1 Timothy 1-4

1 Timothy 4:15-16

15. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.


In our Western way of thinking we tend to see our spiritual journey as a mostly individual endeavor. Sure we know the whole bit about being a part of the body. But we fail to grasp the inter-connectedness of one another. In his instruction to Timothy, Paul makes it very clear that our diligence, how we live our lives, and how true we stay to God’s word is not just a personal matter. It is a body matter.

Perseverance “will save both yourself and your hearers.” God isn’t the only one who examines my life. Whether or not I know it, people are watching my life. When I compromise it provides rationale for others to compromise. When I assert my comfort over what God desires, my life professes that He is not number one to me. When I fail to stand for truth and speak my on my own authority it’s just meaningless talk that can lead other astray.

Accountability and growing in the knowledge of God’s word aren’t just optional disciplines of the Christian life. They are central to it. I must always be diligent so that everyone can see my progress. And if they see no progress in me, I pray that they would have the boldness to confront me on it.