Invaluable Influence of a Mother-figure

2 Timothy 1:5–7 (ESV)

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Acts 16:1 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

This is where we are first introduced to Timothy and the godly influence in his life

Paul was reminded of Timothy’s sincere faith.

This led Paul to think about the orgin of Timothy’s faith, namely his grandmother and mother—Lois and Eunice.

What reminds you of your mom?

Purse illustration

Every mom is probably known as having at least one particular thing always in her purse.

I’ve never seen a purse that was organized, especially the big ones. But mom always seems to be able to pull whatever the moment requires from her bag.

Just like every random thing rolling around in the bottom of moms purse always seems to find a need to meet, moms always seem to be more gifted at connecting those random moments back to a biblical teaching or principle. I know Chelsea’s much better at it than I am.

Timothy’s mom and grandmother were the faithful figures who taught him about Jesus and the Scripture.

2 Timothy 3:14–15 ESV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

We know very little about Timothy’s dad; scripture mentions only that he is “greek”.

At best Timothy’s dad didn’t care and was unbothered by his wife’s conversion and discipling of their son. At worst, he discouraged them both and abandoned his family because of their faith in Christ.

Even though Timothy’s father wasn’t the spiritual leader he needed, it didn’t stop him from living a life that expressed his faith.

By this time Paul has known Timothy for 15-20 years. He was confident of the faith Timothy had; he had seen it.

This isn’t an opportunity for us dad’s to say, “we don’t have to do any spiritual molding of our children, turned out good for Timothy.”

On the contrary, the relationship between Paul and Timothy is an indictment against dad’s who vacate their responsibility to be the spiritual leaders of their households. Spiritually guiding our children is a responsibility we have the priviledge of sharing with our wives.

Wives, don’t let your husbands off the hook.

It’s this very faith that leads Paul to encourage Timothy to stoke the fire of his faith by using the gifts God has given him to continue in what God had called him to do.

I believe it’s the gift of teaching/preaching that Paul is alluding to in verse 7.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

orthotomounta— Greek word that expresses “correctly teaching”; cutting straight, holding a straight course, doing right, rightly dividing; suggests the imagery of a farmer cutting a straight furrow, a builder cutting a stone, or a tentmaker cutting the cloth. Precise, faultless workmanship is indicated.

CITE MY SOURCE: Mary A. Kassian, “The Bible and Women,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1929.

This is both an example to follow and a responsibility to take seriously. What greater job do we have than to evangelize and disciple the world by beginning with our families?