In these four verses, Paul used the
illustration of the Lord’s servant to encourage Timothy to excel in the
ministry. From the vessel in the household, he now changed it to refer to the
servant in the house of God. Paul’s context was that useless debates and
excessive arguments would breed quarrels.
With that in mind, he outlined four
fundamental characteristics of the Lord’s servant. Firstly, the servant must be
gentle, having a gracious spirit that is not quarrelsome. Secondly, he must be
kind to all, always treating others with kindness. Thirdly, he must be able to
teach and be skillful at imparting the truth. Finally, the servant must be
patient when wronged; he must be forbearing and gently correct.
The goal of ministry toward the
wayward should be restorative, always seeking to help them repent and come to
the knowledge of the truth. It should assist them to be free from the crutches
of the devil and from the sway of doing Satan’s bidding.
We need to shine for the glory of God
as we serve Him. In our service, bear in mind that the important issue is not
what we do when everyone is looking but what we do when no one else is looking.
Let’s bear in mind that ultimately how God values us is more important than how
men value us!
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