Original: February 17, 2008
McMinnville, OR
11 Command and teach these things. 12 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. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1Timothy 4:11-16
Several years ago James, Darby and me headed north from our home in Los Osos, California to Dunnigan, California for the dove season opener. We were invited to hunt by my friend and fellow youth staff Ken. His uncle owns an almond farm on the I-5 above just Sacramento. According to Ken he is, or was, the largest Blue Diamond Almond distributor in the state.
Making the long five hour drive to the hotel, Ken took the time to carefully lay out several “things” that we needed not do under any circumstances. “Do not go to this mini-mart because our family does not get along with the owner. Don’t hunt beyond the river. Don’t ask dad about his leg. And no matter what happens don’t ever under any circumstances pronounce almond with the ‘L’ sound. Here we say “A-MUND”. Just thinking of it this way he continued, “Up here they beat the ‘L’ out of the “almonds!”
Looking back to that day always makes me chuckle. What struck me was Ken’s incredible seriousness about these things we had to abide by in order to be accepted by his family.
In my Bible 1 Timothy 4:6-16 has the subtitle, “A Good Ministers Discipline”. In this section Paul talks to his protégé Timothy about “these things” on four separate occasions. In verse 6 Timothy is administered to be “pointing out” these things (talking about verses 1-5) to those under his care.
The take-away is that it is vitally important for the Christian man to teach sound doctrine to those under his care. In verses 7-10 Timothy is given a list, or code of conduct, to live by and is told to “prescribe and teach these things”.
Essentially, Paul is telling Timothy to live out what he is telling him to do so that others might see his life in action as a teaching tool in itself. In verse 15 Timothy is encouraged to “take pain with these things; be absorbed in them so that your progress may be evident to all (NASB)”. “These things” are not only important but are catalysts for the godly man and demand his total absorption in them. The greatest thing the man of God can do as a spiritual leader is to grow himself, stretch himself, and follow Christ so that others may witness his progress.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, is verse 16 where Timothy is admonished to. “Persevere in these things”. Having a great start and strong middle of the race is to no avail if a man fails to finish.
To quit is to say, “I was wrong. This isn’t worth the fight anymore. Or, I simply can’t handle it.” To run strong and finish well is to show those who follow that this is indeed the truth and worthy of a man’s life involvement and total absorption.
Remember it is not how well you start but how strong you finish that matters most in speaking to others about the characteristic of perseverance in your life. More than character, however; is what is says about the kind of man you are. A man finishes strong. Whether it is through quitting or ending, a boy just walks away.
Be a man.
Finish strong!
