Timothy, the
apostle Paul's “dearly beloved son”, was to “avoid”
foolish and unlearned questions” “knowing that they do gender
strifes” as he pastored the
church located in Ephesus. While Paul gave Timothy instructions in
this letter, he wrote in chapter two and verse twenty-four of his
final words, “the servant of the Lord must not strive”
where we read:
The
verse begins, “And the servant of the Lord must not
strive;” Paul began this verse
with the word, “And”
which is a continuation conjunction meaning there is more to his
thought as he directed his attention toward, “the
servant” which literally means
“slave, bondman or man of servile condition” and refers to “one
who willingly gives himself up to another's will and those whose
service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among
men” “of the Lord” or “he to whom a person or thing
belongs, about which he has power of deciding which includes a title
of respect and reverence and is the title given to God the Messiah”
“must” or “is necessary, in need of, behooved, right
and proper” “not strive” which literally means “not
fight” or “not engage in a war of words, quarrels, wranglings,
disputes or contentions at the law over property and privileges”.
Those who willingly give themselves to Jesus Christ and His gospel
“must not” involve themselves in these quarrels and disputes.
The
verse continues, “but be gentle unto
all men, apt
to teach, patient,...” Paul
went on to add, “But”
which means “moreover, nevertheless and notwithstanding” “be
gentle” or
“exist in presence as affable or mild” “unto
all” or
“towards
each, every, any, all, the whole and
everyone”, “men apt to teach” which
means “he was to be capable and skillful in teaching”, “patient”
or “forbearing of ills and wrongs”. Rather than be contentious
and combative, Timothy was to be mild with every person, capable and
skillful in teaching and forbearing of everyone he encountered.
As
we meditate upon Paul's words, perhaps we should survey our own lives
and measure ourselves against his directions. Do we live as “servants
of the Lord”? Do we “strive”
and “fight” with one another? Are we “gentle unto all
men”, and are we “apt
to teach” and “patient”?
As we study the scriptures we must apply what we have learned and
realize that the instructions for others within them are often for us
as well. The characteristics Paul gave to Timothy serve as example
for us, and as we seek the Lord Jesus and ask for the power of His
Holy Spirit to carry them out, may we do so with humility of mind
knowing we are prone to leave these traits aside.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy how to teach “those that oppose
themselves”, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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