2 TIMOTHY 3: 14-17
A MOTHER’S PRIORITIES
[2 Timothy 1:1-5 / Acts 15:1-6]
Laura Ingalls Wilder said, “Lessons learned at a mother’s knee last through life." She also said, “The mother is and must be, whether she knows it or not, the greatest, strongest, and most lasting teacher her children have."
“One mother achieves more than a hundred teachers” says a Yiddish Proverb
Abraham Lincoln said, “The greatest lessons I ever learned were at my mother’s knees.”
Thomas Edison said: “I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I should never likely have become an inventor. I was always a careless boy, and with a mother of different spiritual caliber, I should have turned out badly. But her firmness, her sweetness, her goodness were potent powers to keep me in the right path. My mother was the making of me.”
The sustaining influence on Timothy is traced back to his early home life also. Paul began this book of 2 Timothy by reminding Timothy of the godly heritage with which he was blessed. In 2 Timothy 1:5 he states, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” God had performed a genuine work in Timothy’s life through his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois.
Eunice was a single mother in a scary world. She was a Jewish believer in Jesus. She’d been married to a Greek unbeliever, who’d either left or died (Acts 16:1). Then, like today, raising a child in a single parent home, was no picnic.
Yet there are times of compensation. A little boy invaded the DRESS DEPARTMENT of a large department store and said to the salesperson, "I want to buy my mom a dress, but I don’t know what size." "Is she tall or short, fat, or skinny?" asked the clerk. "Well, she’s just perfect," answered the boy. She wrapped-up a "size 8" for him. Two day’s later Mom came and exchanged the dress for a "size 16."
Eunice’s boy Timothy was that kind of compensation and became an even greater one, not just to her but to the Lord. There were good reasons that he became such a man of God as he is called. Eunice was a wise and spiritually-strong mother. Her priorities were learned at her mother Lois’ knee, and passed along to Tim. The world pushes transitory values - money, position, power and fame. You can sense that with a quick look at the TV lineup for most evenings - American Idol, the Voice, Survivor, Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire, and many more.
Mother’s Day is a good day to review a mother’s priorities with her children. We find four in 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Paul is writing to a young pastor which he had taken under his wing to train. Let’s look-in on the review Paul conducted with his young protégé Timothy.
Paul has just given his own testimony of faithful service and now directs his personal challenge to his beloved disciple Timothy. Now Paul calls his young friend to be faithful to Jesus and His Word while he walk in the world (CIT). It is world prone to evil because it is inhabited by deceived and deceitful people. Each of us is susceptible this dangerous trap of deception unless we diligently obey the Scriptures. Scripture stands as the foundation for truth.
PRIORITY #1: A STRONG SUBSTRUCTURE, 3:14-15a.
The sustaining influence on Timothy is traced back to his early home life. Timothy’s mother gave him a solid foundation for living life. If you don’t give your children a solid foundation in God’s Word, they will be deceived by the deception of this world as 2 Timothy 3:13-15a discloses. “Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [14] You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, [15] “and that from childhood you have known the Sacred Writings ”
As those taught by the Word of God grow better and better through grace, so bad men grow worse and worse through the counsel of Satan and the bondage of their own corruptions. The way of sin slopes down-hill; moving people from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. [Those who deceive others open themselves to worse deception.] Thus the exhortation is to continue in the things Timothy had learned and become convinced of (1 Cor. 15:1-2). He knew the character [quality of life] in those who had taught him the truths he now held to be non-negotiable. The word translated “whom” being plural, most likely alludes to Timothy’s mother and grandmother who, in addition to Paul, had spiritually impacted Timothy’s life. Timothy still held tenaciously to the things that they with strong conviction instilled.
You too need to instill God’s truth in your children. As you teach the Holy Writings to your attentive children they take root in their life. Then as the child grow they can draw faith from the Word which you have instilled in their life.
The things Timothy had learned and become convinced of had come from three sources, which are set side by side as of equal importance: The teaching of his Christian mother and grandmother, Paul’s own teaching testimony, and the Holy Scriptures. Timothy’s complete confidence in these sources would be enough to prevent any slippage in his commitment to the truth.
Eunice taught her son the Scriptures starting at a VERY YOUNG age. Jewish boys start formal instruction in the Scriptures at age 5. Learning at home started much earlier. It is never too soon. It is said that Susannah Wesley had 19 children. (Wow!) What is more, this mother of Charles and John Wesley took each child aside for an hour every week to discuss and teach them the principles of spiritual living. Those two sons touched two continents for Christ.
If you want your children to have eternal values in an increasingly deceptive world I have two pieces of advice:
1. Bring them to church on Sunday & to AWANAS on Wednesday; 2. Personally help them apply what is learned [in church] throughout the rest of the week.
