1 Timothy 4:12-16: Neglect Not Your Gift
2021-10-16
Verse 12
We do not know how old Timothy was, but by use of the word youth, he is very young. He is young enough for people older than him to question his ability to be a leader in the church. However, Timothy was a qualified leader, as we shall see in a moment. Just because he is young does not mean that he cannot be a qualified leader, a gifted teacher, and a Spirit-filled Christian. Timothy would have to assert himself as a leader and church planter when he had opposition due to his age. If we are teachers, we must continue to teach with authority regardless of how we are received.
We should be able to hear the teaching and exhortation of younger believers as well. We also want to listen to the older Christians. We want to be mentored by those who have lived the Christian life for longer than we have. Anyone who has a word to share from the Lord, we want to hear from you. But never do we want to disrespect you because of your age, whether you be older or younger than us.
Part of how Timothy, or anybody, can offset the stigma of being looked down upon because of being young. They can do this by being “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
First is being an example in word. It could be in knowledge of the Word of God, or in word meaning speech. Both would be good examples, but it seems speech is considered here, because the list of traits concern behavior. What do you talk about? Do you joke around all the time, or are you deliberate and godly in your speech? What do people hear you say?
The next way to be an example is by conversation. This is not so much your speech, but your general behavior and lifestyle. How do you conduct yourself at work, at leisure, at church, with your family, when you are in town conducting business? What do people see? Are you a credible leader in your public and private life? Does your behavior match your spiritual convictions? People are always looking to see if your practice and your preaching line up.
Another way to be an example is by charity, or sacrificial love and service. Do you have a servant’s heart? Do you put others before yourself?
Also, in spirit. Are you led and controlled by the Spirit? How do you make decisions? Do you seek the Lord in everything, or do you spontaneously make rash decisions?
Next is faith. How do you handle hardships? Do you trust that the Lord is going to carry you through? This indicates what you truly believe about the Lord.
Lastly, is purity. How do you treat people of the opposite sex (cf. 1 Timothy 5:2)?
Verse 13
We have discussed how Paul had the intentions of coming to Timothy soon after writing this letter. Sometimes things stop our best intentions (1 Thessalonians 2:18). Either way, much of what Timothy needed to do was to give “attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13). Because we are dealing with Timothy’s interaction with the church, the reading most likely means the public reading of Scripture.
In Revelation 1:1-3, we see that someone, a single person “he,” is blessed if they read the words of the letter. We also see that the blessed hearers are plural, “they.” This shows us that public reading of Scripture was a big part of church meetings. The first century A.D. likely was a very illiterate society (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_education_in_ancient_Israel_and_Judah, saying a three percent literacy rate in first century A.D. Israel, which was considered good). Illiterate Christians were much dependent on public reading of Scripture and memorization. We see evidence of this in Revelation 1:3. Timothy would have to do a lot of public reading so people could know the Scriptures, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Timothy also was to give attendance to exhortation. The reading of the Word of God requires a response. Exhortation helps elicit that response. Exhortation implies comforting and imploring. There is one interpretation of a given section of Scripture, but there are many applications. We may read or hear the Word of God, but sometimes some of the application is missing on us because of our personal biases. We do not want to apply Scripture to our own sin; we often apply Scripture to other people and not ourselves. However, hearing a different application from the teaching helps keep us straight. The same applies to comforting. We read Scripture and miss so much. Exhortation fills in the gaps for us.
The young church planter was also to give attendance to doctrine. We discussed this a little bit in a previous section. While exhortation deals with applied truth, perhaps doctrine here is more foundational. Doctrine is not only for the scholar and the seminarian. Everyone needs to know the doctrines of the Bible.
Verse 14
Paul told Timothy, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:14). Timothy was a gifted teacher and leader. What are your gifts, and do you neglect them?
Consider the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The lord in the story gave his three servants talents. Talents are monetary weights, but the story would not change much if we rendered the word “talent” as what we normally mean by talents: our gifts and abilities. The lord expected a return on investment on the money that he gave the servants. The profiting servants were rewarded. The non-profitable servant was scolded and thrown into darkness. Take what you have, whether it be physical assets, skills, talents, knowledge, and put it to work. The Lord wants you to do it, and likely, you already want to do it!
For example, I work in the technology field and have some experience in web technologies. I also like writing about the Bible. Therefore, I created a website that archives my writings concerning the Faith. I naturally enjoy it, and it gives others a chance to either hear the Gospel or be encouraged in the Faith.
In Timothy’s case, his gift was given to him “by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” Timothy’s gifting involves teaching and leadership. To be a good Bible preacher and teacher, one must hear a lot of preaching. It is not just about learning God’s Word; it is learning how to preach from preachers. You are seeing those preachers using their gifts in action.
It is not enough to simply learn preaching by hearing preaching. You need people praying for you. These elders from whichever church invested time in praying for Timothy. They did not only do this in private; they physically laid hands over him and prayed for him. This is a powerful experience to have people pray for you in this fashion. They recognized the gift in Timothy and prayed for the development of that gift. Do we recognize others’ gifts, and do we pray for them?
Verses 15-16
Paul told Timothy to “meditate upon these things” (1 Timothy 4:15). Consider all these things in your mind: being an example, reading and exhorting from the Word, using the gifts that God has given you, as many people have invested in your spiritual life. “Give thyself wholly to them,” as this is your purpose in life. This is not for Timothy alone; it is for us as well. God gave you gifts and ministries that are in many ways uniquely yours. Give yourself completely over to that purpose because that is why you are here.
You also give yourself completely over to the Lord’s purpose for you so “that thy profiting may appear to all.” The assets and abilities given to you are there so that others can benefit. What are you doing so that people can benefit from the things the Lord has given you?
The Spirit ends this chapter on a somber note. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them” (1 Timothy 4:16). Continue in following the Lord and His calling. Consider the Scriptures and continue following them. Just because Timothy had a great calling of the Lord does not exempt him from possibly not continuing in following Him.
It could be major sin that disqualifies you from ministry. But it does not have to be that. You lose out, and those who would benefit from your service lose out as well, when you stop doing what the Lord has called you to do. In perseverance “thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” Remember that “save” can refer to justification salvation or sanctification (see the discussion on 1 Timothy 2:15). The latter makes the most sense here. If it refers to justification, then we clearly have works salvation, and we know clearly from other Scriptures that salvation is not meritorious: “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9).
You are not an island; when you stop following the Lord, everyone who would have benefited from your service also gets let down.