 3) Committed He was humble No one loves it when they deal with people who will not listen to them, people who are unruly, and people who disregard others. To be listening, submissive and respectful of others are virtues which are reminiscent of a humble person. When you read 2Timothy 2:1-2, Paul addresses Timothy as his son and on that account, he gives him instructions and by this, you get the true picture of a Timothy who will willingly listen and take the message and use it the way he is supposed to. Equally so, in this scripture, you can feel the comfort and confidence Paul has when he is addressing Timothy on a range of issues. Humility does not come with age or anything, for it is a character formed. For you may argue that by virtue of Paul's age over Timothy, Timothy was supposed to humble himself before Paul, that is not true. We have witnessed younger people who disrespect their elders. Timothy was truly a humble young man. Willing learner Paul addresses Timothy in two epistles. In both of these, from the first page to the last, Paul is teaching Timothy on both personal and ministerial matters. Once again, how Paul addresses Timothy when you read these epistles, you can feel the comfort between the two; one willing to be a teacher, and that is Paul, more over a Jew. The other willing to be a learner and that is Timothy who was a Greek. As deep a relationship between a Jew and a Greek! In 2Timothy 1:5, Paul urges Timothy to take on the faith of his grandmother Lois and that of his mother Eunice. Such a communication must have been of two people who had had confidence in each other. Committed Timothy was a man committed to the work of God. We all know the credentials of the Apostle Paul, a man who had faced several trials while in the ministry of God. We know how he came to accept the Lord. We know how he disagreed with Peter on various issues (Galatians 2:11-14). Such a man to have that much confidence in a younger man like Timothy is a clear indication of how committed Timothy must have been. When you read 1Timothy 6:11-13, you will understand how Paul writes to a man of God he was pretty sure is committed to the work of the gospel of salvation. Paul wrote many more epistles apart from the ones he wrote to Timothy, in most of these epistles, he seems to castigate a people who seem to have left the true teachings of Christ, but when it comes to writing to Timothy, he is simply counseling, polishing an already committed man of God (2Timothy4:1-9). How Timothy related with Paul in the work of God This is also one of the great virtues to learn from Timothy. You will still learn that how Paul addresses Timothy, it is indicative that Timothy is equally a willing partner in the work of God. Paul had misunderstandings with some of the early church ministers such as Demas, Crescens, Titus (2Timothy 4:10) and even with Peter. In 2Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy that all which Paul had passed on to him as a faithful servant of God, he (Timothy) would also get faithful people who would faithfully pass them on to others. By this phrase, to Paul, Timothy was as faithful as to pass on the same information to other faithful people. There is no other person who Paul sounds to have as much confidence as he does in Timothy! In all this, you can envisage that Paul is addressing a willing partner in the work of God. Paul had open confidence in Timothy. Confidence is built not acquired! The life of Timothy and his relationship with his spiritual father Paul should be an excellent example of ministers of God today.

August 25 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report