"Living A Life Others Look To” Series

As a follower of Christ, who desires to live on purpose, I want to yield daily to the Holy Spirit, so I might prayerfully look to God’s Word to apply God’s wisdom and walk in God’s will. As one living on purpose for God, I’m concerned about things that concern God, which means I’m concerned about my life pointing others to Christ. For certainly, one of God’s chief concerns is that all have opportunity to be saved.

“(God) does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” - 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

As one who shares God’s concern for the salvation of others, I’ll want to seek to live in such a way that others will want to know about Christ.

“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” - 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

But how do I live a life that others will look to an wonder what the difference is? How can I live the kind of life that others will respect and want to know about the Christ I follow? Well, here in God’s Word, the Holy Spirit can lead us to apply God’s wisdom and be in God’s will concerning this matter. (READ TEXT)

Paul wrote to Timothy about a question that’s faced every generation of young people through the centuries: “How do to get people to take me seriously?” In the advice he gives Timothy, we learn how all of God’s children, regardless of our age, can live a life others look to.

Interestingly enough, the word translated “young” was a word used to refer to one who was eligible for military service. Such eligibility lasted until one was 40 years old. Many Bible scholars tell us that Timothy was likely between 35 and 40 years of age when Paul wrote this letter.

The point I’m making is that while the problem of gaining the respect of others is one commonly faced by teenagers, it is also one faced by persons of every age; and as we have already said, if I am seeking to live my life on purpose for God, then I will be concerned about living a life that others will look to and want to know about the Christ I follow.

So what advice does Paul give Timothy here that we need to also apply and seek to follow? Well, he says we can live a life other look by setting a good example in . . .

1. Speech.

It was a wise man who once said: “The best way to judge the character of a man is not by what others say about him, but by what he says about others.” - Anonymous

The way we use our tongues reveals the condition of our hearts.

“The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” - Matthew 12:34b (NIV)

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” - James 1:26 (NIV)

If Christians want to earn the respect of others and live a life that others look to, then we must set an example with our speech. Because . . .

“People with sharp tongues often end up cutting their own throats.” - Anonymous

A man who had a high opinion of himself thought that he had to make a comment on everything, usually of the critical kind. One day, he was walking down main street, when he passed the store of a taxidermist. There was a crowd gathered around the display window looking at a large owl perched on a tree branch. The man started in with his usual criticisms. “If I couldn’t stuff an owl better then that, then I think I’d close up shop. The head to too large for the body, the winds are mis-sharpened, everything’s wrong.” Just then, the owl turned its head and winked at the critic; and the crowd roared with laughter.

While many a constant critic offers criticisms in the effort to be taken seriously, they often only succeed in not being taken seriously at all.

“It is easier to save face if you keep the lower half shut.” - Anonymous

I heard about a man who wisely prayed, “Lord, help my words to be gracious and tender today, for I may have to eat them tomorrow.”

We would all do well to pray the prayer of David, who said:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” - Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

2. Life.

The One who said that He came to give us abundant life is the Christian’s constant companion. Surely then, we ought to be living life to the fullest! The sad fact, however, is that many Christians are not.