In 2 Timothy, Paul writes his final letter to Timothy. It represents the changing of the guard. Whereas Timothy had been blessed by Paul’s counsel, Timothy would now have to counsel other faithful men. As Paul sits in his prison cell, contemplating his last words to his “son in the faith,” he begins this final epistle with four principles for Timothy to live out – principles that are just as relevant for us today.
These principles, provided in 2 Timothy 1.1-7, represent great advice for those preparing for ministry, those entering ministry, and those who have been in ministry for decades.
Keep your influencers in perspective
No one could argue with the truth that Paul exerted a great influence upon Timothy’s life. He mentored him, gave him opportunities, and continued to invest in him. Yet, Paul’s last words to Timothy aren’t about endearing loyalty to Paul.
Notice that Paul calls to mind the “unfeigned faith” that was not only in Timothy, but also in his mom and grandmother. Before Paul ever took Timothy on a missions trip, there were already faithful believers pouring into Timothy’s life.
I love Bible college ministry. I’m grateful for the opportunity to invest in the next generation of ministry leaders – and to do so with a great team assembled by God at Veritas Baptist College. Yet, we understand that before there was a “favorite professor,” or a “dynamic chapel preacher” – there was a faithful pastor and parents investing into these lives.
Keeping your influencers in perspective is Paul’s way of saying, “Don’t fall into the celebrity cult.” Don’t join in with the Corinthians in a camp mentality. Rather, recognize that God has brought many people across your path to help you prepare to serve Him. Be grateful for them all.
Keep rekindling the flame
Paul weighs his final opportunity to influence Timothy and challenges him to “stir it up.” He urges Timothy to not forget what God has done for him. When faith begins to wane, we work to rekindle that flame.
God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We aren’t left without adequate resources. We grant college degrees at Veritas, as many other great colleges do – but a college degree isn’t the resource God has in mind.
We live in a day when knowledge literally runs to and fro. There’s no possible way to devour every bit of information on the web today. Yet, access to knowledge isn’t the resource that kindles the flame.
What kindles that flame is remembering what God has done for us and never forgetting that He goes with us as we serve Him. His presence is a great motivator for rekindling faith’s flame.
Live by Faith
The genuine faith found in Timothy isn’t an abstract thought – it concretely affects the way that he should live. Paul calls to mind Timothy’s unfeigned faith at the beginning of verse 5. Then he ends that verse by stating his persuasion that this faith is in Timothy.
How would Paul be convinced that Timothy possessed a genuine faith? He saw it in action. How will people know that we possess a genuine faith as we serve the Lord? They must see our faith in action. James states it well when he says, “Faith without works is dead.”
Remember who you are
Our identity is not bound up in what we do. It isn’t created by the circumstances we face. God has provided us an identity. We are “in Christ.” We are new creations. His Spirit defines who we are and provides instructions on what we do.
Paul ends this section by reminding Timothy that the spirit of fear and timidity didn’t come from God. Rather, He gives a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Paul’s final letter reminds Timothy to serve God from that identity.
CONCLUSION
One of the most influential Christian leaders in the church’s 2000-year history penned his final letter to a young ministry leader. In the introduction, he reminded him to keep his influences in perspective, to keep rekindling the flame, to live by faith, and to live from the identity given to him by God.
That’s good advice for us today as well!