Young People's Group

The Example of Timothy as a Fellow Servant (I)

by Mitchell Tan
October 31, 2018

COMMENDED FOR BEING LIKE-MINDED

It is not easy to be like-minded. Many of us tend to prefer to follow our own way of doing things. And yet, Timothy was an example who had learnt to be like-minded with Paul. The apostle had challenged the Philippians to fulfil his joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind (Philippians 2:2). He went on to write about Timothy whom he was sending to the Philippians so as to know the state of their faith and life. He was commended for his like-mindedness with Paul.

“For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:20-21

Timothy was outstanding in more ways than one. Paul did not have anyone as like-minded as he was in terms of caring for the Philippians. The word “like-minded” means to have “the same mind and soul”. It was to have the same mind and spirit with Paul in service. Many of those who served with Paul tended to seek their own agenda. However, Timothy had the same genuine love for the Philippians as Paul did. He was focused on the things of the Lord Jesus as his mentor was. Our challenge is to have such a mind and spirit like Timothy.

COMMENCEMENT IN LEARNING TO BE LIKE-MINDED

“And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.”
Acts 16:1-2

The word “Behold” was used by Luke to call to attention the person whom he was writing about. This was his way to highlight that Timothy was outstanding. He had learnt to be a good disciple of the Lord Jesus. He had found the same genuine faith as his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy had earned a good reputation among the people. And yet being a good disciple does not equate to being a good minister. They are two different things. Timothy needed to learn to have a mindset of a servant.

1. UNDERSTANDING MINISTRY

“Paul wanted to have him go on with him.”
Acts 16:3

Timothy had to think further… to think deeper to be a good minister. Paul needed Timothy to learn the ropes of being a minister and to comprehend principles and practices of ministry. He wanted him to have the same mindset as he had. One important principle that he had to learn was to be “all things to all men”.

“I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
1 Corinthians 9:22

Paul had learnt to be dynamic and accommodating as he spent time with different sets of people so as to minister to them most effectively. He would do anything within the will of God to reach out to people so that he might by all means save some. Timothy had to learn this principle and others in order to serve well. Paul would train and guide him further so that he could have a mindset of a good servant of God one day.

2. COMPLIANCE

“And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.”
Acts 16:3

Timothy’s mother was a Jew and his father was a Greek. As such, Timothy was not circumcised when he was a baby and did not grow up as a Jew. And yet, in order to minister effectively to the Jews, he rose up to the challenge to have an adult circumcision. There was compliance on his side. This would have been a very painful experience for Timothy because he was doing this as an adult. The pain from the procedure would last for several days. Timothy exercised faith in rising up to a great challenge. Timothy had learnt to be all things to all men that he may save some. It takes much humility to submit to the things of Christ that will help us to be more effective in ministry. Let’s learn to have a spirit of humility to comply to being all things to all men.

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