Tuesday, January 29, 2008

 

Dejunk our Life Series

 

1 Timothy 26:20 “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted in your care.” 

 

True Son in the Faith

 

St. Paul addressed the first letter of Timothy, “To Timothy, my true son in the faith.”  (1Timothy 1:2).     Timothy was a young man with many gifts and some striking weaknesses.   St.  Paul was in the autumn of life when they met.   Paul had known Timothy’s maternal grandmother, his pagan Greek father, and his pious Jewish mother.   When Paul visited the town of Lystra, Timothy was converted to Christianity.   Paul became Timothy’s mentor and father in the faith.   They spent much time together involved in carrying out of the dramatic mission of the early church.   The bi-cultural background of Timothy and the respect he earned from the people in Lystra and Iconium endeared Paul to Timothy.   For the next 17 years of Paul’s life they worked together for the cause of Christ in the Roman world. 

 

I think, as a man without sons or family, Paul came to love Timothy as his son in the faith.   Christianity, of course, is a family of its own.   Many have been for me like fathers or brothers in the faith.  

 

Paul tells Timothy, “I thank God whom I serve as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers, recalling your tears with joy, I have been reminded of your sincere faith.”  Paul encouraged Timothy who tradition says was very shy.  “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power of love and self-discipline.  You then….my son, be strong in the grace that is yours in Jesus Christ.”  The letters of 1 and 2 Timothy are full of advice from Paul to Timothy.  Constantly we see aspects of the father-son relationship.    It must have been wonderful for both of them.

 

Timothy was placed in authority at Ephesus and became a bishop in that community.   The letter states that Timothy was sometimes sickly and shy.  As the years unfolded he proved to be attentive to Paul and very loyal.    The human face of love, of one Christian to the next, provides greatness if we as believers invest in the lives of others.   Probably Paul’s last note to Timothy was asking him to bring his scrolls and winter coat.  

 

The church of the first century and all succeeding centuries have been built on interconnecting relationships.  All human relationships have their weaknesses and their strengths.   Paul loved Timothy like a son, helped him to handle his weaknesses, and evidently through their many years of friendship, Paul inspired him to greatness.   May our relationships in the church have such ends.  

 

Prayer:  Dear God, help me to depend on others in the church and risk loving.  Amen.