Mothers, nobody will MAKE you do this. In fact, it’s the opposite today. With God removed from public places and the schools religiously teaching secular humanism, your child has little chance of growing up to be like Timothy, or having any kind of Christian values, unless YOU teach him or her!
With all the demands of today’s world, is this just another pressure, a burden, a further complication? When do single mothers and working mothers have time for "Susannah Wesley mothering?" Relax, dear mother. If you will make God’s Word a priority in your own life, and simply live it before your children, and be ready to answer their questions, you will be teaching them.
On the other hand, if you won’t live out the Word, don’t bother to teach it in any other way. They will learn what you live. A child that sees her mother carry a Bible to church, but never open it from Monday to Saturday learns that Christianity is for Sunday only.
PRIORITY #2: A SAVIOR, 15.
We grasp from verse 15 that it was while Timothy’s mother and grandmother were teaching him the Sacred Writing, they introduce him to Jesus as Lord and Savior. “and that from childhood you have known the Sacred Writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Scripture implies that Timothy’s salvation occurred prior to his acquaintance with Paul (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2, 5; Acts 16:1). The simple study of Scripture did not save Timothy. The Scriptures bring salvation only when one places his or her faith in Christ Jesus. Eunice led her boy Timothy to know the Lord Jesus Christ. She taught him about Jesus, and expected that he would accept Christ as Savior at a young age. The home is the best place for your child to be lead to faith in Jesus.
The word "leads" in this verse speaks of anticipation. When a mother anticipates, prays and leads toward Christ, she has every right to expect the cooperation of God in bringing her child to the Lord. This sounds simple; but it is not easy...or cheap. Susannah Wesley is said to have prayed one hour every day for her children. She was strict. But she was unselfishly faithful. She had six rules for teaching her children the priority of the Savior:
1. Subdue self-will in a child.
2. Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak.
3. Give him nothing he cries for, and only what is good for him when he asks politely.
4. Punish no fault confessed, but let no sinful act to go unnoticed.
5. Reward good behavior.
6. Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child.
Knowing the love of the mother up-close and personal, the children will learn to love the love of the Father in heaven.
Ever since childhood, you’ve been taught the Word, Timothy. And it is the Word that will make you wise in the way of salvation. Scripture wises us up or gives us understanding as to the way of God’s salvation and sanctification so that we can grow spiritually.
PRIORITY #3: THE SCRIPTURE, 3:15a, 16a
Let’s look again at verse 15. “and that from childhood you have known the Sacred Writings….”
The Sacred Writings, the Word of God and the Scriptures are virtually synonymous. Jesus is the Word of God Incarnate, and the Scriptures are the Word of God written, here call the Sacred Writings. It is a parent’s sacred duty to instruct their children in the Sacred or holy Writings.
The Scriptures bring us to salvation and sanctification through faith in Jesus Christ. Without them, we would have little significant knowledge of Jesus and certainly no saving knowledge.
Paul had just noted that the Scriptures are able to make one wise with regard to salvation, a lesson Timothy had learned long before. But now Paul wanted to reemphasize to Timothy the crucial role of God’s written revelation in his present life and ministry. Thus Paul reminded Timothy in verse 16 of the divine inspiration of the Sacred Writings. “All Scripture is inspired by God…”
As to the nature of the Scriptures, the Apostle proclaims that they are all “given by inspiration of God.” The word used here is a compounding of theos (“God”) and pneustos (“breath or spirit”). In the Greek it literally says, “All Scripture is God-breathed” (theopneustos, “inspired”), that is, God’s words were given through men superintended by the Holy Spirit so that their writings were without error.
On the one hand, the writings are by human authors. The writings of Paul are clearly distinguishable from those of Matthew, and those of Matthew from Mark, and those of Mark from Luke. On the other hand, we affirm them as the Word of God written, for indeed they are God’s Word to us and as such are to be read and studied.
Is there not a parallel here to the mystery of Jesus Himself? He is both human and divine. To me the Word of God Incarnate and the Word of God written need no verification by our logic to establish their authority. I would rather trust the Scriptures themselves than any theories about them.
PRIORITY #4: SERVICE, 3:16-17.
Paul stated clearly his firm convictions about the unique role of the Scriptures in our lives because of what the Scriptures are able to do. Therefore he asserted the “usefulness” or profitableness of the Word in the rest of verse 16. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;”
For each aspect of Timothy’s life and ministry Scripture was useful, whatever it might be. They are our source of doctrine or teaching (instructing believers in God’s truths). All of our teaching must be grounded in them. They are the standard by which our ideas must be measured.
