The Good Servant (Part 2)

This morning we pick up where we left off last week when we started this two part message called “The Good Servant.” I’m reminded of the Parable of the Talents, where the master entrusts three servants with wealth. 2 of the 3 were faithful, one was not. When the master came back, to the two that were faithful to increase what they had been given he commended them, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”(Matt. 25:12). But to the one who just avoided his responsibility, the master called him a “wicked and slothful servant!” (v.26)

This has always made me wonder, since God is our master, what does it look like for Christians to be good servants. I think that is why this passage in 1 Tim. 4 is so important. To see why, look back to the start of this section:

1 Timothy 4:6 ESV

6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

We saw last week that to be a good servant we need to be really concerned about what influences us. Paul told Timothy to be concerned about being influenced by 3 key influences. Starts with truth: the Scriptures which teach right doctrine. It matters what you believe about God. Then second Godliness. If we put God’s truth at the center of our lives it will produced godliness in our everyday life. Third, all of it rests on the hope that we have in having a personal relationship with Christ.

Those influences give us a biblical worldview. That helps understand the world in the way that God says it really it. Those influences shape us to become what God wants us to be.

But, to be a good servant, we don’t stop with simply being influenced by these godly influences, but God want us to become godly influencers on others.

Paul had been for Timothy what he was telling Timothy to be for others. Paul had mentored Timothy. He had taught Timothy. He showed him what it meant to be a devoted follower of Christ.

Timothy had also had the benefit of being influenced by a godly mother and grandmother.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 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.

Timothy had the benefit of a godly mother and grandmother. But, his blessing wasn’t simply that his mother and grandmother were believers. But they were believers committed to influence Timothy with the love and mission of Christ.

So Paul is simply telling Timothy to recognize all the Gospel Influencers that had poured into his life to give him his values and moral, to teach him the Scriptures, teach him how to love God and love others. Then pay it forward to influence others the same way.

+Stop and take a moment of the people who took the time to pour into you. Maybe it was a mother or a father, grandmother or grandfather. Maybe it was a Sunday School teacher or a teacher or professor. I’m thankful that I had parents that made sure I went to church. I had multiple youth pastors that took special time with me to teach me. I had multiple seminary pastors that took me under their wing and mentored me. It made all the difference. Now, it’s my responsibility to pay it forward.

Now it’s your responsibility to pay it forward.

II. Gospel Influencers (vv. 11-16)

A. Influence Through Conduct (vv. 11-12)

1 Timothy 4:11 ESV

11 Command and teach these things.

That’s the Scriptures and doctrine that he just mentioned. Influence is built on truth. But notice how that truth is conveyed.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

*When you are a parent with young children, you have to mindful what kind of toys you put in their hands. We have to be mindful of that same thing in our church’s nursery. Little kids put everything in their mouths. That’s how they learn and grow. So, we can’t give them toys they can swallow because they are a choking hazard. If you go to a toy store or the toy section at Walmart or Target, their are warnings on certain toys in big bold letters: NOT FOR CHILDREN UNDER 4 OR 5. These children are too young for these toys, they are dangerous to them.

Young people, I want you to remember this: there is no age warning on being a Gospel Influencer.

There is a temptation to think that you are too young to make a difference. Timothy was probably around 30 years old as Paul writes to him in Ephesus. That may seem kind of old. But, this was at a time where much older men where seen to be the people who were wise and gave wise counsel.

Paul was saying, “You are not too young to make a difference in other people’s life.” “You are not too young to be an example for others.”

Now we need to think about what kind of example you should be. He points out to be an example for others “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

Speech: What should your speech be an example of? of Christ. Your speech should be an example of speech that glorifies God.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Conduct: This word conduct here means general behavior. How did Jesus behave. His conduct was influenced by three specific areas love, faith, and purity.

Love: Jesus love was self sacrificial.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The good servant loves by giving, sacrificing, and carrying a cross.

Faith: This begs the question, “Where do you put your confidence and trust?” Jesus was always looking toward the Father. He was always trusting the Father’s will to lead him through life.

Prov. 3:5-6 comes to mind.

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Even when Jesus was facing the reality of ultimate sacrifice on the cross, he prayed.

Luke 22:42 ESV

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

It means we trust God’s will for us whatever he asks. Not because you know how things are going to turn out, but because you trust him.

Purity: Here he is talking about sexual purity. Believers should look different than the world. This is important because sexual temptation is strong for both men and women, especially young men and women. Nothings numbs the heart and destroys the closeness that a child of God has with the Father quicker than sexual sin.

People that live with real integrity and power with their walk with God can only do it when they are living in the integrity of sexual purity.

God is calling all of us to be an example that influences others for Christ. That must show up in how we act.

Anyone who seeks to look like Christ can be an example for others no matter how old you are.

B. Influence Through Worship (v.13)

1 Timothy 4:13 ESV

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

I want you to see something here. The element that Paul tells Timothy to devote himself to are elements of public worship. He doesn’t just say, devote yourself to the reading of the Scriptures. He says devote yourself to the public reading of the Scriptures. This was a carry over from Jewish worship to Christian worship. Rabbis would stand and read the Scriptures in synaguge. Exhortation and teaching are both element of the preaching event.

The written word of God is powerful. It has been said, “If you want to hear God speak, open your Bible and read it out loud.” Hebrews said,

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The word of God encourages a community of faith, strengthens a community, guards us from error and brings us to repentance and in right relationship with God.

The emphasis here is the importance for us to be involved in public worship if we are going to make a difference for Christ.

-Someone may say, “Why can’t I just worship at home. I can read my Bible, pray, sing, and even listen to preaching.” That kind of danger is a real danger as we deal with this pandemic. I understand that right now there are many people that need to remain at home for health reasons. But there is coming a day where the coronavirus won’t be the same danger that it is right now. And there is a real danger that people will continue to say, “I don’t really need to be with other people. I like staying home in my pjs and watching on Facebook.”

That’s not sufficient longterm for the believer. Here’s why, the word of God creates a people of faith. God is creating a community of believers that find oneness and unity in our common bond of the gospel of Christ. We are made the family of God. And a family that never spends time together is call dysfunctional.

We are told in Hebrews 10:25

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Believers who worship deeply individually, long to worship together around the word as a family.

*Would you rather be at the football game are reading about it in the paper the next day? God want us together celebrating his glory. In doing so, we influence each other.

C. Influence Through Devotion (vv. 14-16)

1 Timothy 4:14–16 ESV

14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Timothy had been called out by God for this work. “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them.” (v.15) Paul was saying, “Make your life about your calling.” Let Christ be your passion.

That is a good word for all of us. May we so immerse ourselves in Christ that he drips off of us. He drips off of us in the form of words that encourage and not tear down. He drips off of us as we sacrifice our time and money to show the love of Christ to others. He drips off us in the truth that shapes our morality and purity. He drips off us in words of praise as we worship together. He drips off us as we share Christ with others.

“Keep a close watch on yourself and the teaching. Persist in this,” (v.16a). Let the truth of God and it’s effect on our lives be something you treasure. That’s what you do when you keep a close watch on something. It’s something you value so that you might not ever lose it.

Here’s why, “for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (v.16b) Your actions don’t save you, they prove that you are already a saved child of God. But your actions do so influence others that others will be saved because you were the example of Christ that made the difference in someone’s life.

That’s what a good servant does.

Whose life are you influencing for Christ?