11 Command and teach these things. 12 No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:11-12
In the previous day, we talked about how we should train not only our bodies, but also our spirit. We learned that training the body only has limited benefit because our bodies are only alive as long as we are here on earth. Paul then told us that training in godliness is beneficial for us not only for as long as we are live, but in eternity as well. Now we move on and Paul is giving Timothy direct orders concerning his ministry. He tells him first off that he needs to command and teach everything that Paul has already written to him about. Now when you make a command to someone it is not really an option whether or not they follow the order. The word is most commonly referred to when describing a military general giving orders to a soldier. Timothy was told to command all these teachings Paul gave to his church. Not only command, but he was also to teach. When teaching something, the main idea is not only to present information, but to explain it as well as to gain understanding. As we are in ministry, we need to not be afraid to stand up and command God’s truth, but we need to also explain why it must be done God’s way. So, at this point Paul is foreseeing Timothy’s reaction of “I’m young and they will never listen to what I have to say!” Paul responds with “let no one despise your youth”. Timothy was not to let his age get in his way, but to be an example to the believers he was leading by his actions. He was to be an example in his speech, his conduct, his love for others, his faith in God, and by living a pure life. So, even though the people of his church may hesitate to listen to Timothy’s commands at first, it is when he leads by example that they will get on board.
In the previous day, we talked about how we should train not only our bodies, but also our spirit. We learned that training the body only has limited benefit because our bodies are only alive as long as we are here on earth. Paul then told us that training in godliness is beneficial for us not only for as long as we are live, but in eternity as well. Now we move on and Paul is giving Timothy direct orders concerning his ministry. He tells him first off that he needs to command and teach everything that Paul has already written to him about. Now when you make a command to someone it is not really an option whether or not they follow the order. The word is most commonly referred to when describing a military general giving orders to a soldier. Timothy was told to command all these teachings Paul gave to his church. Not only command, but he was also to teach. When teaching something, the main idea is not only to present information, but to explain it as well as to gain understanding. As we are in ministry, we need to not be afraid to stand up and command God’s truth, but we need to also explain why it must be done God’s way. So, at this point Paul is foreseeing Timothy’s reaction of “I’m young and they will never listen to what I have to say!” Paul responds with “let no one despise your youth”. Timothy was not to let his age get in his way, but to be an example to the believers he was leading by his actions. He was to be an example in his speech, his conduct, his love for others, his faith in God, and by living a pure life. So, even though the people of his church may hesitate to listen to Timothy’s commands at first, it is when he leads by example that they will get on board.
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