They are “profitable… for reproof, or, rebuking us for our sin. That thought fascinates me, for I don’t readily think of reproof as something desirable. Deeper reflection teaches me that reproof is often necessary for growth. Without confrontation, life tends to go on, directed by the same prejudices and guided by the same assumptions. We now required manufacturers of certain products to provide labeling which indicates their dangers. Perhaps we should place labels on our Bibles which read, Danger: This book will rebuke you!
But the Bible also corrects us. Reproof in itself can be devastating and discouraging. I never had a coach who wasn’t strong in reproof. Not all of them, though, were as able in correcting. In this sense, the Bible is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps. 119:105).
The Scriptures are for correcting, showing us where we have strayed from truth into error. Graciously it guides us back to the straight and narrow way.
God-breathed Scripture also trains (paideian, lit., “child-training”) in righteousness (guiding believers in God’s ways). Scripture gives us positive instructions in “righteousness.” It teaches us right belief which leads to right thinking which leads to right or righteousness living. Righteousness leads to a right relationship with God and with others. For all of these and more the written Word of God is profitable.
If you want to come to a growing appreciation for the Word of God, spend some time focusing upon Psalm 119, all 176 verses of it! It can be used with great profit by taking one or two verses a day as a basis of reflection. Reading this Psalm for three or four months in this way can be most worthwhile. We will be teaching on this amazing Psalm on Wednesday nights this fall -so plan on joining us.
[Paul placed heavy burdens of ministry on his young disciple in this letter, but he didn’t do so irresponsibly. He was confident of Timothy’s commitment to and dependence on the Scriptures, and he was even more confident of God’s ability to supply all Timothy’s needs through the Word. [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983, S. 757]
The bottom line or end result is that the Scriptures equip us for service as verse 17 states. “so that the man of God may be complete [adequate], thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
By Scripture the man of God (one who provides spiritual leadership to others) is artios—“complete, capable, proficient in the sense of being able to meet all demands.” The Scriptures are not given to us to develop theology as an end in itself. To drive home his point still more emphatically Paul added equipped (exçrtismenos, [“furnished”] where we get our word exercise) for every good work (2:21). They are given to us to produce good works first in and then through us. To be serious about the Scriptures, we must ask ourselves again and again, “In what ways are good works being produced through our lives because of our study of the Bible?” In these troubled times, let us build our lives and our deeds upon the strong foundation of the Scriptures. [Demarest, Gary. The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 32 : 1, 2 Thessalonians / 1, 2 Timothy / Titus. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1984, S. 288].
All of Timothy’s instruction in the Word and God’s way had to do with preparing him for service to the Lord. As we learn in Acts (16.1-5), Timothy’s good reputation had its start in his mother’s good reputation. Often the best legacy we can leave our children is not a pile of money or possessions, but a good name and a good example. Eunice’s reputation replicated itself in her son, and Paul had no trouble discipling this young man. Eunice served, Timothy followed.
Many good men and faithful servants of God have the same testimony. The great Baptist preacher, G. Campbell Morgan had four sons. They all became preachers. At a family reunion a friend asked one of the sons, "Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?" With his eyes beaming with delight, the son looked over to his father and said, "Why, it’s Mother!"
[IN CLOSING]
Can we talk? Mother, is your child ready to serve God?
Are you preparing that son or daughter with Scripture, learned by both of you at church and practiced at home?
Are you leading that child to the Savior?
Are you training that child into His Service? Or is he unmotivated, unequipped and undirected; is he unprepared to meet the spirit of this age?
What will your child say when the world, peer pressure, and the culture of Christlessness challenges his faith and drives home its message against Jesus with materialism, relativism and rationalization?
When a child is born there are at least two emotions - great joy (My baby’s HERE!)....and Oh MY! (WHAT DO I DO NOW?) As wonderful as being a mother is....it is just that scary to raise a child today. There are thousands of books from Dr. Spock to Dr. Ruth. We are bombarded with suggestions and authority from our own mothers to Oprah and Dr Joyce Brothers. What’s a mother to do?
Answer: Dump the trends and fads. Take hold of the Word of God. Become a godly woman.
Get your priorities straight: SUB-STRUCTURE, SAVIOR...SCRIPTURE... SERVICE
Mother and Father are not honorary titles - they are working job descriptions. Having these priorities in place will not guarantee an easy time of the job, but it can turn your legacy into what was shown in a cartoon in the Saturday Evening Post - a young boy about five or six years old talking on the phone, saying, "Mom is in the hospital, the twins and Roxie and Billie and Sally and the dog and me and Dad are all alone at home."
Mothers (and Dads), don’t leave God’s priorities for your precious children to the preacher, Sunday School teacher or anyone else. A Spanish proverb says: An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. YOU lead them to the Savior; YOU teach them the Scripture; YOU prepare them for service. You be a mother on mission with God for the eternal well-being of your child!
