Consider the command given Timothy by Paul in
1 Tim. 1:18-20. Paul had nurtured Timothy for quite a time (cf.
Acts 16), and now left him to care for the church at Ephesus (1
Tim. 1:3). Recalling Paul's deep concern for all the churches
(2 Cor. 11:28), this was quite a compliment to the young (1 Tim.
4:12) servant. Paul still cared, and wrote to encourage and teach
Timothy. He wanted Timothy to know how to teach others to behave
themselves in the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15).
The book begins with a charge: "...charge
some that they teach no other doctrine..." (1:3). After a
profitable digression, in which Paul reflects a bit on his tainted
but forgiven past (1:12-17), he returns to the charge, with more
explanation. Someone whether an apostle or one on whom an apostle
had bestowed the gift of prophecy (cf. 1 Cor. 12-14; Acts 11:27,
28) uttered prophecies about Timothy and his fulfillment of this
charge. The first-century charge has application to twenty-first
century servants, although particular circumstances differ.
For example, the charge (mandate, command) included
waging a good warfare with faith and good conscience, living up
to the expectations that had been prophesied about Timothy. The
Christian life is a battle against the forces of evil using spiritualnot
carnalweapons (Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:4). More than once did Paul
use the analogy of soldiering to describe the lifestyle of Christ's
enlisted (2 Tim. 2:3,4; Philippians 2:25; Philemon 1). Miraculous
manifestations of the devil no longer occur, but his charms deceive
the multitudes: "...the whole world lies under the sway of
the wicked one" (1 John 5:19). It stands to reason that withstanding
such an insurgent tide is so serious a matter it warrants the
analogy of war.
In waging this war, Timothy was to rely on his
faith and good conscience. Conscience can be a safe guide when
trained according to the Scripturesas Timothy's was (2 Tim. 3:14,15).
Those same Scripturesbeing the revealed word of Godproduce stabilizing
faith (Rom. 10:17). The faith and good conscience go so closely
together and are so crucial to the soldier of the cross. What
soldier is any good when he does not believe in his cause? What
soldier benefits any army when he fights only for the pay? In
Christ, with faith, we know the cause is just and, therefore,
stand in good conscience in waging the good warfare. Unique in
its own right, it is an entirely good warfare, for Christ
never authorized any participants in this battle to hurt anyone,
physically or mentally. The battle consists of aiming to help
peopleto bring them out of misery and to glorious living. Christ's
soldiers fight with the gospel of peace to bring salvationnot
destructionto men everywhere.
Another element of this charge is fulfilling one's
potential. Paul did not use the word potential, but a stronger
one. He essentially told Timothy to live up to the prophecies
concerning him. Although it was done for Timothy, no one will
make inspired predictions about any lives today or the fulfillment
of any supernaturally endowed charge. That miraculous age has
passed. Still, though, modern disciples can ascertain their abilities
and work diligently to use them in God's service. We each have
talents, abilities, and gifts of which we can make appropriate
use. It would be a shame to think that those who are Christians
did not use to their utmost all they had for the glory of God.
Indeed, when Jesus was teaching about preparing for judgment,
he included the famous Parable of the Talents to illustrate this
point (Matt. 25:14-30). Living up to full potential in God's service
is critical. Once a Christian school administrator commented of
his faculty's commitment: "Since we are Christians, we aim
to do our best at all we do." How true. There is no room
for laxity or "just getting by." It is reasonable to
conclude that those who try to do so would fall into the same
fate as Hymenaeus and Alexander, who "concerning the faith...suffered
shipwreck" (1 Tim. 1:19,20). When we reject the fulfillment
of potential, when we reject the faith that emboldens us for the
spiritual battle, when we fail to achieve a level of service that
satisfies a Scripturally trained conscience, then we, too, flirt
with such shipwreck.
None of us has been given the specific charge
Timothy had. However, we stand under the commandments of the Great
Commission, the Parable of the Talents, and, indeed, all of the
New Testament. May we ever pray for help and long to do better
in our service to God. 327 Suzanne St., Washington, WV 26181.
andyrobison@juno.com