Devotionals
Title: Do You Know What Success Really Looks Like?
Text: 1 Timothy 4: 1-16 - A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
Key Passage: 1 Timothy 4:6
Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
If you point these things out to the brothers , you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
* * * * * * *
A young and enthusiastic go-getter right out of college was approached by the wealthy, very successful business owner the young man worked for…the young go-getter was talking about wanting the fast track to success, then the business owner asked with a big smile… “Do you know what success is?”
The young man turned his undivided attention to the business owner and asked, “No what is it?”
The business owner quickly responded, “I can’t tell you.”
In a query from the response, the young man inquired, “Why?”
The old business owner then declared, “It’s a secret.” And then the business owner walked away leaving the young go-getter standing alone scratching his head.
That’s basically the feeling of people who stand on the outside looking in. But you know that that’s not true. Success is a simple combination of motivation, ability and opportunity. It’s taking the challenge, doing the best you can with what you have every chance you get. Someone who knows has suggested that success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. And you can be sure of this…the only successful substitute for work is a miracle.
How about education? Can you succeed in life without an authoritative collegiate education?
That’s an often-asked question…and not everyone agrees on one answer. But in truth, formal education has never validated success, nor does the lack of it guarantee failure. Being a winner is always something that springs from within…whatever else we get is added.
Imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowing offers no assurance of doing. Yes, you can reach the top in business and in life, regardless of your external opportunities and educational achievements…and, from some experts who missed out on a formal college education, here are 10 ways to do it.
1. WORK “CAN’T SEE HOURS. Start when it’s so dark you cannot see and finish when you cannot see because it’s dark again. Bill Rosenburg, Dunkin’ Donuts, founder
2. LOVE WHAT YOU DO…AND DO IT! Don’t procrastinate. And don’t think. Do it. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. You can’t think about things. You simply must DO them.
Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction author
3. GIVE THE CUSTOMER VALUE FOR THE MONEY. Putting a good product at a reasonable price in front of a customer likely means he’ll be back. And if he does, your business is a success. Harold Butler, Founder of Denny’s
4. START SMALL. Set short-term goals. Great dreams are often so far away from your reach that you can become discouraged. But each small goal you achieve gives you confidence to try the next. John H. Johnson, Publisher of Ebony
5. BELIEVE THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. It doesn’t matter how many times you fail in trying to get something to work. All you need is one success. Jack Goeken, Founder MCI Telecommunications
6. TRY TO LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLE. Then once you get a good grasp of what is going on, say what’s on your mind and do what you think is right. Your goal should always be to be the very best at what you do. Jay Darling, President Burger King
7. FIND A NEED AND FILL IT. But never resort to gimmicks! If you fill, a real need, you’ll have a loyal following. Adrien Arpel, Cosmetic Queen
8. KEEP YOUR WORD. If you say you’ll do something, do it. What is needed…and wanted…in the world are people who will do what they say they’ll do. And think really big. If you have the courage to stand up and say, “This is what I want to do,” and do it, you can be successful. William Millard, Founder ComputerLand
9. LEARN FROM YOU MISTAKES. Too many people, when they make a mistake, just keep stubbornly plowing ahead and end up repeating the same mistakes. I believe in the motto, “Try and try again.” But the way I read it, it says, “Try, then stop and think. Then try again. William Dean Singelton, Co-Owner of MediaNews Group, Inc.
10. SET YOUR PRIORITIES. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these (good) things shall be added unto you. JESUS CHRIST, Owner of the Universe
John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach extraordinaire said, “Never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
Find an opening…a piece of opportunity…and stick to it. Today’s mighty oak is merely yesterday’s little nut that managed to hold its ground.
GOD is always looking for people who are willing to be used.
Availability, adaptability and responsibility are His priorities in the search for servants.
What great thing you can do for GOD has never impressed Him. What is offered to Him gets His attention…every time.
Consider this poem on what was offered determines what God views as worthy.
The Master was searching for a vessel to use.
Before Him were many. Which one would He choose?
“Take me,” cried the gold one, “I’m shiny and bright.
