Timothy: A Young Man Of Character
Text: Phil. 2:19-24
Introduction
1. Illustration: We are created after the likeness of the eternal God. This has both moral and motivational implications. In our morals and motives we are to reflect God’s character. Thus, I am to be not only an extension of his life…I am an expression of his character. If my salvation is working, my life is a fitting expression of what God is like. (Jack Taylor, God’s Miraculous Plan Of Economy, 20).
2. A recent survey by George Gallup Jr. revealed a startling trend in our culture. According to Gallup the evidence seems to indicate that there are no clear behavioral patterns that distinguish Christians from non-Christians in our society. We all seem to be marching to the same drummer, looking to the shifting standards of contemporary culture for the basis of what is acceptable behavior.
3. What the world needs now more than ever are followers of Jesus who are people of character. Thankfully, the Bible is filled with examples of people with exemplary character.
4. Today we will examine one of those people; his name is Timothy.
a. Who Was Timothy?
b. A Man Who Cares
c. A Man Who Is Trustworthy
5. Let's stand together as we read Phil. 2:19-24
Transition: First, we must answer the question...
I. Who Was Timothy? (19)
A. I Hope To Send Timothy
1. Paul begins this passage by saying, "If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along."
a. Since the outcome of Paul's trial is still up in the air, he "hopes" to send Timothy.
b. This hope is based on Jesus Christ, as is all hope.
c. The word soon, which normally means "quickly," but that is obviously not the intention here. Since in v. 23 he indicates that he would send him "as soon as possible," it is clear that is his meaning here.
d. The reason for sending Timothy is very different from Paul's usual reason to send one of his co-workers to a church.
e. Typically he sends them out for their sakes - to straighten up a problem or finish something not completed. However, here Paul states that it is for his sake, so he can know how they are doing (Fee, 264-265).
2. But this begs the question, "why send Timothy?" Well I believe that it has to do with his character.
a. Timothy probably became a Christian after Paul's first missionary visit to Lystra (Acts 16:1-5).
b. Timothy already had solid Jewish training in the Scriptures from his mother and grandmother.
c. The first aspect of Timothy's character can be summed up in one word - willingness!
d. By Paul's second visit, Timothy had grown into a respected disciple of Jesus. He did not hesitate to join Paul and Silas on their journey.
e. His willingness to be circumcised as an adult is clearly a mark of his commitment. (Timothy's mixed Greek/Jewish background could have created problems on their missionary journeys, because many of their audiences would be made up of Jews who were concerned about the strict keeping of this tradition. Timothy's submission to the rite of circumcision helped to avoid that potential problem.)
f. Beyond the tensions created by his mixed racial background, Timothy seemed to struggle with a naturally timid character and sensitivity to his youthfulness.
g. Unfortunately, many who share Timothy's character traits are quickly written off as too great a risk to deserve much responsibility.
h. By God's grace, Paul saw great potential in Timothy. Paul demonstrated his confidence in Timothy by entrusting him with important responsibilities.
i. Paul sent Timothy as his personal representative to Corinth during a particularly tense time (1 Corinthians 4:14-17).
j. Although Timothy was apparently ineffective in that difficult mission, Paul did not give up on him. Timothy continued to travel with Paul (Life Application Study Bible, 2059).
B. Willingness To Serve
1. Forty-Two years ago, the Miami Dolphins embarked on an unforgettable & unparalleled season. 14-0 regular season, then a 3-0 run through the playoffs culminating with a Super Bowl victory. No other team has matched that perfect record. Every year 30-some odd teams try, but for 3 decades, it stands alone. Sports enthusiasts all have their own opinion about who might be the "Greatest Team of All Time", but one of the 1972 Dolphin team members put it best: "Perfection has a way of shutting peoples mouths." The opposing coach going into the ’72 Super Bowl was asked to comment on stellar Miami defense. "I can't recall any of their names," he said, "but they are a matter of great concern to us." Who knows the nickname of the ’72 Dolphins Defense? The "No-Name Defense." What made that team special was not the handful of superstars – it was the dedication of every team member. The willingness of every player to execute his position with excellence for a common purpose. Something special happens when everybody plays their position. The whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. They had some great players, no doubt. But plenty of other teams over history have had better personnel. More Pro-Bowl players, superstars, Hall of Famers. Yet no team has reached level of achievement that they did.
