1 Timothy 4:16

Friends,

This is an obvious departure from my systematic study through Romans, but a number of factors have drawn me to do three short memory studies over the next three days. My pastor has challenged us to meditate on these verses in preparation for an upcoming meeting. Because my normal schedule was disrupted last week and I didn't get Romans 8 done on time, it is the perfect time to take a week on something else.

So, the first verse in this three-part memory study is 1 Timothy 4:16.

1 Timothy 4:16 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.

As I study various commentaries, one thing jumps out to me and most of them; notice the order of things in this verse. Paul is telling Timothy to 'keep a close watch' on himself ('take heed', 'watch your life', 'be conscientious', and 'pay close attention' in other translations) before he says anything about 'the teaching' (or 'good doctrine' from 4:6). John Calvin writes that 'his teaching will be of no avail unless his own life accord with it; and his own purity of life is not enough unless he be diligent in teaching'.

Pastors and teachers who have neglected to 'keep a close watch' on themselves and their families have fallen into moral problems, divorce, pornography, and many other kinds of shameful behavior. We must make sure that God is working IN us before He can work THROUGH us.

I do not believe that there is any 'isolationistic' tone to this teaching, as if to say "you're on your own to take care of yourself". In fact, when pastors, or anyone, separate themselves from the body of Christ they set themselves up for spiritual attack. The opportunity for sin and moral failure increase dramatically the farther away one separates himself.

I've been to Africa once, and I've seen a herd of wildebeest. I've also seen my share of National Geographic specials. Which animal does the hungry lion go after first? Jumping into a herd of angry, scared, healthy and hoofed wildebeest would be suicide. But ganging up on the straggler with a gimp leg would be much easier. I am no expert on spiritual warfare, but I do know that when God's people join together in worship, prayer, reading His Word, and watching out for each other, there is power. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, put on His love the binds us in unity, and let the Word of Christ dwell in us (Col 3:12-16). Don't walk alone.

I don't want it to seem like I'm down-playing sound doctrine and faithful study. If your life is wrong, your teaching will not stand. If your teaching is wrong, your life does not matter. One without the other is incomplete.

Paul finishes by saying that attention to your life and your teaching will 'save yourself and your hearers'. This is not referring to the salvation of the soul. Paul began this chapter writing about false teachers who were causing havoc and confusion with lies and deceit. By keeping a close watch on yourself and your teaching, you will save yourself and your hearers from the errors of false doctrine and the path of deception and destruction.

Warren Wiersbe writes; "As good ministers, we preach the Word; as godly ministers, we practice the Word; as growing ministers, we progress in the Word."

How does this affect my worship?
There is a quote from A.W. Pink (initials means that he's got a big brain); "Service becomes a snare and an evil if it be allowed to crowd out worship and the cultivation of one's own spiritual life". My study must never become merely academic. Hiding God's Word in my heart is not to just make me smarter, more pious, or more 'pastoral'. I must DO His Word, not just know it. It must flow out of everything I am. My worship should be drenched in the language of His Word. My prayer should be immersed in the inspired Words He has given us. My worship must be in Spirit and Truth.

How does this affect my discipleship?
In Paul's ongoing discipleship of Timothy, he passes on this most critical point; don't disqualify yourself from discipleship. In 1 Cor 9:27 Paul focuses on discipline and control of his body so that he would not be disqualified from preaching. Here, Paul is warning Timothy not to let his life or his teaching be disqualified by letting one or the other go astray. And that is at the core of discipleship; paying close attention to each other and to sound doctrine.

Watch yourselves, watch each other, watch your teaching, and watch Him,

Ethan