1 Timothy 4 Pt. 3 Have Godly Priorities, Passions and Practices

Paul is writing a "Pastoral" letter to a young pastor named Timothy. This young pastor was greatly loved by Paul and the apostle worked diligently to prepare Timothy for gospel ministry. 

Timothy needed to be ready to assume greater responsibilities over the churches. Why? Because Paul was going to be martyred, along with all the other apostles, except John, who died in exile at Patmos.

Thus, Paul began the 4th chapter of First Timothy with strong warnings about guarding against seducing spirits, false teachers and doctrines of devils. 

1 Timothy 4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 

Paul teaches Timothy that a good minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, will indeed, lead by setting a good example, and by passing on the apostolic doctrines.

The phrase " put the brethren in remembrance of" is from a Greek word that refers to a criminal laying down his neck on a chopping block, under an executioner's sword.

The picture here is that Timothy must do all that he can to pass on these truths to other Christians, to the point of putting his own life on the line, if needed. 

As a pastor, Timothy must diligently feed the Word to each church flock that is entrusted to his care. 

He must give them Bible truth to shape their minds with a right understanding of the gospel of Christ, Christian duties and God's beautiful doctrines.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-2  Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2)  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 

Paul planted the church at Thessalonica and he loved those saints dearly. They immediately received the Word of God with joy and gladness. They began witnessing for Jesus Christ, spreading His gospel throughout the whole region.

Of course, the Devil fought back against their evangelistic efforts by raising opposition against the Thessalonians.

Paul wrote to them, letting them know that he was sending Timothy to minister to them in their hour of need. This is why Timothy needed the personal instruction from the apostle. 

Paul's teaching prepared him for a greater role, to be part of the next generation of church leaders after the apostles died. Timothy would reinforce sound doctrine, and comfort the Thessalonians as he ministered to them.

1 Corinthians 4:17  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 

In like manner, Paul sent pastor Timothy to the church at Corinth, to minister to their needs. 

Specifically, Timothy was to remind them of Paul's Holy Spirit guided teaching in order to bring the apostolic doctrine back into their minds.

The Corinthians needed to remember how Paul gave his whole being for gospel ministry. 

They needed to remember who Paul was persistently persecuted, and how he suffered physically from Christ rejecting Jews and Gentiles. 

Sometimes, Paul did not receive proper support from the churches and he had to compensate by working with his own hands, making tents. 

Sometimes he was without food, clothing or shelter, for the sake of the gospel (See 1 Corinthians 4:6-16). 

Yet, he patiently endured it all in order to faithfully serve His Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. 

Thus, Paul was a model example for all Christians, joyfully serving Christ even when facing adversity for the sake of the gospel.

2 Peter 1:12-13  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13)  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 

Shortly before his martyrdom, Peter also wrote to all the churches, to put things in remembrance in their minds. 

Like Paul was doing with Timothy, Peter wanted all Christians to retain the apostolic doctrine and gospel truths that they had been taught. He wanted God's truth to direct our lives, shaping our thoughts, words and actions. 

1 Timothy 4:7  But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 

Next, Paul teaches Timothy that he must refuse profane things. Examples of profane things are secular, worldly, common things, in contrast to the beautiful things of God.

He must refuse, or decline to get involved in worldly, common things because he has a higher calling as a minister of the gospel of Christ. 

Likewise, Timothy must learn to refuse old wives tales. Old wives tales have ancient roots, orally passed down from generation as truths, yet most often they are disproved by modern science.

For example, my parents used to make us swallow a spoonful of Vicks VapoRub, even though is a petroleum based product that should not be ingested. 

Why? Because their mothers told them that it helped drive out the cold germs. This is both false and dangerous.

Another old wives tale is that you must keep cats away from an infant because they will steal the air from a baby's mouth. This tale is connected to ancient witchcraft. 

Another one that I recall is "Feed a cold and starve a fever." Modern medical research has shown that we must eat and drink lots of fluid with either a cold or a fever. 

Shun these things. Avoid them, do not help propagate them, is Paul's instruction to young Timothy.

Titus 1:14  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 

Paul wrote to Titus as he did to young Timothy. He tells Titus to reject Jewish fables. He is referring to all the man made interpretations of the Jews that were superimposed upon the holy law of God. 

They have no basis in fact, and were certainly not inspired truth from God. They are simply the products of men's corrupt imaginations that lead people astray from living by faith. 

These are the very false teachings of the Jewish rabbis that Jesus addressed in Matthew 5-7.

1 Timothy 4:7  But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Instead, Paul gives Timothy something better to do with his time, that he can pass on to other Christians.

Exercise yourself unto godliness. The Greek word translated "exercise" is contained in the word "gymnastics." This connects with Olympic athletes in training for their particular sport.

The idea is not that of physical exercise. Rather, it is that we exercise our mind and soul in pursuing the things of God. 

This connects with Paul's later instruction to be a workman studying the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). 

We are to seek those things of God above, where Christ is enthroned in heaven (Colossians 3:1).

We are to set our affection, passion and zeal upon the Lord of glory (Colossians 3:2).

We are to seek first the kingdom of God every day when we awaken (Matthew 6:33).

We are to continually seek the LORD (1 Chronicles 16:11).

We are to seek Jehovah early every morning, longing for Him as much as a parched man in the desert sun thirsts for a cup of cold water (Psalm 63:1).

We are blessed when we seek God with our whole heart (Psalm 119:2; 10).

This represents a fraction of the verses that speak to a Christian making the Lord his or her highest priority.

1 Timothy 4:8  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 

Gymnastic exercises that were highly esteemed by the Greeks, have only a temporary value, for their duration is short and expires when the Olympic activities are over.

Exercising ourselves unto godliness has the promise of living a blessed life now (See Psalm 1) and it prepares us for eternal life to come. 

Pursuing godliness is profitable for all things in our earthly pilgrimage  and eternity that we will spend with the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we renew our commitment to follow hard after our Lord Jesus Christ. May we seek Him early each morning when we rise. May we live according to His Word. 

Bob