No one likes to hear, “you can get there, it’s just going to take a ton of work, discipline and even pain to get there.” Most would respond, “No thanks, I’ll take the ‘sit on the couch approach’ as it’s more comfortable and easier on my knees.” Paul tells Timothy that leadership is about striving, toiling, suffering reproach and training (vv 10, 8). Doesn’t sound too appealing does it? You won’t see people lining outside the door to sign up for this job. Yet, this is what it looks like to lead people as an example, pointing them to the Perfect One as our Perfect Leader.

As You Would Train Physically, Train Spiritually

“…train yourselves for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present live and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7b-8).

To work out physically means you will get sore, tight and will need to put in some work. Likewise, to grow closer to Jesus, to know Him more and to kill your sin means it will take work and it will be difficult and it will probably cause you some pain, but it’s worth it. Paul tells us it’s more than worth it by saying working out your body has some value, but working on your relationship with Jesus has value in EVERY WAY. It is exceedingly important, yet most Christian treat this area of their life with about as much care as Apple does for Microsoft.

Why Train?

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:9-10).

Our hope is set on THE living God. Our God is not dead, He is not still on a cross, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in the position of power and authority and will one day come back again to judge the living and the dead whom will bow in worship Him as God either as friend or foe. Additionally, Jesus works today in and through His people through God the Holy Spirit. He is ALIVE!

Furthermore, our hope is not set on anything apart from Christ. This means we don’t set our hope on finances. We will not loose faith or be distraught over financial loss or ruin. Jesus is still God regardless of how much money you possess. This is something Jesus made very real to us this last week as our house came to within an inch of being flooded. We could have lost everything we own and would have no financial means to gain it all back. Jesus could have easily taken it all away.  We believe that God was asking us if we were willing to let it all go for him.

We don’t set our hope on a spouse or even the hope of a spouse. If the Lord were to not give you a wife or husband and your hope is set on Jesus you will be infinitely more satisfied because you want what God wants for you. Furthermore, if God were to allow your spouse to be diagnosed with cancer or to take them away completely, you will not loose hope. How about your Children? What have you placed your hope on apart from Jesus?

Set the Example

“Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers and example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 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” (1 Timothy 4:11-15).

Paul tells Timothy to set an example. This is especially important for Timothy to understand as he is a young man who is leading a church and establishing a church in a very important city. First Paul assumes there will be contention just because Timothy is young. I totally get this. The first reaction I get when I tell people I’m a pastor is, “wow, you’re young!”. Too often people wrongly assume maturity (especially spiritual maturity) and age are mutually exclusive. It is assumed, if you are old then you are mature, if you are young you are not. This is simply wrong. Case and point: Timothy. Just because you’ve been on this earth longer than another doesn’t mean that you are more mature than others, it just means you’ve rotated the sun more times. Maturity takes effort, aging does not.

• Set the example in what you say. James says the person who can keep from sining with their tongue is a perfect person (James 3:2). Your words will betray you and reveal how sinful your heart really is. Set an example by keeping your tongue bridled. Sometimes this means you just simply need to not say anything. Sometimes this will mean you need to courageously say something that may sting to others, but needs to be said.
• Set the example in what you do. If you worship Jesus you will do different things. You are not saved by good deeds, you are saved TO them. This means you will do things that are worshipful acts and deeds that shed light on whom you worship and glorify your Father in heaven. Additionally, you will cease committing sin (not all sin, some sin). You will work to commit your deeds to worship of Jesus rather than worship of something else.
• Set the example in why you live the way you live. Paul tells Timothy to set the example in love. Love is the motivator. You are motivated by love to say and do what you say and do. We should not be motivated by anger (though, anger itself is not a sin), we should be motivated by first our love for Jesus and second our love for others.
• Set the example in how you live the way you live. The ‘how’ is faith. We are to live with great faith. Faith goes beyond empirical reasoning or understanding. It is not easy for the Christian to set their hope on Jesus in a world that presses us to place our hope on created things rather than Creator God. It takes put everything in our lives, including our own breath, in an open hand and say to Jesus, “do with it what you will”. Faith is not something our culture understands. This is exemplified in the fact that we are extremely impatient people. Impatience = a lack of faith. Impatience says, “I want what I want now”; faith says, “I want what God wants, when He want’s it”. Repent of you impatience or lack of faith and trust in Jesus who is the giver of all good things and makes good out of evil.
• Set the example in the condition of your heart. Purity speaks of the condition of your heart. Out of the heart perversion, lies, adultery and hate proceed (Matthew 5:19). This is the heart of the issue. To set an example to others as a leader is not simply behavioral modification. It’s all about the condition of your heart. I’ve heard it said many times, “I’m not a bad person, I just did a bad thing”. The Bible says that from your heart (sum or total of your being) flows what you do. So if you do a bad thing, it reveals you are a bad person. This would be like a pear tree trying to call itself an apple tree.

Why Set an Example?

“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 4:16).

There is much at stake. Not only for you, but for those who follow you as well.

More people are following you than you probably know. By definition a leader is someone who has others following them. Who are you leading, whether intentional or not?

Set an example as someone who is looked to by others as a leader or an influencer. Listen to Jesus, study the Scriptures, watch your doctrine and set the example!