Bible Studies
A Good Servant of Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 4:6-10)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. All of us would like to be “good servants of Christ Jesus.” Such is indicated by our presence here. 2. But what does it take to be a “good servant?” 3. Paul identifies some of the qualities of a good servant in 1 Tim. 4.a. A good servant points out the things that the Spirit says to the brethren.
b. He or she prescribes and teaches such things.
c. But there are some preliminaries. Before a good servant can point out the things of the Spirit, prescribing and teaching such things, these things must first be in the servant. Verse 16 puts it this way: “look to yourself and to your teaching.”
4. It is about this “looking to yourself” that I want to talk with you about. 5. Reading of 1 Tim. 4:6-10.Discussion:
I. The “good servant” must be “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine” (v. 6).A. You cannot teach what you do not know.
B. Timothy had a special gift bestowed through prophetic utterance with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery” (4:14).
1. This may have meant that Timothy was given special information from God as a New Testament prophet.
2. Even if this was the case, 4:15 says he needed to take great pains with these things and be absorbed in them.
3. We might think that Timothy had advantage over us, but do we not have the things in Scripture that were given through N.T. prophets? We need to take great pains with these things and be absorbed in them so that our progress will be evident to all.
4. It is easy to become absorbed in other things and neglect the spiritual gift that is within us—this word from God.
C. Constant nourishment is critical.
1. Some seem to think that occasional nourishment is sufficient.
2. They have never established the habit of regular nourishment.
a. They occasionally assemble with the saints.
b. They may occasionally read the Scriptures.
c. But they are certainly not absorbed in it.
3. One thing I have learned in raising cattle. Improperly nourished cattle get sick.
a. The value of proper nourishment is critical.
b. Watch a cow start loosing weight because of improper feeding, poor quality feed, not enough feed and she will start showing signs of infection—pink eye or something else.
c. A cycle is created—Herdsmen speak of an animal “Going off its feed.” She gets sick and looses her appetite. If the cycle is not stopped and reversed she will die.
d. And so it is with servants of Jesus Christ. Thus the instructions throughout Scripture.
1) 1 Pet. 2:2: “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow in respect to salvation.”
2) Heb. 5:11-14: “You have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
4. How much nourishment is enough? In the cattle business there are efficiency experts that control the nourishment so that the animal gets just enough without it costing too much. Some Christians are efficiency experts. They do not want their nourishment to cost them too much. So they limit their diet. Never mind what the shepherds have planned. Did you realize that the shepherds are responsible for your spiritual nourishment? That they have a plan for your spiritual health? It is the teaching plan associated with this flock.
5. Animals are not so smart. They walk on their feed. They trample it under foot. Are you trampling on what God has given you for your nourishment?
6. What new habits will you begin? Coming to Bible class? To the Sunday evening assembly? To daily personal study?
II. The “good servant” must practice “godly discipline” (v. 7-8).A. Involves turning away from unprofitable teachings.
1. Ever notice how inexperienced Christians are always attracted by some “new” or “unusual” teaching?
a. Many times such things are really not “new.” They are just “new” to them because they have never heard it before.
b. The Scripture speaks to this sort of thing in Eph. 4:11-16.
1) Note that some are “tossed here and there by waves.”
2) It is natural for us when we are just learning to do some of this.
3) Be cautious that you do not become absorbed in it.
c. Illustrate with “house churches” and “the second serving of the Lord’s Supper.”
2. Be careful in diminishing someone else’s worship just because it is “traditional.” Yes there are some who are just going through the motions, who are legalistic and uninformed. But be careful that you not let them prejudice you against those who have demonstrated by long years of service their genuineness and their love for the Lord. Where would you be without them? Were these not the ones who taught you to love the Lord?
3. Some things do not “further the administration of God” (1 Tim. 1:3-7).
a. We must be able to distinguish between those things that do and those things that do not.
b. Sometimes we major in the minors and minor in the majors. Consideration must also be given to what is of major importance and what is of minor importance.
B. “Discipline yourself,” Paul says to Timothy.
1. All of us need a good foundation to stand on.
2. For Timothy such disciplinary habits had been established from his childhood (2 Tim. 1:5).
3. But now he must discipline himself for godliness. Do you have to have a personal trainer or can you go forward on your own?
4. There comes a time when we are placed in a position to take over responsibility.
a. In our spiritual youth we come under the instruction of others.
b. There comes a time when we should become mature enough to take over this responsibility. Some seem to get stuck in the process and never seem to grow to the point of needing less than discipline from without. They never reach the maturity of self-discipline.
C. Bodily discipline is profitable, but by comparison to spiritual discipline it is weak. Spiritual discipline holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1. Look around you and notice those who are excelling spiritually. Notice also those who are not.
2. Look at the decisions these people have made and are making.
3. Do you not see the difference? Who do you want to be like? Do you want to throw your life away?
III. The “good servant” “labors and strives” (v. 9-10).A. There are at least two ways the “good servant” labors and strives.
1. Laboring and striving in the discipline of learning.
2. Laboring and striving to teach.
3. No we have not served as good servants if we have only concerned ourselves with ourselves and our own salvation (1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 2:2).
B. Good servants have fixed their hope on the living God therefore they labor and strive.
C. God is the Savior of all, but it is those who are believers who have placed their trust in Him as Savior (v. 10).
Conclusion:
1. Are you a good servant of Christ Jesus? 2. Are you constantly nourished on the words of faith and sound doctrine or only occasionally so? 3. Are you practicing godly discipline, turning away from unprofitable teachings and being absorbed in those things that further the administration of God? Have you grown to the point of self-discipline or must you be prompted and lead on by others? 4. Are you laboring and striving having fixed your hope on the living God?
