Some details of Timothy’s life have been considered in other articles in this issue. But what special lessons can we learn from his life and work? There are several that stand out.
A Difficult Background
First of all, Timothy had to overcome a difficult background. With parents from divergent backgrounds in both race and religion, he might easily have thrown up his hands, so to speak, and taken the view that he did not know what to believe. Today it is rather fashionable for some, both unbelievers and believers, to blame the failures and shortcomings in their lives on their upbringing. While we cannot choose our upbringing, God holds all of us responsible for how we react to His claims, once we have attained maturity. We do not need to allow sad events in our past to overshadow and warp our lives; we can be overcomers, as was Timothy. The godly example set by his mother and grandmother paid off, and Timothy made a decision to accept Christ and live for His glory — a path that he followed unswervingly. In this he is a great encouragement and an example to all of us, and especially to young people.
Character
Second, Timothy was of a somewhat timid and retiring nature. Paul told Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth” (1 Tim. 4:12). When Paul thought to send him to Corinth, he told them to “see that he may be with you without fear,” and “let no man therefore despise him” (1 Cor. 16:10-11). There was no need for Paul to say this on behalf of Apollos; he was of a different character — ”an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures” (Acts 18:2424And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. (Acts 18:24)). But they might be prone to despise and slight Timothy, whose physical bearing and demeanor would be more reticent. Yet he was mightily used of the Lord, and Paul commended him in the highest way. This too is an encouragement to us, for a commanding presence and a forceful personality are by no means necessary in the things of the Lord, and, indeed, these might well be a hindrance to the working of the Spirit of God in the individual. In Timothy’s case, God chose to use one whose character was more reserved and quiet.
Physical Limitations
Third, it is clear that Timothy was not a robust and healthy man. Paul could encourage him to “take a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Tim. 5:23). No doubt these infirmities, like Paul’s thorn in the flesh, were at times a difficulty to Timothy, but they would have the effect of keeping him more dependent on the Lord. To be in prison with such physical limitations would have been the more trying, but the Lord evidently preserved him. While it is true that the Lord gives, as part of a spiritual gift, a body suitable to use that gift, yet sometimes He allows physical infirmities which keep us looking to Him for the needed strength for whatever we may be called to do. In this way the Lord is glorified, for it is only by the breaking of the vessel that the light shines out brighter. If “we have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor. 4:7), then God may allow that vessel to be broken, so that the light shines out the more. A healthy vessel might unwittingly attract to itself, while a broken vessel is more apt to attract to Christ.
When we see men like Paul and Timothy having been allowed to have such physical infirmities, we can be encouraged to seek help from the Lord and not to use such limitations as an excuse not to use our gift for the Lord. Both Paul and Timothy were mightily used of the Lord, in spite of physical limitations; in our day we too can seek grace to overcome such hindrances, and, again, the Lord then gets the glory.
Steadfast Devotion
Fourth, Timothy continued on steadfastly to the end. Many others were connected with Paul in his pathway of service to the Lord, but some did not prove to be as trustworthy and devoted as they might have appeared at the beginning. John Mark turned back partway through the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1313Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:13)), while Demas, whom Paul once called a fellow laborer, eventually forsook him, “having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10). More than this, when Paul wrote his final epistle to Timothy, he had to tell him that “all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (2 Tim. 1:15). Finally, when Paul was called before the Roman authorities, he had to record that “no man stood with me, but all men forsook me” (2 Tim. 4:16). But Timothy remained faithful, along with Luke and some others. His unwavering course was no doubt a great encouragement, not only to Paul, but also to others.
In the pathway of each believer, steadiness and an unfaltering devotedness to the Lord are of great value. Many start out well in the path, but often resemble the man in Luke 14:2828For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (Luke 14:28), who purposes to build a tower, but does not count the cost. Then, when he is not able to finish, “all that behold it begin to mock him” (Luke 14:2929Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, (Luke 14:29)). So it is still today; the world mocks when a believer fails in his walk for the Lord and destroys his testimony. At the end of Paul’s life, he could say, among other things, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Timothy likewise walked in Paul’s footsteps, so that Paul, as he came to the end of his course, could commit to him what was on his heart, with an assurance that Timothy would carry on the work.
Facing the Failure
Finally, Timothy was called to face difficulties that would test him — difficulties that were occasioned by the failure of the church and the ultimate giving up of Paul’s doctrine. In the first part of Timothy’s life, events had no doubt moved along smoothly, with an ongoing tide of blessing, as new converts in large numbers were added to the church. What a privilege it must have been to be connected with all this and to experience the freshness and power as the work of the Lord expanded! But later, as declension came in, Timothy would have to cope with a different situation. Opposition might well come from within the “great house” of Christendom, as well as from the world. More care would be needed to separate from vessels to dishonor and to guard against false doctrine and evil practices. Some would turn away from the truth and would not endure sound doctrine. Timothy might well have shrunk from all this, and especially in view of his naturally sensitive and reticent character. But Paul had confidence in him, and surely the Lord would give the needed grace to meet these new circumstances. For this reason, Paul, after having mentioned that “all in Asia” had forsaken him, tells Timothy first of all to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1).
So, again, it is in our day. We are in the “last days” of 2 Timothy 3 and have to cope with increasing worldliness and giving up of the truth. Also, if we are honest, we must admit that the tendencies are in our own hearts, if we do not keep close to the Lord. Perhaps it is for this reason that Paul could close 2 Timothy with the words, “The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit” (2 Tim. 4:22). We may have a great deal of knowledge, but in these last days our spirit is most important — a spirit of grace. With all the failure around us, it is most important to separate from evil and maintain the truth as God gave it at the beginning. But all must be done in a spirit of grace.
W. J. Prost