I Timothy 4:6-16

I Timothy 4:6-16

The flow of Paul's letter is important. He has moved from demanding a life of leadership to orthodox doctrine to the dangers of a works salvation heresy. In the next phase he addresses the constant struggle of being a disciple and especially the personal character of his leadership. Timothy and those he teaches are to be constantly nourished on the works of faith and sound doctrine. It is too easy and far too common for church leaders to flatline in their study and growth. Their teachings and sermons are old recycled lessons or sermons that were taught years ago, filed away, brought out and reused, and then the cycle repeats. A minister’s teaching and sermons ought to come from an ever-growing, ever-lively, ever-learning walk with God in Scripture. Instead of this vital life of study and proclaiming what we sometimes see is preaching as a job to be done with the least effort possible except when it comes to looking good for the audience.

Paul warns against silly fables. Judaism and paganism were both filled with stories that were illustrations, morality tales of one sort or another. Telling stories is a great way to teach, and Jesus used that tool frequently. But sometimes the point becomes the story, the fable, or the work/behaviors prescribed and not about Christ. Entertainment disguised as illustration is nothing new and is still a shameful reality in much of the modern church. It is worth noting that Paul contrasts fables with discipline. Don't miss the point. When we steer away from the hard work of spiritual discipline and sound doctrine, our teaching is going to veer toward old women's stories.

There can be no doubt that Paul is telling Timothy about hard work. In verse 10, Paul uses the words “labor” and “strive” (NASB). The first word means to work to exhaustion, and the second word is the word from which we get the English word agony. The first word might describe pulling two or three shifts in succession at a demanding job. The second word is descriptive of training for the Olympic games. When we see the training of a major college football team, it should remind us of how ministers work for the kingdom. Too often the effort of many ministers is more that of a homeless bum holding a sign, “Will preach for food.”

Finally, in addition to the gold medal standard of effort, Paul says that Timothy is to be an example of the gracious character of the Christian life. The word “example” means pattern. It is a word from which we get the English word ‘type.’ It is a consistent, reliable, repeatable, and reproducible pattern of conduct. This word was used for the mark left by striking a coin or the marks left by a nail. The call to discipleship, which is also a call to leadership, is not easy. But in following the difficult path, we are following the pattern of the apostles, prophets, and our Lord.

“Lord, help me to live the life of discipline as a disciple. AMEN”