For the Sake of Progress

1 Timothy 4-Part 7
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1 Timothy 4:15

Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. (NLT)


LET IT GLOW

They say it's for the sake of progress that things happen. A big chain store comes into our small community, resulting in a local store closing. Is that progress? What has been achieved by it? Is it progress for an airport to buy up land from local farmers in order to better serve the community? Now we hear planes going over at all hours, on my country road. It's progress for us to have a 4-lane highway connecting our small towns. Maybe it's for convenience for truckers of a large chain of stores. Well, lest I sound like I'm against progress, I'm not. Items are cheaper to buy; it's closer to the airport; it's faster driving on the bigger highway (passing semi trucks).
There are advantages to "progress." (Just let it happen to someone else's small town.) Sound familiar?

Do I want my life to show evidience of progress toward Christlikeness? Yes, but how does it happen? Paul tells Timothy here in this chapter 4.

Meditate means " to care for," according to Thayer's Lexicon. Paul wants Timothy to care for these things he has said previously. How important are they? He said for Timothy to give himself wholly, completely to them. Why? So everyone will see it.
"His progress toward Christlikeness will be evident to all," states MacArthur Bible Commentary.

Devote yourself fully to Christ. Timothy's spiritual life and ministry were to be the absorbing, controlling things in his life, not merely sidelines that he occasionally practiced. (Wiersbe)
"No man can serve two masters" (Matt. 6:24).


Shall we reveiw what "these things" are?

*Live as a spiritual example of what a believer truly can be. (verses 7-12)
*Apply himself to reading, preaching, and teaching.(verse 13)
*Don't neglect the spiritual gift received. (verse 14)
*Be consistent in spiritual growth. (verse 15)


LET IT GROW

Verse 12b says, Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (NLT)

Verse 16 says in NLT, Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Every now and then I need to examine my own heart in light of God's Word. Also, when I do, be truthful. God knows all things anyway. Don't neglect my own spiritual walk while helping others.

"Moral problems, divorces, and other kinds of shameful conduct have destroyed many of God's servants," stated Wiersbe.
"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall," says 1 Corinthians 10:12.

Am I a good servant, teaching the Word; a godly servant, practicing the Word; and a growing servant, progressing in the Word?


LET IT GO

Study and apply the Word to my life.

Take spiritual inventory often.

What do I need to let go of so God can use me for His glory?

Obey.