1 Timothy 4:15, 16 Meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all. The apostle here concludes his solemn instructions to his chosen representative at Ephesus. I. THE DUTY OF BEING MINDFUL AND DEVOTED TO ONE'S MINISTRY. "These things do thou care for: be in them." 1. A minister's heart ought to be anxious about his work. It is this anxiety that secures the efficiency of work in this world. But the minister's concern is full of an inspiring zeal for God's honor, and is sustained by encouraging promises of help from on high. 2. A minister ought to devote himself exclusively to his work. "Be in them." The obstacles to this devotion are: (1) slothfulness, (2) worldliness, (3) the pressure of duties right in themselves, but lying outside the sphere of the ministry. II. THE MOTIVE FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE DEVOTION. "That thy progress may appear to all." 1. This does not imply that Timothy was to have exclusive regard to his right standing with the Church. This might be a questionable motive. 2. It implies that his devotion to his work should be so altogether conspicuous that it could not but be seen by all. III. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PERSONAL LIFE AND THE OFFICIAL WORK OF THE MINISTER. "Take heed to thyself and to the teaching; continue in them: for in so doing thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee." 1. The direct object of the minister of the gospel is the salvation of studs. 2. This salvation comes by hearing the gospel. "Faith cometh by hearing. 3. It is the duty of the minister to persevere with a pious insistency on all the objects of his ministry. "Continue in them." 4. Nothing is so well adapted for the salvation of ministers as their pious labors in behalf of the salvation of others. 5. There is to be a double service in this ministry. The minister must first look well to his life, exemplifying the holiness of the gospel in word and deed (ver. 12); and then his teaching must be good (ver. 6) and salutary (1 Timothy 1:10). Thus he will be the instrument of much good; he will thus cover the multitude of sins, and save a soul from death (James 5:20). - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. |
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