2. True people of God serve him with their whole heart and a willing mind.
a. 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NLT)
“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
b. Our God is a jealous God who will not accept second place.
c. He wants your whole heart; 100% 24/7.
d. In addition, God wants us to be willing.
e. Willing to step out of our comfort zone.
f. Willing to go wherever he leads us.
g. Willing to do whatever he calls us to.
h. Willing to give everything we hold dear.
i. Willing to say whatever he tells to say.
j. Willing to make mistakes, pick ourselves up, and continue on.
k. That's the kind of character that God is looking for.
Transition: Another thing that we learn from Timothy is he was...
II. A Man Who Cares (20-12).
A. Genuinely Cares
1. One of the things that were preached to Tina and myself over and over in Bible College was "nobody care how much you know until they know how much you care."
a. Knowledge is a wonderful thing and I believe whole-heartedly is a continuing education.
b. But until people have the sense that you care about them it means nothing.
c. "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -- Leo Buscaglia
2. This is the character that Paul sees in his friend Timothy. He tells the Philippians, "I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare."
a. Both Greek philosophers and Old Testament prophets complained about the scarcity of those fully devoted to the cause.
b. Paul offers many “letters [or passages] of recommendation,” a common ancient form of writing (see comment on Romans 16:1-2), but he places Timothy, his special emissary, in a category by himself, offering the highest commendation (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
c. After stating that he was sending Timothy to the Philippians to help guide them and to cheer him by advising him of their situation, Paul made a puzzling statement.
d. Timothy was the only one who was "likeminded," or the only one who had the same kind of genuine interest in the Philippians that Paul had.
e. Philippians 2:20 (NASB)
For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.
f. This complaint should not be taken to mean Paul had no genuine Christian friends in Rome, but apparently Timothy was the only one Paul felt comfortable to send as his representative to Philippi (The Complete Biblical Library – Galatians-Philemon, 205).
g. What Paul means here is that Timothy has the same feeling toward the Philippians that he does.
h. His reason for sending Timothy is because he cares about the Philippians as much as Paul.
i. He can count on Timothy to go to Philippi and care about how they are getting along, and specifically, are they standing together in the face of strong opposition.
j. Paul is deeply concerned for their welfare, and he cannot go himself, so he does the next best thing - he is going to send Timothy (Fee, 266).
3. Then Paul shows the difference between Timothy and some of the others by saying, "All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ."
a. These people are the exact opposite of Timothy; they only care about themselves.
b. Furthermore, not only do they not care about the Philippian's, but they also don't care about what really matters to Jesus.
c. Who is Paul talking about here? Most likely some of the believers in Rome.
d. Although he didn't mean all the believers in Rome, he obviously had some people in mind as he was dictating this letter.
e. They didn't have the two things that Timothy did; they didn't share the same sentiments as Paul, and they didn't care about the gospel (Fee, 267).
B. Caring Hearts
1. Illustration: In his book, The Yoke of Christ, Elton Trueblood quotes a letter from a school girl who probes the depth of her soul. She writes, "I’ve been thinking much this year about the importance of caring, of the passion of life. I’ve often realized that it takes courage to care. Caring is dangerous. It leaves you open to hurt and to looking like a fool. And perhaps it’s because they have been hurt so often that people are afraid to care. You can’t die if you’re not alive. And then who would rather be a stone? I have found many places in my own life where I keep a secret store of indifference as a sort of self-protection." That’s a penetrating insight -- a secret store of indifference. We’re to care, because Christ cared -- even though it means a cross.
