We have been speaking about Paul’s charge to Timothy as a young man, and there has been much instruction in the few verses we have been considering at the end of 1 Timothy 4. We now come to the last verse, and in one sense it is the most needful of all. It says, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” v. 16. The Word of God is always a two-edged sword which cuts both speaker and hearer, writer as well as reader. It is so easy to bring the truth before others, but it is of all importance that we walk in it ourselves. The enemy is ever busy and there is no one that he attacks so vigorously as the servant of God. He will set snares for his feet at every turn and unless we are walking humbly and in self-judgment, the enemy will soon get the advantage. May every one of us who seek to serve the Lord in any measure remember this admonition, “Take heed unto thyself.”
“And unto the doctrine.” This is another danger which ever besets the servant of God. If the enemy cannot lead him into carelessness as to his own walk, he will try to get him to compromise the truth. It is difficult to be always “earnestly contending for the faith.” You will be far more popular if you are not too particular and will overlook some things, even though you know they are contrary to the Word. You will be considered broad-minded and this will please many, even true Christians, who do not like the narrow path. But a servant cannot serve two masters, and Paul said, by the Spirit, “If I yet pleased men, I should not he the servant of Christ.” Gal. 1:1010For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10). He knew what would please the Galatians, but he chose rather to please the Lord, and so he wrote faithfully as to the doctrines of Christianity which they were in danger of giving up. Truly he took heed to the doctrine!
“Continue in them.” It is comparatively easy to make a start in the path. Even the seed that fell on stony ground made a start, but not having any depth of earth in which to take root it soon withered away. Oh, how many have started out in the path of obedience to the Word, but then a testing time came, as it always does, and they were turned aside. They did riot continue. They were offended at something, or some person, and they did not value the truth enough to continue in it: They thought more of their own tender feelings and reputation than of the truth. of God, so they stepped out of the path. May the Lord help us to continue till He comes!
The last part of the verse about “saving ourselves and our hearers” may seem a little difficult. We may say, however, that it is not the salvation of one’s soul that is in question here. It has to do with one’s life. There are many true Christians whose lives are lost because they are lived for self and self-interests. Or perhaps they once started out to serve the Lord, and then because of a little criticism they gave it up. At the judgment seat of Christ their “life” is lost, though their soul is saved, “yet so as by fire.” 1. Cor. 3:15. What a loss this is, eternity alone will declare! And then what about our hearers? Well, since our lives as well as our words have an effect upon others, we can easily see that when a servant of the Lord misses the path he often leads others with him; while if he walks in the path he encourages others to do the same. Therefore, let us all “take heed ... .and... continue,” in the strength of flint who alone can keep us.
ML 01/29/1950