We have been talking about the four important truths Paul gives the church at the end of his great passage on the power and proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers,
(1) stand firm.
(2) Let nothing move you.
(3) Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
(4) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. Wow! That seems easy enough doesn't it. However in our culture where we move from one thought to the next in a matter of seconds it's hard to imagine giving one's self fully to any single endeavor in life. Add to that the responsibilities of just every day living and one soon becomes overwhelmed with even the thought of giving themselves fully to the work of the Lord. Even if you understand that giving one's self fully to the Lord means doing that as we live out the every day tasks of just living a normal life, it can still be a daunting thought. I think Paul can help us to understand this in a portion of his first letter to Timothy. In the fourth chapter Paul gives Timothy a set of instructions; a key principle; and a set of practices to attend to. His instructions start with a warning.
1 Timothy 4 (NIV)
[1] The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
[2] Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
[3] They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
When I read these three verses, my attention is drawn to the word demons. I wonder how anyone could ever swallow the things taught by demons. In our imagination the word demons conjures up visions of a dark red creature with horns on his head, a tail coming out of his backbone, and a pitchfork in his hand. How could anyone possibly swallow the garbage that a creature like that would spew out? But Satan does not come to us in that form or manner.
Look closely at the words Paul uses here. If you pay close attention, he tells us how people will be convinced to follow such foolishness, and how that will bring them to abandon their faith. Look closely at the phrases Paul uses...
~ Deceiving spirits - Think about it. People do not know when they are being deceived. If you knew that someone was deceiving you, would you follow their advice?
~ Hypocritical liars - How do you know if someone is a hypocrite or if they are lying to you? And if you do know that they are a hypocrite and that they are lying to you, will you believe and follow them?
Most reasonable people will not follow teachings that they know are intentional deceptions or lies. Most reasonable people will not follow someone they know to be a hypocrite. They follow because they are deceived.
This presents a big problem. People are falling, and will fall away from the faith because they are being deceived by hypocritical liars who's
consciences have been seared. It's not their fault, it's just not fair.
~ A liar - tells something that is not true. If you trust the individual giving you the information you are likely to believe something that is not true. And sometimes people deceive us unintentionally because they are being deceived themselves. This is possible because this is spiritual battle.
~ A hypocrite - is an individual that pretends to be something they are not. They may pretend to be good and truthful when in fact they are evil and a liar. If they are good at it, they are likely to convince people that they are what they only pretend to be.
~ Deceiving spirits - is a phrase that gives us a lot of useful information.
The first word, deceive means "to be false to; to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid; to give a
false impression" (Merriam-Webster). This is an attack that tricks the helpless and leads them astray. Because they are being deceived they fall away helplessly. It doesn't seem fair that someone would be held accountable for such an attack does it? That's a problem we must solve in light of the belief of a loving God who wants us to be
successful in our relationship with Him.
The second word, spirits shows that this is an attack of spiritual warfare which we are powerless to overcome. It only adds to our
dilemma about being held accountable for something we cannot control or overcome on our own.
The good news of the gospel is that it never leaves the individual trapped, there is always an answer, always a way out, always a way to overcome. Paul continues with his instructions to Timothy and from the context of the first three verse we know that Paul wants to prevent Timothy, and those he ministers to, form abandoning the faith.
[4] For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
[5] because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
[6] If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
[7] Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
[8] For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
[9] This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance
[10] (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
[11] Command and teach these things.
[12] Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
[13] Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
[14] Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
[15] Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
[16] Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
In verse 12 Paul says one of the most famous lines used in encouraging youth. "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young..." Even though this statement is found in the context of his letter to Timothy who is young, he does not mean this teaching to be exclusive to youth. The truth here, applies to all of us who seek to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. "Don't let anyone look down on you..." In fact if you look carefully at this 4th chapter of 1 Timothy you will see this statement wrapped in Instructions and suggested Practices.
For each instruction there is an equivalent practice or action. Paul does not just give instruction but gives detail on how to practice those instructions. In these instructions and practices one can come to give their life fully to the work of the Lord. Like layers of an onion that protect the center from damage and harm, Paul gives us layers of instructions and practices that wrap themselves around our standing in Christ. What is our standing in Christ? Don't let anyone look down on you to deceive you by hypocrisy and lies, people who's consciences have been seared so that they don't care about the truth.
Verse 12: Don't let anyone look down on you. Verse 12 is the core of giving yourself fully to God. "Don't let anyone look down on you..." Not that we are proud in any self sufficiency of personal strength or ability. For our confidence is in the power of God working in our lives, not in our own strength or power.
In each Instruction Paul teaches a principle that is helpful in preventing a falling away.
In each Practice Paul gives us an equivalent action that will strengthen our resolve and our relationship with God.
I think it is important to look at Timothy's background for a moment as he played a big role in establishing the first century Christian Church, all over the known world but especially in Ephesus. It is appropriate on this Mother's Day because Timothy's mother and grandmother help to lay a foundation in Timothy's life that helped him to make a decision for Christ in his life, and to help him give himself fully to the work of the Lord. In the Introduction to the book of First Timothy, one commentator said:
"As the salutation indicates (1:2), Paul is writing to Timothy, a native of Lystra (in modern Turkey). Timothy's father was Greek, while his mother was a Jewish Christian (Ac 16:1). From childhood he had been taught the OT (2Ti 1:5; 3:15). Paul called him "my true son in the faith" (1:2...), perhaps having led him to faith in Christ during his first visit to Lystra. At the time of his second visit Paul invited Timothy to join him on his missionary travels, circumcising him so that his Greek ancestry would not be a liability in working with the Jews (Ac 16:3). Timothy helped Paul evangelize Macedonia and Achaia (Ac 17:14-15; 18:5) and was with him during much of his long preaching ministry at Ephesus (Ac 19:22). He traveled with him from Ephesus to Macedonia, to Corinth (see Ac 20:3 and note), back to Macedonia, and to Asia Minor (Ac 20:1-6). He may even have accompanied him all the way to Jerusalem. He was with Paul during the apostle's first imprisonment (Phl 1:1; Col 1:1; Phlm 1)." (NIVSBN)
There is a key phrase in that quote that I want to point out: "From childhood he had been taught the OT."
2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NIV)
[10] You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
[11] persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
[12] In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
[13] while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
[14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
[15] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
[16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
[17] so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The most important job in the world is being a mother. Thank you to all the mothers who are here today, your attendance in the church shows a giving of self to Christ. To mothers who still have children at home, make them a priority in your life and teach them the Word of God.
Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster 11th collegiate Dictionary. 2003.
NIV - The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2003.
NIVSBN - NIV Study Bible Notes (NIVSBN). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.