Manhood, Masculinity, and Christian CharacterSampl

Watch Your Life and Doctrine

Timothy was a young man trying to lead in a complicated and divided city. We previously read about the challenges of the Corinthian church; the church at Ephesus was not much better, and Timothy was not naturally suited for it. He seems to have been overwhelmed and in need of Paul’s encouragement. Paul went so far as to urge Timothy to stay. Paul must have worried that Timothy was close to giving up. Leading in Ephesus was no easy job.

Part of the challenge was certainly Timothy’s age. He had been a pupil of Paul’s and left in Ephesus to help lead the church and clean up false teaching. That thrust Timothy into immediate conflict. But Paul encouraged Timothy to persevere in his work. Timothy should put his head down and keep at it: teaching, exhorting, reading scripture.

Reading Paul’s advice to Timothy feels like reading the words of a father encouraging and strengthening his son. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t get apathetic. Don’t let the conflict cause you to retreat. Paul isn’t incentivizing TImothy to pick a fight but he certainly wanted Timothy to stand his ground. But there is something more than just persevering.

Paul called Timothy to live as an example to those he led. Paul anticipated that by Timothy demonstrating his progress as a believer, he would inspire his congregation to grow with him. Paul goes so far as to say that in his persistence, Timothy will save both himself and his congregation. But that persistence is more than just showing up. Paul had two very specific goals in mind.

Paul encouraged Timothy to: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.”

“The teaching” has a very specific meaning in the early church. The teaching was the content of the gospel which had been handed down from the apostles. Paul was referring to Timothy’s knowledge of the Christian faith, doctrine. Yet he also wanted Timothy to pay close attention to his life.

Put together, Paul’s advice was for Timothy to give specific attention to understanding himself and understanding the gospel. It is critical that Timothy combine these two elements. It’s by these two attentions that Timothy will grow in character and maturity.

It strikes me how rarely we combine these two. Some are very interested in themselves while others tend to be more interested in theology and doctrine, but there are dangers with either pursuit made alone.

Too much attention on yourself will leave you lost in the labyrinth of your own desires and emotions. Surprisingly, too much attention on doctrine alone can leave you proud, judgemental, and abstract. Theology must always be worked first into your own heart and life. That requires self-awareness. The real work is bringing these two together.

We must learn to allow the gospel to convict and challenge us and we must learn to evaluate our desires and feelings against the teaching of the church.

I think Paul’s advice is wise counsel for men today as well. Learn to do these two things well and you will certainly save yourself and those for whom you bear responsibility.

Why is watching your life and doctrine important for making progress as a man?