Timothy – His Life and Lessons in Leadership: One Who Honors God

The meaning of Timothy’s name is “one who honors God” which perfectly frames the distinctive nature of his character. It is noted throughout his ministry he persevered in his diligence to emulate Paul and serve him well. He proclaimed the gospel message in difficult environments and places where it required him to remain steadfast to the faith and to endure in the face of struggles. These basic attributes to persevere, proclaim and endure are as relevant today as they were two millennial ago when Paul mentored Timothy. Today’s church in North America is on the brink as 281,000,000 people do not know Jesus. It requires men to pastor churches in a time with circumstances are very similar to what Paul and Timothy encountered in Corinth. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote:

“For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you to imitate me. This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Jesus Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church” (2 Cor 4:15-17).

Paul knew he could count on Timothy to be a strong leader, and much like Paul, he too, was a father in Christ to many. Timothy also would shepherd the Corinthians and later the church in Ephesus. It was not an easy job as the church encountered dysfunction dealing with immorality, lawsuits between believers, challenges with marriage and many other struggles. These are the same type of situations pastors face today requiring a high degree of integrity, understanding and solid people skills. Brian Croft, the author of Biblical Church Revitalization provides a list of the essential qualities and abilities today’s pastor must possess, they include:

· Visionary Shepherd

· High tolerance for pain

· Respect and passion for the church’s legacy

· Passion for multi-generational ministry

· A resourceful generalist

· Tactical patience

· Emotional awareness

· Spousal perseverance[i]

All of these qualities are necessary to engage in battle and fight the good fight. As one discerns their call to ministry it is important for a man to assess his personal nature to fulfill the role of a pastor to shepherd others. A man must evaluate his character to be a servant of Jesus Christ, to remain true to the word, be strong in grace and realize the struggle is real. There will be attacks from within and without! Timothy faced both of these as he pastored the church in Ephesus. It requires spiritual strength and unwavering belief in the purity of the gospel message. Timothy was Paul’s co-worker as noted in the greetings of epistles of Ephesians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and was his traveling companion to share the gospel throughout the Macedonian region. Paul knew him well, schooled him and treated him like his son. It is because of his strong relationship and knowing the depth of his character, Paul trusted Timothy to fulfill God’s will and purpose in the church.

As a man considers his purpose and calling to ministry, it is the perfect time for introspection and reflection to evaluate the strength of their faith and how God desires to use them during his time on this earth. In 1729, John Wesley and his brother Charles formed a Holy Club at Christ Church in Oxford, the brothers including George Whitefield and others who met for prayer, bible study and time for reflection and accountability. They developed a list of 22 questions to ask themselves during private devotion. Here is a sampling of four questions from this list to consider to answer as you contemplate your call to ministry: #4. Can I be trusted? #10. When did I last speak to someone about my faith? #13. Do I disobey God in anything? and #22. Is Christ real to me?

Based upon the Scriptures, it is evident Timothy could provide solid answers for all these questions. Paul trusted him implicitly to herald the gospel, pastor and minister to others. He obviously shared his faith with many and like most men may have encountered some personal weaknesses, perhaps only known to himself. Christ was very real to him as witnessed in Paul’s testimony calling him “my true son in the faith” as noted in 1 Timothy 1:2. The question for you to ask yourself, do you honor God and would Jesus our Savior, call you “my true son or true daughter in the faith?”

[i] Brian Croft, Biblical Church Revitalization, (Glasgow, England: Christian Focused Publications, Ltd., 2016), 34.