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If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ~ 1 Timothy 4:6
In today's text the Apostle Paul is instructing Timothy on how to be most effective in ministry. The Greek word used in v.6 for "minister" is the word from which we get our English word “deacon.” As we considered while discussing the work of the deacon, it means servant. When we lack an attitude of service, our usefulness to the Lord's work in this world will be limited.
This one verse illustrates the most effective way to disarm false teaching. The best way to make ineffective the false is not by correcting it, it is by affirming the truth. And, we affirm and teach the truth best by living it.
When we are known by what we do not believe, we will be good at refuting error. But, we will find it difficult to teach authentic Christianity because we will not know the mystery of Christianity. We will know what’s wrong, but we will not know what’s right. Knowing the Lord Jesus is the secret to knowing what is right.
True ministry is the positive building up of others, not emphasizing error but making our souls a safe haven for the truth. This will result in effective ministry. It is the true nature of ministry to be positive. It is the building up or the edification of others that causes us to be most effective in our service of others.
Now, this does not mean that we do not identify and call out error. It just means that the overwhelming approach to life is the accentuation of eternal life which is the Lord Jesus Himself. And, if we are experiencing Him everyday, it will be natural to have an effective ministry in our homes, our churches and our communities.
In v.6 the Apostle wrote, "If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters." In other words, we must teach others to be discerning. To be discerning is to think biblically. The best way for others to see us thinking biblically is for us to live biblically. This is basic to all leadership. And it’s not the idea of commanding people, it is not the idea of forcing people to buy into things. This is authentic, honest and humble walking with the Lord on a daily basis. We do this best when we are most convinced that we need Him. Sadly, most often, trials are required to convince us to walk with Him. But, on the other hand, when we go through trials and walk with Him, those around us are taught best.
In the middle of v.6 we read, "a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith." To be nourished we must have a hunger, and in many ways, our hunger is not necessarily pleasant. King David wrote, "I thirst, I hunger." And, over time, David learned that his hunger was for the Lord, as is all of our hungers.
The Lord Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
In John 6 the Lord Jesus said, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." Here the Lord Jesus discloses that eternal life is a gift to be received not a promise to be earned.
The Lord comes to us through His word as the one who is bread to our souls. He offers us His life to enable us to experience eternal life. We were not meant to produce our own food. We were meant to be nourished by Him. This is part of the reason that He came to earth. He did not send someone or something else; He came Himself to give Himself. And, as a result He is all that we need. And, when we have Him, we will have all that we need to serve Him by serving others.
