Young minister Timothy was taken under the Apostle Paul’s wing, because he was friends with Timothy’s mother & grandmother. Paul felt compelled to look out for Him. Timothy’s father is not mentioned, so perhaps he was raised with none. Maybe he had a father who was absent or maybe he wasn’t a believer or “spiritual”.
Either way, Paul watched over and encouraged Timothy’s ministry by staying in touch and giving AEC (advice, exhortation and commands (or correction) to him as he was lead by the Spirit of God. Surely Paul had accepted his role as a ministerial model, so when Timothy needed direction regarding some church matter, he could think WWPD or directly correspond with Him via whatever the current email system was.
This was a vital relationship to Timothy’s ministry to which we can all still benefit from centuries later.
Ministers need advice from others whom they feel they can trust, rather than orders from overseers. A ministry must have the faith that God controls their present and future and their success must depend on prayerfully obedience and faithfully following the Spirit of God’s leadership. This future and our future must include striving to stay in God’s will by following the same commands the Lord gave to Joshua.
Jos 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
(Joshua’s mission)
Jos 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or tothe left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
(Joshua’s commission)
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
(Joshua’s orders)
Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
(Joshua’s encouragement)
God reveals to Joshua that taking action is vital in having success. Now it’s important that Joshua directs God’s people correctly so they can together accomplish their immediate task, getting into each of their promised lands.
Timothy’s might have wished he had Joshua’s job, because it was surely easier than his. Perhaps. The guidance for successful leadership was still the same and is still today. In Joshua 1:8 we see:
Speaking God’s word
Thinking God’s word
Doing God’s word
Timothy’s Prosperity and Success are results of following this process.
Is this process ST&D (speaking, thinking and doing) still viable today or is it old fashioned?
Above other things, every ministry should have a rock solid scriptural foundation, but so should every institution that wants to thrive.
- Corporations
- Governments
- Non-Profits
- Educational
- Spiritual
Every leader must believe they are called by God to accomplish a specific purpose with others, to the benefit of humanity and to glorify God in it.
He or she is not God, so they must hear from God. Then having faith to take action, they follow through with making decisions one step at a time with God’s help.
Understanding God’s will or having a heart to want to do God’s will is based in humility. A king once told his son these words.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
When the same vision (or view or will) are held from the greatest individuals to the smallest in an organization such as a ministry, the power for the whole is multiplied or amplified held by the factor of each member. Each will understand the values they represent. Paul was making sure His spiritual son knew the will of his spiritual father, and so should we.
There’s a myriad of topics in 1&2Timothy that we can learn God’s will from. They’re all good, but let’s start here with these.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Let’s Selah, reread and consider this exhortation.
This parallels with Philippians Chapter 2 which shows some different facets and says:
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
There is a contentment that comes from engaging in prospering others that many people never get to experience. Jesus had a mindset that revealed that by two things, by serving people and revealing God to them, God could use Him to change everyone’s world.
Here in the Book of Galatians, The Apostles reveals the same mindset to Paul and amplifying it.
Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Gal 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
When they saw the grace (God given ability) for Paul’s ministry, they connected and embraced it as from God, not as competitive to theirs. They wanted him to flourish for the sake of Christ. They met, shared meals, fellowshipped and discussed their mutual plans and calling. Then formed plans to work together to advance God’s kingdom on earth. It might be noted that finances are not mentioned here, rather a statement of Christian unity.
We see that the church was also unified in their personal relationships with the poor. Jesus said that helping the poor was part of His ministry’s foundation multiple times.
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The gospel is good news for the poor.
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go andsell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
For some, this is a hard part of the Gospel. Some think that because they have worked hard for what they have, they question why should they give it away to those who have been as diligent as they have. This is totally logical thinking from how they see it. From their viewpoint.
Why does one have to interact with someone who constantly wants something from them? They might be “dirty”. They might spend what you give them on their own lusts. It could hurt them even more to give them something they didn’t earn or might keep returning for more. Right?
Unfortunately, that is soulish logic from a human perspective and not from God’s viewpoint.
Seeing through God’s eyes, have we earned God’s love, acceptance and communion? We’re always asking for something from Him, many times we’re dirty, and we might spend God’s blessings wrong.
If He overlooks those things in us, it’s fair for Him to expect the same from us.
Let’s not forget what Jesus told the rich, young ruler.
“If thou wilt be perfect”. If you want to be complete.
If we want to be like Jesus. If we want to do God’s will. To be perfect is still a choice for each of us.
This doesn’t tell us we need to give away all we have or do something or the same thing every day.
Jesus told this young man that he did, because his life, his position, his future was wrapped up in possessions. He kept the commandments and he kept his possessions. Jesus knew his completeness would only be realized when humanity was engaged with, because He ministered to the needs of others and knew it to be true.
This is a vital part of every church’s calling, whether they engage or not. Pulling people out of darkness, distress, debt and discontent and making them part of God’s kingdom. Through whatever means God provides.
There’s more, much more we find regarding God’s will for us. For example,
Jas 1:27a Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction…
As we read and accept God’s word, we are changed.
If we read His word religiously, we might miss the personal advice and guidance we need to become more complete Christians.
The Apostle Paul cared enough for this young minister, he saw the good in him, he stayed in contact with him, he formed a relationship with him, ministered together with him and centuries later, we are still benefiting from it.
Ministry is about people, not doctrines. All people need to be ministered to sometime. Not everyone needs to know your doctrine. They need to know you care.
about them.
Amen
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