Use What God Has Given You

2 Timothy 1:3-7 Timothy was a disciple of Paul and was serving as pastor in Ephesus. Timothy was a man of faith, serving in a difficult place. Paul is writing to Timothy to encourage him to use the faith and the gifts that he has already been given to keep on keeping on. Perhaps our community is not nearly as pagan as Ephesus, still Jesus as Lord is not something one encounters regularly in the streets. As long as benefits flow and responsibility are not required, everything is fine. When change or accountability is asked, hostility or resentment often follows. Paul reminds Timothy of the “sincere faith” that had been observed in his life. This is not so much the faith that believes that God will grant my wishes, but more the idea of being able to act upon God’s faithfulness, doing what He has commanded, and knowing that God will do His part as He promised. Verse 7 tells us that God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear-KJV), i.e. cowardice or bashfulness is not from the Lord, they are from the devil. We are not bashful about the other good things that we have, Why spiritual things? The verse also tells us that God has given us Love, Power and Self Discipline. Love for God, love for ourselves and love for those who so desperately need what God has freely given to us. Power to live a godly life, power to live as a child of God, and power to extend that love and grace to those who are lost. Self-discipline (sound mind KJV) tells us that we have a choice of how we will conduct our lives. We can choose to act out in the flesh - in resentment and selfishness etc. or we can choose to be God's person towards others in both action and attitude. Not doing for others so that they don’t have to; but helping in the areas that they can’t help themselves. Training others to be servants not empty pits always begging to be filled. God has given us each a unique set of skills and abilities — discover and use them.