Who's Going to Listen to Me?

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 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. (1 Tim 4:12-16)

Timothy had a problem; he was young. Now, "young" may be relative, but, still, Paul was concerned that his youth might be a problem. So he offered a solution.

Most of us have similar problems. People won't listen to us because we're old or young, black or white, too fat or too thin, over-educated or not educated enough, too rich or too poor, or, most commonly, sinners. Yes, each and every one of us has failed at some time or another -- often badly. What, then, are we to do if we want to be faithful messengers for Christ? Here's what Paul said to do.

1. Set an example.
All of us are "too" something somehow. Maybe in multiple ways. The trick, then, is to draw attention to yourself not for that "too" factor, but as a living, breathing example of what God wants us to be. Be an example in how you talk and in how you act, in loving others and in trusting God. Demonstrate by example a life of purity. The word refers to "cleanliness" and, in context, suggests that you keep yourself unstained from the world (James 1:27). What you want is to be a living, breathing illustration of Christ.

2. Devote yourself to Scripture.
You'd think this would be obvious, but it isn't. We think of other things first. Devote yourself to better living, better logic, better arguments, better programs, and on and on. Paul says, "Make it Scripture." Teach it. Urge others to do the same. Make Scripture central to your life, your thinking, your words. Since we generally tend to marginalize God's Word and really don't like to make it part of our conversation, this might take a bit of work on our part.

3. Don't neglect your spiritual gift.
Scripture says that the Spirit gives each of us a gift that is "the manifestation of the Spirit" for the common good (1 Cor 12:7, 11). You are no exception. It seems odd, then, that we, as a genuinely gifted people, tend to neglect those gifts. Paul says, "Don't." Exercising the gift(s) God gives makes us better users of that gift and, therefore, better ministers providing better good. It would seem incumbent upon us to do that if we wish to set an example.

4. Immerse yourself in these things.
In Peter's second epistle he talks about how we should "make every effort to supplement your faith" and describes a series of things we should do (2 Peter 1:5-7). He goes on to say, "If these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8). Paul says it easier. "Immerse yourself." Immerse yourself in setting an example, in devoting yourself to Scripture, in exercising your gift(s). Live in it. Stew in it. Make it yours and increase in it.

5. Keep a close watch on yourself.
If you've ever gone on a diet, you might be aware of this error we tend to make. You eat right and exercise carefully for awhile and then you think, "I've got this" and you stop paying attention because, after all, "I've got this," right? And you stop your weight loss. What? Why? Because we have a tendency to lose sight and lose momentum. We think we've got this and, as it turns out, we don't. We are told to be alert (Eph 6:18), watchful (1 Cor 16:13; Col 4:2 1 Peter 5:8). Keep a close watch on yourself, not assuming you've got this. Because if there is anything that is certain for us humans is we will slip up.

Easy, right? A simple 5-step plan. Okay, not simple and not easy. But if you want to be an effective representative of Christ, I think it is as essential for you and me as it was for Timothy.