I am of great value, and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold is the best.”
The Master passed on with no word at all
And looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall.
“I’ll serve you dear Master, I’ll pour out your wine.
I’ll be on your table, whenever you dine.
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true
And my silver will certainly compliment you.”
Unheeding, the Master passed on to the vessel of brass
Wide mouthed and shallow and polished like glass.
“Here, here,” cried the vessel, “I know I will do.
Place me on your table for all men to view…”
The Master came next to the vessel of wood
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
“You may use me, dear Master,” the wooden bowl said “But I’d rather you used me for fruit, not for bread.”
Then the Master looked down on a vessel of clay,
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.
“Oh, this is the vessel I’ve been hoping to find.
I’ll mend it and use it and make it all mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of itself.
Nor one that is narrow, to sit on the shelf.
Nor one that is big-mouthed and shallow and loud.
Nor one that displays its contents so proud.”
Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay,
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
He spoke to it kindly,
“There’s work you must do.
Just pour out to others what I pour into you.”
Jesus used so many “vessels of clay” in His ministry while on earth, as well as after His resurrection to launch His church amidst persecution. Many of these “vessels of clay” poured out graciously to others what Jesus poured into them…and in doing so, confidently and willingly became martyred broken “vessels of clay”…only to become resurrected mended and cleansed vessels in heaven by the hands that still show the scars of persecution! Vessels such as: John the Baptist, James the brother of John, Stephen, Peter, Thomas, Jesus’ brother James, Paul, and even his assistant, Timothy, as well as thousands more since then have given their lives as martyrs for Christ through the centuries since then. So many we know little of, and even many more we never will know anything of…but they all are remembered for being “called” as they were, and used in their own unique ways for the glory of Christ Jesus and His church!
Many of us associate ourselves with many of these great men…but I would like to highlight “Timothy” and the uniqueness of His relationship to the Apostle Paul.
First of all, we all need a relationship like Paul and Timothy had with one another. Paul was the “mentor” and Timothy the rising, eager, hard-working Christian worker needing direction in his early church life.
New believers need experienced, mature Christian brothers and sisters to guide them, nudge them, teach them, and love them! Paul devoted himself to Timothy, and sought Timothy to be an instrumental leader in the young and growing Christian church.
Are you mentoring, or being mentored, or possibly, you are on both sides of a mentoring relationship?
Paul needed someone to direct the church and protect it from false teachers that were prevalent at this time in the church?
Do we not have this same problem today? We are being challenged daily, and we see the result in “watered-down Christianity” at some churches…Some call it not being watered down but merely being tolerant! My response to that is simply Hogwash!
Some well intended church people try to bend or even re-interpret the Scriptures to suit their personal understandings or needs, and convince others that the Scriptures were written for the First Century, not the 21st Century! My response to that is simply Hogwash!
Where are the Paul’s and Timothy’s today? Who will stand firm for God’s Word? And where are the Paul’s and Timothy’s, ready to take up the battle against Satan’s attack on Christ’s church?
Are you ready to be a successful Christian leader? A leader in the church, in the community, and most importantly in your home! Let’s see if we are really ready as Timothy was told to be:
Paul in his letter to his young disciple and co-worker challenged Timothy on how to lead the church. Paul’s challenged to Timothy for successful Christian service involved several priorities:
(v.6) If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed.
“These things” refers to false teachings going around in the church. These false teachers had fallen prey to Satan, and they were no longer capable of moral discernment. They erroneously were promoting the need for “abstinence” from certain foods & “abstinence” from marriage.
Paul challenged Timothy to be nourished from God’s Word. The good minister, or church leader, will be the one who will faithfully and ably confront false teachers using his nurturing in God’s Word to strengthen his confidence and resolve. This is a lifestyle of constantly seeking nourishment so you will always be prepared to give the right response when called upon. How are your daily devotions, Bible studies, and prayer time with God? What is the state of this church’s readiness should false teachings creep into your midst? Would you be able to recognize it, and confront the source?
(v.7-9) But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.
