“Be an Example”
Introduction.
(1
Timothy 4:12). Each of us comes into contact with scores of people everyday.
Even though many of these people may not be close to us, we communicate to them
by our example. At any moment our good (or bad example) can have an impact on
co-worker, a class mate, a relative, a friend, a casual acquaintance, a spouse,
or a child.
Around
the time I had children, my father gave me a poem that reads:
The Little Chap Who Follows Me
A careful man I want to
be, a little fellow follows me;
I do not dare to go
astray, for fear he’ll go the self-same way.
I cannot once escape
his eyes, what ‘ere he sees me do he tries;
Like me he sayshe’s
going to be, the little chap who follows me.
He thinks that I am
good and fine, believes in every word of mine;
The base in me he must
not see, the little chap who follows me.
I must remember as I
go, through summer sun and winter’s snow,
I am building for the
years to be that little chap who follows me.
This
morning I’d like for us to talk about this idea of setting an example. We note
in this text six areas in which Paul teaches us Timothy to set an example.
Let’s consider each of these to consider how we can do the same.
Preliminary
Observations on Being Examples.
·
We
must understand that not all examples are good examples.
o We
are only when we imitate Christ. Paul told the Corinthians to imitate him as
he strove to imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).
o We
are to be “Imitators of Christ” (Philippians 2:1-8).
·
We
must also understand that as Christians we are the only “Bible” that some
people will ever read. That is, our example will be the only thing which
communicates any measure of truth to them.
o Jesus
taught that as His disciples we must let our light shine before men (Matt.
5:16).
o Our
lives must be a pattern of good works (Titus 2:1-10).
1.
“In Word” (1 Timothy 4:12a). A Christian
must guard the purity of his or her speech.
·
An
unbridled tongue makes one’s religion useless (James 1:26).
·
The
Lord hates three uses of the tongue (Prov. 6:16-19).
·
We
must speak the “truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). We must say the right things with
the right attitude and motive.
·
We
should speak what is fitting (Eph. 5:1-7). We should talk about those things
that are good for Christians to do and think. The Christian who talks in ways
that are different from the life he should live, sets a poor example.
2.
“In Conduct” (1 Timothy 4:12b).
If Jesus is to be our example, how was His conduct?
·
Jesus’
conduct was sinless (1 Pet. 2:21-24; Hebrews 4:15). We will never attain
sinless ness, but neither should we have conduct that is tolerant of sin in our
lives.
·
Christians
must be separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:11-18).
·
We
must have no fellowship with works of darkness (Ephesians 5:8-14). The text
tells us these things are “unfruitful.” Christians expose the dangers of these
things. They do not practice them.
3.
“In Love” (1 Timothy 4:12c). The Bible gives
us not only the best example of love, but some important commands regarding
love.
·
The
best example of love, is God’s love (John 3:16). We can’t give Jesus for the
world, but we can follow that example of sacrificial love for other.
·
Love
is the greatest command (Matt. 22:37-40). We are to love God and others.
·
Jesus
teaches us that love is defined my obedience: “If you love Me, keep my
commandments” (John 14:15).
·
Christians
must love: strangers (James 2:8-9); brethren (1 John 3:14-18); Family (Eph.
5:25 – husbands to wives; Titus 2:4 – wives to husbands).
4.
“In Spirit” (1 Timothy 4:12d).
Man has within him a spirit that is distinct from his fleshly body that is
eternal in nature. Scripture often speaks of the spirit as it manifests our
internal attitude and disposition.
·
Jesus
taught that we must worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). It is not
enough to do the right things with an improper attitude.
·
Christians
must not be arrogant, rude people, but be “clothed with humility” (1 Peter
5:5-10).
·
This
humility is not a spirit of fear or timidity (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
·
Rather,
this is a spirit of humble confidence (Hebrews 4:16).
5.
“In Faith” (1 Timothy 4:12e). It might seem
odd that faith is mentioned here, in that it is almost assumed that a Christian
will have faith. Yet having faith is not the same as being an example in
faith.
·
As
Christians we must recognize without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
·
We
realize that our faith comes from the word (Rom. 10:17). This is not opinion
or desire. It is not intuition or imagination. It is a faith built on the
revelation of God to man.
·
But
this faith effects everything. It leads us to live as a “living sacrifice” (Romans
12:1-5).
·
Our
faith should set us apart from the world. We don’t hope for and strive for the
things the world does. Faith is our foundation. Faith is our focus.
6.
“In Purity” (1 Timothy 4:12f). There
is so much evil in this world that can easily dominate and captivate our
thoughts. Evil thoughts corrupt our minds and spill over into our lives in
what we do and say.
·
Instead
as Christians we must meditate on pure things (Philippians 4:8),
·
Paul
told Timothy to keep himself pure (1 Timothy 5:22).
·
Jesus
taught that we must strive to be perfect or complete in our lives (Matthew
5:42-48). We must not allow ourselves to be content with lives that are marred
by sinful thoughts and behavior.
·
We
are to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James. 1:26-27). Only then
can we be the kind of example to those around us that we should.
Conclusion.
Let
us each work to be the kind of example to those around us that God would have
us to be in each of the areas we have considered this morning.