Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

YOUNG AT FORTY Greeks considered a person a youth until he reached forty years of age. Assuming that Timothy was about eighteen when he began his association with Paul, he would have been in his thirties when he received this letter from the great apostle. Timothy and Luke were Paul's constant and closest traveling companions on his various missionary journeys. Son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father, Timothy was called Paul's "spiritual son." Paul sent him to pastor the growing church at Ephesus. While he was so engaged, Paul wrote the letter now known as 1 Timothy. At the heart of this letter is Paul's desire to encourage Timothy. He says: Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. It is possible for a minister to become so busy winning the world for Christ that he neglects the spiritual exercise necessary to keep himself strong. Therefore, Paul was anxious that his young friend keep spiritually fit. Many ministers and hardworking laymen have lost out because they are so busy "doing" they forget to "be." God's Word assures us that what we "are" is more important than what we "do." While we must never neglect the Great Commission, we need to take time for self-improvement. Jesus Himself called His disciples aside to "rest awhile." The wise believer sets up a consistent program of spiritual fitness. Paul says physical exercise does a little good, but spiritual exercise is beneficial not only in this life but in the life to come. Thus, Paul advised Timothy to give attention to reading, exhortation, and doctrine, and to give himself wholly to the things of God. In doing this, he would be an example to the believers. Paul's wise and practical words encourage us to a life of daily devotion and spiritual fitness.