2. We care because Christ cared for us first.
a. 1 John 4:19 (NLT)
We love each other because he loved us first.
b. Caring is born out of love.
c. The Father loved and cared for us so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins.
d. Jesus cared for us so much that he was willing to go to the cross.
e. Jesus demonstrated to us what caring means when he cared for the lame, blind, and downcast of society.
f. He showed us that caring knows no bounds, social status, or condition.
g. How can we call ourselves followers of Christ and not care?
h. How can we be his disciples and turn away when someone is in need?
i. We are not being the church if we are not caring.
Transition: Furthermore, we learn from Timothy that he was...
III. A Man Who Is Trustworthy (22-24).
A. Timothy Has Proved Himself
1. George MacDonald said, "To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved."
2. Paul, therefore, gives Timothy the greatest compliment when he says, "But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News."
a. Paul was so concerned about the Philippians that he was willing to give up Timothy's companionship and dispatch him to them.
b. Timothy had proved himself over a period of time. The Greek word for "proof" (dokimēn) refers to putting someone or something to the test for the purpose of obtaining approval.
c. The apostle had observed Timothy very carefully before making this statement concerning him.
d. No one received Paul's approval without "having the goods" (The Complete Biblical Library – Galatians-Philemon, 207).
e. Timothy had been with Paul during Paul’s ministry in Philippi. The Philippian church well knew Timothy’s value, sound character, and worthiness.
f. The church knew that Timothy’s coming would be equal to that of the arrival of Paul himself, for Timothy had served with Paul like a son with his father.
g. Paul and Timothy had developed a special bond; Paul had led Timothy to Christ during his first missionary journey.
h. In the first century, the Greeks valued highly the service a son gave to his father.
i. Yet Paul realized that both he and Timothy were servants of Jesus Christ; thus he wrote that Timothy had helped him in preaching the Good News across the empire (Barton, Life Application New Testament Commentary, 853).
3. Then Paul says, "I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here."
a. News was difficult to send, because it had to be carried by messenger—a sometimes dangerous undertaking given travel conditions at various times of the year.
b. Paul therefore wants to wait until he can give a full report of the outcome of his trial (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
c. Comments like "as soon as I find out waht is going to happen to me" cause some Bible scholars to think Paul sensed he was about to be released from prison.
d. Several other comments in Philippians seem to suggest the same possibility though the apostle always made it clear he committed his future to the Lord regardless of what it held.
e. Even so, reliable tradition indicates Paul was released from prison and experienced several more years of ministry (The Complete Biblical Library – Galatians-Philemon, 207).
f. Even if Paul were to be released from prison, he would send Timothy to Philippi with the news, and then Paul would come to see them soon after (Barton 854).
B. Dependable
1. Illustration: I heard a story about a 90-year-old grandfather who was complaining to his grandson about getting old. He said, "The worst part is the diapers." He continued, "I don’t mind wearin’ them, it’s just the name I hate. Depends! If I have to wear a diaper, I don’t want there to be any ’depends’ about it. I want for sure!" It would be good if everything was "for sure," but it’s not. When it comes to some things, it depends.
2. Are you a "for sure" kind of person?
a. 1 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)
That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.
b. Are you a "for sure" kind of person, or are you a "depends" kind of person.
c. We serve a God whose middle name is faithful and true.
d. We serve a God who will never leave us or forsake us.
e. If we are his children, and followers of Jesus, shouldn't we be like him and be trustworthy?
f. Shouldn't we be counted as faithful?
Transition: If we had a problem, could I send you and count on you to take care of it?
Conclusion
1. What the world needs now more than ever are followers of Jesus who are people of character. Thankfully, the Bible is filled with examples of people with exemplary character.
2. Today we examined one of those people, and his name is Timothy. We learned...
a. Who Was Timothy?
b. A Man Who Cares
c. A Man Who Is Trustworthy
3. If I was Paul and you were my Timothy could I send you to Philippi?
