February 10, 2022 TAKE PAINS WITH THESE THINGS
1 Timothy 4:15-16: “ Take pains with these things, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” As a mentor to Timothy, Paul was encouraging the young Timothy to be steadfast and to continue maturing in the faith. Timothy was a young minister “in training”, but the instructions and admonitions to Timothy apply to us as well. We may not be a ‘teacher’ per se, in one sense of the word, we are all teachers in how we speak and how we live. In the verse above, there are a few really key words that should get our attention. In the letter to Timothy, Paul gives specific instructions to Timothy and he tells him to “take pains with these things”. “Taking pains” implies that one has to sometime make hard choices, make decisions that will further the cause, and pay close attention to the task at hand. “Taking pains” means making the right decisions that will move us toward the goal. To be “absorbed” means that we do not allow other things to crowd out what we have purposed to achieve. If one does “take pain with these things” and is “absorbed in them”, his progress in the faith will be evident to all. Growth implies change, so if we are not changing, then there is no growth taking place. To give emphasis, Paul told Timothy to “pay attention to yourself and your teaching”. There is a need for us as well to pay attention to ourselves, to examine ourselves to determine if our lives are consistent with the gospel. Let us examine ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to point out any aspect of our lives that may not be pleasing to the Lord. To “persevere” means that we do not give up on the task no matter what is taking place around us. It is interesting to note that Paul said by “doing these things”, Timothy would “insure salvation for Himself and for those who hear him”. As I have written in other previous blogs, salvation is much more than a ticket to heaven. We are told in other scriptures to “work out our salvation” and as we read the scriptures, we see that many things accompany salvation. To claim to be a Christian and yet not be experiencing growth in the faith puts one in a precarious position. We are saved at a particular point in time, but our salvation is also continual-we are being saved. As Paul said, as we are taking pains, being absorbed, and persevering “in these things”, our progress would be evident to all. We must be alert to the tendency to stop growing as we age. Growing in the faith is to be a lifetime experience. Whether you are young, middle age, or older, take pains with your growth; be absorbed, persevere-let your progress be seen. Dare to dream. Dare to change. Dare to put the gospel on the front burner of life.
11 Peter 3:17-18: “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Blessings,
Buddy
1 Timothy 4:15-16: “ Take pains with these things, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” As a mentor to Timothy, Paul was encouraging the young Timothy to be steadfast and to continue maturing in the faith. Timothy was a young minister “in training”, but the instructions and admonitions to Timothy apply to us as well. We may not be a ‘teacher’ per se, in one sense of the word, we are all teachers in how we speak and how we live. In the verse above, there are a few really key words that should get our attention. In the letter to Timothy, Paul gives specific instructions to Timothy and he tells him to “take pains with these things”. “Taking pains” implies that one has to sometime make hard choices, make decisions that will further the cause, and pay close attention to the task at hand. “Taking pains” means making the right decisions that will move us toward the goal. To be “absorbed” means that we do not allow other things to crowd out what we have purposed to achieve. If one does “take pain with these things” and is “absorbed in them”, his progress in the faith will be evident to all. Growth implies change, so if we are not changing, then there is no growth taking place. To give emphasis, Paul told Timothy to “pay attention to yourself and your teaching”. There is a need for us as well to pay attention to ourselves, to examine ourselves to determine if our lives are consistent with the gospel. Let us examine ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to point out any aspect of our lives that may not be pleasing to the Lord. To “persevere” means that we do not give up on the task no matter what is taking place around us. It is interesting to note that Paul said by “doing these things”, Timothy would “insure salvation for Himself and for those who hear him”. As I have written in other previous blogs, salvation is much more than a ticket to heaven. We are told in other scriptures to “work out our salvation” and as we read the scriptures, we see that many things accompany salvation. To claim to be a Christian and yet not be experiencing growth in the faith puts one in a precarious position. We are saved at a particular point in time, but our salvation is also continual-we are being saved. As Paul said, as we are taking pains, being absorbed, and persevering “in these things”, our progress would be evident to all. We must be alert to the tendency to stop growing as we age. Growing in the faith is to be a lifetime experience. Whether you are young, middle age, or older, take pains with your growth; be absorbed, persevere-let your progress be seen. Dare to dream. Dare to change. Dare to put the gospel on the front burner of life.
11 Peter 3:17-18: “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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