Every Man's Bible - Proverbs - Flipbook - Page 19
someone you
THE POINT: Effectiveness for God depends on divine power,
not human temperament.
Timothy
TOO MANY OF US shrink back from ministry involvement because we tell ourselves we
just don’t have the right temperament. We hear of the fiery fisherman Peter or the bold
apostle Paul and think, Hey, I’m nothing like that. I could never get up in front of three
people to speak, let alone a crowd. I’ll leave ministry to the professionals.
Yet God doesn’t think this way. Consider Timothy “Exhibit A.”
Timothy grew up in a mixed home. While his Jewish mother became a Christian,
his Greek father apparently never came to faith. It appears that both Timothy and his
mother accepted Christ during Paul’s first missionary journey when the apostle visited
their hometown, Lystra. On Paul’s second trip through the
area, he took note of Timothy, a young man “well thought of
Timothy
by the believers in Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:2). Paul and
struggled
Timothy developed a close bond, and the apostle became
the younger man’s spiritual mentor.
with fear and
From that time on, Timothy often accompanied Paul on
hesitation,
his journeys, sometimes staying behind and sometimes
so Paul
working with others in “advance teams,” paving the way for
admonished
Paul’s arrival (Acts 17:14; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4). Paul grew to
love this young man as if he were his own flesh and blood.
him to be bold
He counted him a “fellow worker” (Romans 16:21) and
for Christ.
“brother” (2 Corinthians 1:1); but more than that, he thought
of Timothy as “my dear son” (2 Timothy 1:2), “my beloved
and faithful child in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:17) and “my true son in the faith”
(1 Timothy 1:2). And he could say, “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares
about your welfare. . . . Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has
served with me in preaching the Good News” (Philippians 2:20, 22).
Yet Timothy was no Paul; Paul was an example and mentor for his son in the faith,
but Timothy was not a mirror of Paul’s strengths. Timothy struggled with fear and
hesitation. So Paul admonished his timid protégé: “God has not given us a spirit of fear
and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others
about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him.
With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good
News” (2 Timothy 1:7-8). The apostle instructed those who might be his hosts, “When
Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. . . . Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt”
(1 Corinthians 16:10-11).
Timothy proves that God can and does use all kinds of temperaments in ministry.
The big question for each of us is this: Do I want him to use me?
should know:
Timid but Fruitful
