Recently I had the privilege of traveling up to New England for a family wedding. While up there, I had the privilege of seeing a beautiful New England Fall, as well as taking a ride on a four mast schooner off the New England coast. However, what I enjoyed even more than that was being able to spend time with family.
There are some people in our lives who “recharge our spiritual batteries” when we spend time with them, and my family up there are such people. My uncle and aunt are like a second set of parents to me, and my cousins are like 7 additional siblings. All of my cousins in that family are now married, and between the 5 older couples, there are 20 kids who are like nieces and nephews to me.
When I arrived, there were children coming from every direction to get a hug from “Uncle Chris”. I was pulled in many directions as I heard: “Uncle Chris! Come look at this!” and “Uncle Chris! Let me show you something!” These children are being raised in godly homes, by parents who deeply desire to raise their children up in the fear and admonition of The Lord…and it shows.
The more time I spent with the kids during my time there, I was struck by just how much they look up to me. I even saw out of the corner of my eye, one of my 6 year old second cousins straighten up her slouching posture as she watched me straighten up mine!
There are people in each one of our lives who are watching us, looking up to us, and even imitating us….and we don’t even realize it much of the time! If 5 years from now, these children hear that “Uncle Chris” is making bad decisions, and is no longer walking with God, it will have a profound effect on them! The same is true for each one of us! The choices we make in life not only affect us, but many more lives whether we realize it or not.
In 1Tim 4:1-6, Paul is challenging Timothy, a young man whom he has discipled and worked with, to be a faithful example. Even though Paul was writing to Timothy who was a young pastor at the time, the principles in this passage apply to each one of us as believers. Paul writes:
1 Timothy 4:6-12 “6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 11 Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”
Wow! there sure is a lot in that passage! let me try to simplify and break it down into a few key points. We are to be:
1. Growing in Doctrine v6-7
a. Put on sound doctrine v6
This is where it starts. We will not be able to live out an effective example for others to observe and follow unless we are grounded in sound doctrine i.e. what we believe. Notice verse 6…Paul tells Timothy to be nourished in sound doctrine! to be nourished in something means that we are feeding on it daily. In other words we have to be constantly be feeding on God’s Word if we are going to be nourished in sound doctrine.
b. Put off false doctrine v7
Right after telling Timothy to be nourished in sound doctrine, he charges him to have nothing to do with false doctrine, which he calls “worldly fables fit only for old women”. If we follow after false doctrine, we will no only lead ourselves astray, but we will lead others astray as well.
2. Growing in godliness v7-10
a. It’s a discipline v7
Verse 7 describes growing in godliness as a discipline. Just like an athlete disciplines and trains himself both physically and mentally by giving up whatever might hinder his development, as well as working his body beyond its limit, we to are to strive to grow in godliness
b. It’s Profitable v8
Verse 8 points out that bodily exercise is only profitable in this life because it only affects the physical, yet disciplining ourselves in godliness is profitable all around, because it affects us spiritually…thus in this life and in the next.
c. The end goal v9-10
Verse 10 reminds us that we have our gaze fixed on God…in other words; Christ is the end goal of why we discipline ourselves in godliness. Eph 413 reminds us, Christ is the measure of a mature man, and it is to his stature that we are trying to grow up to. As we become more like Christ, we then are an even better example for others to follow.
3. Be an Example in these areas: (verse 12)
a. Speech: Eph 4:29
b. Conduct: 1Pete 2:12
c. Love: 1Cor 13:4-8
d. Faith: Heb 10:23, Prov 3:3
e. Purity: 1Peter 2:11, 1Cor 6:18, Ps 119:9
Being constantly nourished in sound doctrine helps us to be better disciplined in godliness. As we discipline ourselves in godliness, The Lord helps us to grow in the areas listed in verse 12, therefore helping us to be a good example which others can follow.
People are always watching us whether we realize it of not…the question is, what type of example will you be?
Feel free to leave a comment sharing about someone who has been a good example in your life!
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