Physical exercise for the good of the body and its physical health is of some profit, but vigorous training in “godliness” or living our life under the lordship of Christ is far more valuable to our well-being, and equips us for “life eternal”.
Physical training helps the condition of our temporal body, that tent we have while on this earth; spiritual training towards “godliness” helps us condition our soul as we prepare for our eternal heavenly presence!
Paul challenged Timothy to train himself in godliness. Train ourselves so we will live our life under Christ’s lordship by the lifestyle of FAITH strengthening through the regular and rigorous training in the Word of God. Living life in obedience to the good teaching you receive.
The pursuit of Godliness has unlimited value, unlike the limited value of physical training. It is that life in the power of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-24) in which the whole believer, in body and spirit, comes to experience the resurrection life of Christ (Phil. 3:10). Through it the physical passions and propensity to sin can be brought under control, and the reality of the Holy Spirit’s operation in the life of the believer becomes evident.
“Genuine Godliness” holds promise for both the present life and the life to come.
(v. 10) In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
Paul and Timothy suffered and labored in a common effort because they trusted the living God, Savior of all that believed.
Paul challenged Timothy to stay focused to their common mission to share the Gospel. Paul encouraged regularly young Timothy and made him well aware that he would have to endure the suffering and laboring by making every possible effort to keep his focus on the goal of the Gospel being made known wherever and whenever possible.
(v. 11-15) Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.
Timothy was probably thirty years old at the time, but even up to forty years of age, the people in the community of Ephesus during the first century looked up to elders, and not young adults. But Timothy represented Paul and embodied true Christian “godliness”. His “godly” example would be sufficient reason for the people to look up to Timothy as the leader Paul saw him capable of being for the church. Success would be determined not by the length of his experience but by the depth of his experience that he would willingly share anchored by the Gospel message that was the anchor of his life.
Paul challenged Timothy to set himself up as a role model for all believers. Paul challenged the mentored to become the mentor to other believers. The qualities that Paul urged Timothy to model are the essence of “godliness”.
To be a model of “godliness” even today we are to be exemplary in:
* Speech (in word)
* Lifestyle (in conversation, or conduct)
* Love (in charity)
* Faith (in spirit, or attitude)
* Personal Purity (in purity)
Not only was Timothy to model “godliness”; he was to preach and teach it, just as we are to do the same as mentors for others!
Also we are to read the Scriptures, preach the Scriptures, and to teach the Scriptures! Paul’s words to Timothy are as real today with us as they were 20 centuries ago in Christian church life.
These words of advice from Paul to Timothy are suitable for the Christian servant in any generation. Those, especially ministers of the Word, but also all servants of Christ by fulfilling these charges will save both himself and those that listen to you. In fact, we all are to consistently demonstrate Christian behavior in all we do, in all times, in all places and for all people in our lives.
Young or old, if we are careless in our modeling for others the essence of “godliness”, what price will we pay if curious eyes of a non-believer, including our children and grandchildren, see us in a careless moment? Carelessness or worse yet neglect is a sin we all need to be reminded of…
As Christians, we are to exercise ourselves unto Godliness of Life. Seeing that we all wrestle with the powers of evil, as Christian athletes we must be trained for such a grim contest…the wrestling match with Satan every day.
Godliness, says Paul, is profitable for all things. It influences every part of our lives. Whether it be business, amusement, social activities, or private meditation, the godly person is ever the best and happiest!
Billy Graham says…”Talk about God can become dreary and lackluster if God isn’t in you. Church can become a drab thing and the Bible an irksome Book if the Holy Spirit does not illuminate your soul with His indwelling presence. The wonderful thing about it all is that God has planned life so that if our hearts are dead to spiritual things, something can be done about it.”
Paul’s final challenge to Timothy, seek the key to Christian Success. Unlike the old business owner, Paul poses the question about success to Timothy this way. Do you want to know what success is?
Timothy the faithful and energetic disciple responds, “No what is it?”
I can tell you now. Do you want to know? It is not a secret anymore!
What about you, will you be like Timothy and become the faithful disciple of the Gospel?
Do You Know What Success Looks Like?
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