A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

“Just as a skillful coach will often return to the basics of the sport to pull the team or a player out of a stump, Paul returns to the basics to keep this church on track. Paul is explaining to Timothy that the soundness of a church depends on ministers and leaders who are sound in their faith and practice growing in godliness. This should apply to all Christians. We shouldn’t be fooled by the term minister- the principles of living a godly life should apply to all believers, just as all believers are to be involved in ministering to unbelievers.” –Bible Gateway Commentaries

6 If you put these things before the brothers, 1 you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

Here Paul is speaking of a good minister, one who will faithfully and ably confront false teachers, will have been brought up in Christian faith. A Christian leader should be one who has habitually taken nourishment from God’s Word and continues to do so.

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, 2 because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Genuine godliness is the life of faith strengthened by training in the Word of God- a lifestyle of obedience to Him. Paul admits that physical training does have certain limited value; by means of it one can learn to control physical urges. Godliness on the other hand, has unlimited value, for it is that life in the power of the spirit. Genuine godliness holds promise for both the present life and the life to come. He is saying that until the coming of Christ let us "toil and strive" to grow in goliness and resist temptations of the world. Our hope should be tied to the hope of our God who saves!

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

This is a call to our generation! The verse is pretty clear and direct. I’ve been convicted of this many times before. Growing up in a church and be surrounded by many older and wiser people, I’ve had to overcome the temptation to fear man. The church is a group of believers and I am one of them and should not worry about what older people think of me. If God has laid something on my heart to share with them or to confront them about, I need to be faithful to do so. As Christians, we are called to “build” each other up, whether older or younger.

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Paul is urging Timothy to be consistent in the practice of public reading of Scripture. Doing this centers attention on God, who, communicating with his people, initiates and sustains a covenant relationship in the church. The reading of the Word also prepares the people for the exposition and application of Scripture.

14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, 3 so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

In other words Paul is saying to be faithful in the exercise of spiritual gifts. God has chosen to build and maintain His church by empowering believers to carry out this ministry. With this gift comes the responsibility to exercise it in the church. The gift does not operate independently, but through the lives of individuals in the church being obededient to God.

I just can’t help but mention how grateful I am for the pastors in our group of Churches. They are truly “good servants of Jesus Christ” and on top of that, they are humble and caring servants. We are truly blessed!

P.S. Most of what I wrote I pulled from Bible Gateway Commentaries.