Fully Competent

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. --1st Timothy 4:12

Earlier this week I was informed that I would not get to participate on one of my company's contracts because the client felt that I was too inexperienced to handle the complexity of the project. Although the project manager argued in my favor that I was fully competent and would be able to do excellent work, the client didn't budge. There are many situations where the ability to do a job and do it well depends on the accumulation of years spent performing that particular role. Although this is understandable, it can be frustrating or disappointing --as in my case with work. Fortunately, this principle doesn't apply to how qualified we are in our spiritual gifts or how effectively God can use us.

This is exactly the case with Timothy when he was sent out to teach the early church. God had uniquely gifted and equipped Timothy to be instrumental as a church leader. The only caveat was that he was younger than the leaders people were accustomed to following. The apostle Paul charged Timothy to set an example for the believers. This included speech, life, love, faith and purity--all at once! God must have blessed him with some very wonderful gifts to be so young yet competent enough to minister to the church.

Paul tells him to be an example in speech. He doesn't tell him that he has to wait until he has completed a full education that would give him powerful words to share; Timothy was to speak that words that God gave through the power of the Holy Spirit. To be an example in life, Timothy didn't need to experience every facet of life--he just needed to make sure that the life he was living was in accordance with God's commands. Paul didn't expect Timothy to begin his mission to the church until he had developed a profoundly deep faith or had plumbed the depths of the different aspects of love either. Like all of us, Timothy's faith was going to deepen daily by the things God taught Him and in turn his understanding of what it meant to extend Christ's love to those under his care would deepen as well.

The final example that Paul tells Timothy set is in the area of purity. I would imagine that this is particularly true because of Timothy's age. If young adults in the early church were even remotely similar to those who are members of the church today, purity is challenging. However, Paul is probably talking about much more than just avoiding sexual immorality. It is a lifestyle that a few generations ago would have called clean livin'. How does one do this? The Psalmist answers by saying that a young man can keep his way pure by living according to God's word. When it's put that way, setting an example in purity seems to encompass speech, life, faith and love as well.

Not all of us are called to ministry the way Timothy was. Likewise, not all of us have been given spiritual gifts that would be so public-facing in nature. Despite this reality we must set an example of a life consistent with a dynamic relationship with God. Sometimes that example will be seen by our fellow believers, but more often it will be those who are not Christians who will see us. Those people will not care how many years we have been in a relationship with God--what will matter is how that relationship affects our life in the present tense. No matter how God has equipped us, no matter where our calling lies, and no matter what age we are, God is carrying out His plan through us. What a blessing to know that God considers us fully competent for such important work!

My Sinful Discontent

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. --1st Timothy 6:6-8

I recently described my experience with coming to grips with the reality of my personal "besetting sins" and how they prevent me from living whole-heartedly devoted to God. My ongoing struggles include battling discontentment and its close cousin, envy. Ashamedly, I must admit that I have a competitive streak. I have a tendency to compare myself to those around me, and let my emotions be too easily affected by this.

In the past I just dismissed this behavior as something that was a personality trait of mine, or perhaps even just "a girl thin." I didn't realize the by focusing so much on meaningless, worldly, external things, I was wasting energy that could have been much better spent on deepening my relationship with God. This weekend God convicted me of my sinful behavior and humbled me.

Like many Southern Californians, I am far too easily lured by the desire to accumulate "stuff." Clothes, electronics, decorative things for the home, even having a certain type of home, for many of us can be a way that we seek to call attention to ourselves. The better we think we look to some people, the better we may feel about ourselves. Sadly, this is all emptiness and not at all in line with Christ-like behavior.

Jesus' life was not a flashy one. The Bible says that even his appearance was ordinary. He didn't have a home during his years of ministry, yet he lacked nothing. God provided for him at every turn. When he needed food, he had it. When he needed comfort from friends, there were always at least two of his best friends close at hand.

God has bless me with so much and in many different ways. There are plenty of things that I have that certainly aren't necessities. God provides for me over and above my basic needs. How selfish, foolish, pitiable and shameful am I when I feel that I am justified in my sense of discontentment? God's grace is sufficient, and His hand has provided all I have ever needed.

Life is too short for it to be wasted on the things that have no lasting purpose or value. The next time I feel embittered with envy or discontentment, I will find myself asking God to forgive me for my sinful attitude, and ask Him to replace it with a grateful heart.

Being Content

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. --1st Timothy 6:6-9

I'll be honest; I was a late bloomer. Although I certainly held the upper hand when it came to educational pursuits, the deck appeared to be stacked against me when I compared myself to my peers. I wish I had realized then that comparison is the basis for feelings of inferiority. Those feelings, coupled with a strong competitive nature, often set the stage for disaster. I am thankful that my parents constantly encouraged me to be myself and helped me develop interests that were uniquely mine. Without that positive influence, I would have certainly become a very shallow and discontented person.

When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we are essentially telling God that we don't think the blessings he has given us are enough. Though sometimes not in so many words, we tell him "if you really loved me, you would have made me more attractive or given me a higher paying job." There are times we go so far as to tell God that he screwed up when he made us. The fact of the matter is that God makes us all different for a reason, and he wants us to be content with the person that we are.

Finding contentment may be difficult for some people, but think about it this way. When we express contentment, we are giving God a compliment. Let me give you a non-spiritual example: Preparing dinner for my husband is something that I enjoy, and it is also something that I take seriously. When he sits back after the meal, smiles at me and says "that tasted good, thank you," I interpret his contentedness as a compliment. I don't need him to use flowery language and tell me "the meat was cooked to perfection, the seasonings were savory and the vegetables were a pleasing blend of flavors and textures." (Although I'm sure it's what he's thinking!) I like just knowing that he is happy and content.

In a similar way, I think God enjoys providing for us and he takes it seriously. I also think that he likes, and deserves, to know when we are content. He provides each of us with a variety of abilities and talents. Each of us has a unique personality, and a style that is all our own. When we compare ourselves to others, we are comparing apples to oranges. We will never find contentment if we base it on how we stack up to others. True contentment lies in knowing that no matter what our circumstance or situation, we are loved by a gracious and providing God. When we solidify our identities as a child of God and recognize how we can use our unique blessings and talents to glorify him, we find contentment.