One Indispensable Lesson from Timothy

There is a single lesson in these letters from Paul to Timothy that can change your life. This lesson will help transform your Bible reading and study into a powerful spiritual experience.

These letters were written to help Timothy in leading the churches in his care. They are sometimes called pastoral epistles – letters written for pastors. However, they are filled with counsel to help every follower of Jesus thrive.

Before we get to the passage I want to highlight today, here are a few key passages that teach us valuable lessons on how we are to live.

Straightforward Scripture Lessons from Timothy

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:7–8 (ESV)

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Timothy 4:14–16 (ESV)

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 (ESV)

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV)

With these lessons in mind, here is the one lesson that every follower of Jesus must learn in order to become all that God wants you them to be.

That One Lesson

These verses are the one lesson I want to focus on today. I will unpack it for you and make an application from one specific verse of scripture, so you can see how it works.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

Here we have a guide for reading scripture. The goal is spiritual maturity and confident ability to do the work God has given us to do. Surely, this is what we all want. And God’s word is the key to it all. It starts with the important reality that scripture is the word of God. It is his gift to his children so we can be all he created us to be.

Here is the scripture we will apply this verse to:

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:12–13 (ESV)

Teaching

This verse teaches us about how we are to live. Not only are we to love our neighbor as ourselves but we are to love one another as Jesus has loved us. How has he loved us? He has laid down his life for us.

This verse opens up for us the kind of love we are to have for one another – a self-sacrificing love that is unconditional.

Reproof

Some translations use the word rebuke. This is when we are confronted about what we are doing wrong. This scripture becomes rebuke when we realize that we are not loving one another as Jesus did. Too often, we are unwilling to sacrifice our opinions and rights for one another as an expression of love, let alone our lives!

Jesus rebukes us for our divisive and stubborn attitudes that hurt instead of heal. This command to love is a rebuke when we condemn other Christians because they don’t share our traditions, political viewpoints or debatable doctrinal positions (although there are some doctrinal positions that are not debatable).

Correction

This passage also urges us to correct our understanding of love. Perhaps, you have been loving other followers of Jesus based on your understanding of what love means. And when you read this passage you realize that your love hasn’t gone far enough. You now can make the corrections you need so you can love as Jesus instructed you to. Reproof says stop and change. Correction says alter your path a little.

Training in Righteousness

There are at least two steps in learning. One is to receive teaching, thus receiving the information we need to proceed. The second is training, thus applying what we learn in life situations.

For this passage, training would involve actively expressing the self-sacrificing love that Jesus said we must have. It could involve forgiving someone, reaching out to someone with whom you have differences and telling them you love them. It could mean apologizing for hurtful statements you have made or positions you have staked out.

The Last Word

When we apply these four steps to all scripture, we will grow by leaps and bounds. It takes work, prayer, humility, faith and love but it is so worthwhile to do it.

I urge you to start today!

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