"Neglecting Your Gift!"

If you could do anything without limitations of money, time or experience, what would it be. Think hard what is it that inside of you says this is “what I would do the rest of my life?”. Some might say “play a professional sport”. Others maybe “cure some despicable disease”. Then there are those that just want to be rich! Having money to burn and to travel all around the world doing whatever makes you happy. All of these are probably on the hearts of today’s graduating seniors. The thought of looking in to the world with the eyes of a pioneer. There is a great story waiting to be written with your life! My question today is “who will be the author?”. You? Others? God? Who will fill the pages of your life with unalterable ink? The decisions your going to make will have an impact. It doesn’t matter how trivial they may seem we are intertwined together and are effected by other’s actions. That is what Paul is writing to Timothy in today’s passage.

I. Be an Example

1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV

12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Paul doesn’t use today’s standard of excusing young Timothy of the consequences of his decisions. Instead he tells him the opposite to “let no one despise your youth” or to discount it. He tells him that even though his experience level may be less than others that the way he conducts himself will have an influence on those around him. One of the saddest realities in today’s modern church is that most graduating seniors also graduate the Lord. The age demographic between 18 and 22 is the largest group to not faithfully attend or serve in a local church. According to a Lifeway survey in 2019 70 percent of Americans who attended church regularly as teenagers said they no longer attend. This was already occuring before the pandemic so the blame cannot be politicized to the large number of churches who closed their doors during the pandemic. So why do they leave? Because them and those around them may despised their youth! Much can be obtained from them is the proper time is invested. Look Paul says for Timothy to be an example in word, conduct, love, spirit and faith. You too have the ability to be an encouragement to those around you that are believers in these areas.

II. Be an Encourager

1 Timothy 4:13 NKJV

13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Paul is eager to come and be with Timothy but until that moment comes he instructs him to read, exhort and keeping of doctrine. Look earlier in this letter in chapter 3 verse Paul instructs Timothy in how to do this.

1 Timothy 3:14–16 NKJV

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Paul teaches Timothy to not leave sound doctrine that is both the pillar and ground of truth but to conduct himself rightly in the “house of God”. The afore mentioned survey shows that between the ages 18-22 believers leave but studies also show that they eventually return. Why? If it was the rejection of truth they would not return but it is however rebellion to the truth that they leave. In pursuit of some worldly idolatry is the reason of absence Paul then as many leaders today encourage young people to not leave the pillar and ground of truth but to grow in it. If only our actions in church leadership showed this same desire. We are often careful to invest in age from nursery to teens but then we leave a large gap of resources and interest to pursue young families and senior adults. Think about what church ministry looks like! We spend much time in investing into the future of the church with children and equal time of caring for the elderly but often neglect the young man or women who make up the present. Those who are among us that have youth also have a hunger! They have a desire to be counseled in true faith. Look once again as Paul addresses the emptiness of church babblings. I Timothy 1:3-7

1 Timothy 1:3–7 NKJV

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

III. Be Effective

1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV

14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

The only way you can truly be effective is to operate inside the gift that God has given you. Each and every member of the body has a unique function that doesn’t act independently but in conjunction to the whole body. If one foot heads one direction while the other heads a different the result is painful! If the mouth is talking while the ear is listening then everything becomes distorted and jumbled. If a hand tries to become independent and swing a hammer with out the eyes seeing to target the whole body winds up wringing in pain! We must rely and serve in the ministering gift that the Lord has given us but the most tragic act is to deny our gift all together. Some may believe that since their gift isn’t at the center of attention then it therefore is irrelevant and of no effect. Nothing could be further from the truth! Many soul winners never preach a sermon or perfectly execute an alter call at the end of church service. Yet there gift is in speaking the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ simply and effectively. When we look at Philip in Acts chapter 8 he perfectly interprets the old testament scriptures of Isaiah to an audience of one Ethiopian eunuch. The Holy Spirit of God came upon him to run down this chariot in order to bring this one man to repentance. Not much of a feat you may say but then again who are you besides the eunuch! Do not neglect your gift but cherish it and use it to bring glory to the Living God!

IV. Be Enhancing

1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV

15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

The whole purpose to gather together in unity of the cross of Christ is to lift up one another and become equipped in sound teaching. We are not just here in this or other gatherings to make ourselves feel good but to grow in our faith. We are His workmanship and are being built up into the perfect image of Christ. We can not obtain this in absence! We must be present and seeking the whole council of God to apply to our lives in order to fully serve and worship Him. When a baby is first born there is no need for it to learn how to cook, clean or protect. It is completely vulnerable to any and every outside threats but it is the love and affection of caregivers that tend to and protect this young child. If only God’s church would become such a place for new believers instead of giving up so easily on a new convert when they slip or stumble. The most ineffective ministry there is unfortunately is being played out over and over in today’s christianity, we bring people to Christ and see the new birth then it’s as if we cast these new converts out on the street to fend for themselves. We are to grow in our walk with Christ and this only comes through discipleship. The command Jesus gives His followers in Matthew 28:19-20 is to “make disciples” and to “teach them”.

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Paul instructs Timothy to meditate on these things and to give yourself entirely to them! Every year I am asked if I had advice to give to these young men and women who are graduating High School and my response is simply this “Pursue Christ with everything you have, everything else is just surface!”. It is the best advice I could give anyone to “give yourself entirely to these things” in your education, in your vocation, in your pursuit of accolades, in your dating, in your family raising, in your service, in your life!

V. Be Eternal Minded

1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

The way you live your life has eternal implications for yourself and those around you. To many live with regret that if they had only spoke Jesus to someone or if they could just go back. Here Paul lays out a way to live your life regret free!