I love ministry. I love meeting people, getting to know people, hanging out with people, teaching people and discipling people. I love to watch people make a decision to give their lives to Christ and then begin that journey that lasts a lifetime with him. I love helping people grow into a life that honors God.
This idea of honoring God with my life really began to fit together for me a few years ago. It’s been bouncing around in my mind since then, and I’ve been trying to develop this into practice in my own life. We were living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I went to Springfield, Missouri to participate in my brother Rick’s ordination service. My portion of the service was “Wisdom and Advice from an Older Brother in the Ministry.” So I began to think about what I have learned over the years about ministry, and how that applied to my brother’s life, and how it applied to my life.
Rick’s youth minister preached the ordination sermon during that service. Much of what he said began to refresh my memory about why I chose to serve Christ; and, more importantly, how I was to serve Christ.
Springfield, Missouri is a very long drive from Fort Wayne, Indiana. And when I drive I love to have some music playing. And, if my wife and the kids aren’t with me, I love to have it playing loud. But not as I drove back home that day. As I thought about my service to Christ, I began to be reminded that one of my roles in ministry is to teach others . . . ministry.
Sure, I’ve been ordained, and have dedicated my whole life to a career in ministry. But I began to wonder, how was that any different than what the Bible teaches about ministry for every Christian?
As I drove, I put in my CD of the NIV and listened to what Paul had to say to Timothy. And then it became clear. Each of us, as Christians, have been called to serve Christ with his or her entire life! Each of us are ministers in the Kingdom of God, not just members! Every one of us has a role to fill, and what is required to fill that role? Everything! Every aspect of our lives! Every waking moment of our day, and our sleep too! If God is not Lord of all, then he isn’t Lord at all!
So what does that mean? Over the next few days, I want to take a look at 1 Timothy 4, and part of 5, to see just what Paul says about serving Christ.
Background
First, let’s look at a little background. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, obviously. Timothy was the son of a Gentile father and a Jewish mother, who lived at Lystra, in the Roman province of Galatia. Timothy, along with his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois, was probably converted to Christianity during Paul’s first missionary journey, which we can read about in Acts 14:8-25, and in 2 Timothy 3:10-11. These accounts of Paul’s trip tell of a stop to preach and teach in Lystra.
By the time of Paul’s second visit to the area a year or two later, Timothy had matured so much that the church there recommended him as a traveling companion to Paul, according to Acts 16:2. And from this point on, Timothy seems to be associated with Paul’s ministry in one way or another.
Paul mentions him as a co-worker several times, and Timothy had a part in the writing of at least six of Paul’s letters (1 & 2 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). And Timothy was Paul’s chosen and trusted representative on several occasions.
Timothy wasn’t just a colleague of Paul’s, he was a beloved friend. In fact, Paul called him “my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord,” in 1 Corinthians 4:17.
Timothy was much younger than Paul. Some commentaries suggest that he was in his early twenties, maybe even his teens, when he began his ministry with Paul. And so Paul writes to Timothy and gives him instructions, based on his (Paul’s) experience, to teach Timothy more about ministry.
So what does this all mean about serving Christ? According to Paul, every Christian is a minister, and is called to serve. We’ve already talked about that. And Paul gives Timothy some practical pointers to help him become a better servant.
Fortunately for us, they all begin with the letter “T“. That makes them easy to remember. And over the next few days, we will take a look at each of them in turn.
- Teach The Truth – 1 Timothy 4:6
- Train For Godliness – 1 Timothy 4:7-8
- Trust In God Alone – 1 Timothy 4:9-10
- Take On The Example – 1 Timothy 4:12
- Treat Others With Respect – 1 Timothy 5:1-2
- The Conclusion Of The Matter
I believe that if you will commit to these instructions that come directly from the pen of Paul, who was writing to a young man about ministry, I believe you will succeed as a servant of the King.
I’m looking forward to digging into these five principles with you!
Have you ever taken the time to really read 1 Timothy? What stood out to you most? If not, why not do it now? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.