Tag: 1 Timothy

Devotional: Don’t Be Afraid!

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (2 Timothy 1:6–8 )

I don’t know about you, but I know sometimes I get a little bit worried and even fearful when I watch TV. I am a news guy. I love staying up-to-date on what’s happening in my community and my nation.

That being said, sometimes that creates a lot of stress and anxiety in my life. Have you experienced this? It seems like almost all the news is bad news, especially for someone who believes the Word of God.

In today’s text, Paul is talking to his son in the ministry, Timothy. He makes an argument for a way of thinking that I think we need to adopt if we are going to be effective in our faith.

God gave you a gift.
What gift did Timothy have? Well, we know he was saved. But we also know that God gives gifts to people when they get saved. The point of these gifts is to glorify God by being an effective minister for him.
If you know Christ as Savior, you have been given salvation and you have been given spiritual gifts for service.

God gave you a spirit.
What is the spirit? Of course, Timothy had the Holy Spirit living inside of him, but here it I believe Paul is talking about an attitude or an approach to life.
What was to be as approach? Not fear.
* Power.- we have been commissioned by God and we go out his authority.
* Love.- A love for God, and I love for the people we are ministering to you should be our motivation.
* Sound mind.- When we read and apply God’s Word He begins to use it to renew our mind. Many times our fears are irrational. “No one will listen to me.” Really? “They will all think I’m crazy”. Really? And even if they do, what does that actually mean? And what are the consequences if we don’t minister? Heaven and hell could be in the balance’

…So don’t be afraid or ashamed.
So when we adopt the right attitude of power, love, and a sound mind, we realize that we have nothing to be ashamed of. We have a message of life!

Share the the gospel through the difficulty.
Isn’t it interesting that Paul doesn’t argue that there will be no affliction or hardship when we minister the gospel? In fact, he assumes that there will be affliction and hardship. In fact, he is writing from prison. No, he just makes the argument that when we have the right attitude and beliefs we can minister effectively even in the face of difficulty.

So, I have to preach to myself today. What I am preaching is this: Don’t be afraid. Don’t shut up. Don’t give in. Minister the gospel wherever I am no matter what. Why? The power of God, the love of God, and they might from God that gives us a right attitude!

Accountable to God: Day 39

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional7 Comments

March 1, 2012
Today’s Text: 1 Timothy 6:19

Today’s Key Thought: I will view my wealth through the lens of eternity.


In this verse we see Paul finishes his thought that he communicating to Timothy about what to say to rich people. The statement he makes is a reference to an entire body of teaching that is found throughout scripture. Jesus taught this principle multiple times and it’s found throughout the New Testament and even in the Old Testament. Paul concludes his thought with the phrase “laying up”. This idea is completion of the act of giving as only rich people can do. Another way of saying the phrase laying up would be, “in this way”. God, through Paul, makes a connection between giving and storing, a transfer of funds from material “loss” to spiritual gain. Jesus in Luke 12:13-21 gives a great illustrative story of this point. As a rich person does this transfer they begin to get a “hold on eternal life”. They don’t earn eternal life, that’s not possible, but they do begin to get a hold onto the life that really matters, the eternal one. As a rich person, you can take your temporary earthly stuff and use it to make an impact in eternity for both you and the recipient!

Application:
So where are you in getting a hold of that you have an eternal life? Have you made the connection between your earthly possessions and your spiritual treasure? Today’s challenge is to find two more ways of how you can transfer your earthly wealth in spiritual treasures. Living and giving, that’s how God says rich people should be rich.

Accountable to God: Day 38

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional2 Comments

February 29, 2012

Today’s Text: 1 Timothy 6:18

Today’s Key Thought: Since I have more, I should do more and give more
Timothy was charged by the Apostle Paul to tell rich people that they should do good. This “do good” is not just the idea of everyday good deeds, this is good deeds that only rich people can do. Rich people have the opportunity to leverage their extra for the sake of others. Rich people have extra. Most people in the world don’t have Saturday & Sunday off. Rich people are rich in options to do stuff. Rich people ask themselves “how to do I fill my extra time?” Rich people say “I will spend my extra on me!” God through Paul says that is NOT “how to be rich”. Those who are rich often regret the extra time spent, but those who do good works for others never come back saying what a time of time it was. God urges rich people to give like only a rich person can give. The same is true of our money as is with our time as rich people we are rich in options for our money. We live in a country that is full of options; new gadgets, new things to wear, new toys to upgrade, and consequently we are tempted do exactly what we are programmed by our society, we spend all our extra money on ourselves. God says spending all your extra money is not how to be rich, it is how to be selfish.

Application:
You are RICH! As a rich person and steward of God’s finances you need to live life with a plan. You need to plan to first commit to give your time. Rich people think ahead and invest. Think through your time, I have ___ weeks off, I will take ___ amount of time and give ___ amount of time away to others. When you do you will find that your heart follows your treasure of time. If you don’t you will look back at a life full of good, medium, and awful movies, parties, vacations and not have lived a life rich in good works. Second you need to commit to give your money as a percentage giver. You need to ask yourself before I spend any on me (leftovers) I will tithe, maybe commit to increase it, give to predetermined charities and give to predetermine ministries. That’s being rich God’s way!

Accountable to God: Day 37

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional5 Comments

February 28, 2012

Today’s Text: 1 Timothy 6:17

Today’s Key Thought: I will not trust in my riches, but in the God that richly provides.
So what was Timothy supposed to command “rich” people to do. He told him to command them not to trust in the creation, but to trust in the Creator.
Let me ask you a question. Which statement would scare you more- “God is no longer on the throne of your life”, or “There is no more money in the bank.”? God knows that the temptation to trust in the stuff we have been given grows as we get more and more. So the command is very simple. Don’t trust in your riches. They are fleeting.
Instead we are being called to put our trust in God. Think about it- He is the one who owns it all anyway, and He can provide for you!
Application:
Are you tempted to put your confidence in your bank account, job, or investments? Don’t trust in stuff. Trust in God!