Giving Heed

Giving Heed
 
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” I Timothy 4.12, 13
 

This coming July 12 my wife and I will celebrate 51 years of marriage. When I was young, I would look at older, married couples and wonder what they talked about. After all, over the years they must have come to conclusions about each of life’s issues. Certainly, they would have ironed out any wrinkle within their relationship that needed pressing.
 
As I’ve aged, I hope that I’ve become wiser and more discerning. However, I have also become more fascinated with my wife. She is able to juggle a dozen different projects at the same time while maintaining perfect sanity. I, on the other hand, seem to be what is considered to be a typical male. Some say we are narrow minded. Others suggest that we are myopic. I like to think of the male gender as being focused.
 
Generally speaking, men tend to focus on a specific project, concept or idea until that task is accomplished. My wife and I were married after my freshman year in college. Too young by most standards, but just right in God’s plan for us. Having obtained the girl of my dreams, I decided it was time to get out of college and begin supporting the wife God gave me, so I completed three and one half years of college in two years. Believe me, it took a lot of focus and determination. Having believed (and still do) that God wanted me to be a pastor, I began moving in that direction. Always focused on following God’s will, my wife and I have been serving our Savior at the same church for thirty-five years. On this date (today as I send this), I turn 70.
 
Within Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy, he draws Timothy’s attention away from a singular focus concerning his age. Paul offers Timothy an imperative to be an example. This word “example” (“tupos”) is a powerful word indicating an impression created by stamping metal with a die.  A modern example would be the coins you have in your pocket. A blank is placed in the press and, under great pressure, the die cuts a permanent impression into the blank.
 
The example to which Paul calls Timothy is one which encompasses his entire person – his personal testimony exhibited by Timothy’s everyday life. He should be an example in word (“logos”). This is more than his spoken testimony – it involves the general presentation of his person. A pastor, whether he likes it or not, is held to a higher standard in what he says and how he presents himself. He should be an example in his conversation (“anastrophē”). This speaks of his general manner of life. He should not be addicted to the things of the world. He should be an example in charity (“agape”). This speaks of his offering love with no expectation of repayment or compensation. He should be an example in spirit (“pneuma”). The spirit is the part of man which can live apart from the human body. In other words, Timothy was exhorted to live with eternity in mind. Whatever is in this world will one day be burned up. Only those things of God will endure – so, we should live like that. He should be an example in faith (“pistis”). He should not be tossed around by vain philosophies or by worldly trends. His faith should be solidly founded upon the reliability of God. And, Timothy was to be an example in purity (“hagneía”). Every inch of his personal life should bear up under the scrutiny of careful inspection.
 
These are some high and lofty concerns, but the believer should be an example of a redeemed life. Paul also gives the means to attaining this testimony in the same verse. But, that’s a topic for another day. In the meantime, be an example of a Christ follower and not of a worldling.