“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
During the tenure of Nehemiah, the threat of attack was so intense that laborers had to repair the Jerusalem wall with one hand and hold a weapon with their other (Neh. 4:16). Every generation will face similar challenges that demand a hand-tailored response if the people of God are to be protected. Our era is no different. The problem lies in the ever-widening gap between fervent servants of yesterday and devoted servants of today. The middle is littered with holes of the once faithful but now absent. In order to seal the breach, today’s new elder will have to shoulder the work at a much younger age than those who preceded him. Our call, then, is to carry on the work of shepherding while simultaneously training the generation that follows to fill the gap of those who are now “missing in action.” We must endeavor to perform our spiritual work with one hand and train those who follow with the other.
“…commit these…” Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 2:2 ring with notes comparable to our crisis. In a time when men such as Phygellus, Hermogenes, Hymenaeus, and Philetus were truant, Paul commands Timothy to arm the next generation. “Commit (paratitemi) these things…” carries the image of placing something beside someone else so that he might exercise care over the item—not placing the object directly in his hands, but right beside him, hoping he will share your concern for the item in question. This entails risk and an element of fear. This reality startled me when teaching medical students how to repair a wound. It was agonizing to stand by watching their hesitant, quivering, and inefficient hands use my scalpel and my needle driver. The stitches were not exactly perpendicular or smooth or snug. Soon my anxiety rose to such heights that I had to leave the room and return when the pupil was finished. I was placing the patient who trusted me to be meticulous and proficient, directly into the hands of a green, somewhat overeager novice. I could only pray they would treat the wound, and the patient, with the same passion and care I would.
We have the same consternation when we are training young people to take the baton. We are required to cross over the chasm of reservations and reluctance, trusting in the Good Shepherd who obviously has a far deeper concern for all involved than we do.
We should not overlook Paul’s sense of obligation to teach Timothy. “The things you have heard from me, commit these to faithful men…” (v.2) implies that the mentor assumes responsibility to groom his beloved student. It presumes that Paul was comprehensive not only in his teaching, but additionally in his model for living and endurance in the spiritual race (cf. 3:10f). We cannot let this fact escape us. Those charged with training are required to be faithful both in imparting, and in demonstrating, the truth. Elders have this same mandate if they are to help develop future elders.
“…to faithful men…” Timothy is commanded to “shop” for a certain brand of individual: One who is “faithful.” This speaks of trustworthiness, as in the case of honest business activities. Timothy is to search for those who will conduct the work of Christ with diligence. This trusted worker stands guard for the owner’s best interests. A faithful man of God will do the same. He will reliably tend to the Lord’s business as if the Master were always present (for He is!). Likewise, we are to search for the precious commodities of dependability and steadfastness. When they are found we, like Timothy, are to pour our lives into such individuals.
The challenge lies in cultivating faithfulness. To do so, elders may bring four broad categories into focus:
1. Private Life. This refers to an understudy’s personal habits and disciplines. It is not merely a spreadsheet of weekly quiet times, but what is gleaned and applied from such moments. It involves identifying bad habits: impulsiveness in decisions, procrastination, illogical thinking, incompletion of projects, wandering eyes for lustful looks, pleasing one’s self, uncontrolled temper, being quick to take offense. An exhaustive list is impossible, but the importance of examination of character cannot be overstated. William MacDonald has provided a hand-crafted tool for this topic: The Disciple’s Manual, which the mentor and pupil can study together, composing challenging chapter review questions to exchange.
2. Personal life. Encouraging an individual’s family life is paramount. It provides the most sensitive thermometer of spiritual health. The degree of respect given by his spouse and the level of trustful obedience demonstrated by his children reverberate in the canyon of his personal life. Furthermore, his reputation with his supervisor and co-workers is vital to consider. All such factors are considered, not to be nosy, but rather as key indicators to help you tailor your assistance to your beloved understudy. Studying 2 Timothy or the godly men and women of Scripture is invaluable in developing a proper personal life.
3. Public Life. There are two arms to this giant. One is the manner in which your student handles people. Does he show grace toward all, especially toward the rude and ill-mannered? Is poor discernment displayed in inappropriate appearance; for example, being alone with those of the opposite gender? Is there balanced, unbiased assessment of others’ motives? Does he have a thick skin but a tender heart with others? A systematic study of Proverbs and Philippians cultivates a servant who is both “user friendly” and selfless.
The second arm is demonstrated in how the potential elder conducts himself in public teaching. Is his ministry biblical, understandable, and practical? Is there too much presumption that the audience understands the point without illumination? Do irritating and distracting habits emerge each time he is in front of people? Is he capable of a tremendous opening story but no sustenance from the Bread of Life? If there are deficiencies, perhaps the answer can be found in more thorough Bible study or a better comprehension of the principles of interpreting Scripture. Perhaps an exhaustive perusal of homiletics such as The Preacher and His Preaching (A.P. Gibbs) is all that is needed.
4. Prayer Life. Spiritual work is accomplished by spiritual tools. This should be relatively uncomplicated, for there are only two tools we must know well: the Word of God and prayer (cf. Acts 6:4). Out of the two, prayer seems the most likely to suffer infrequent use. We must teach the immeasurable worth of concentrated, consistent, and continual prayer. Many a biographical testimony adds fuel to this fire. Joint investigation of these resources will serve the student and teacher well.
This arrangement is not meant to be overwhelming, but a simple starting point for shepherding.
“…to teach others also.”
This last principle, although visibly concise, has a way of remaining hazy in practice. Simply put, elders must complete the training loop by instilling in the next generation the zeal to train others. We cannot afford another gap in the line where one generation fails to equip those who will follow. It is not enough for us to merely maintain the walls of God’s spiritual house. We must inspire those we tutor to assume the responsibility of preparing those who come after them. This is not taught academically so much as it is fervently imparted by a life wholeheartedly dedicated to passing the baton. Indeed, this is the demand and call of our generation.
Will you be the shepherd who faithfully strengthens what remains and also trains the younger to do the same? Will you trust the Lord to the point of laying spiritual treasures beside the next generation and watching them shoulder those cherished possessions? Mistakes are inevitable, but will your reaction serve as a stepping stone or a stumbling block? Will you invest the effort not merely to look for the faithful, but also to cultivate faithfulness? And will you instill the vision in others to re-invest themselves in those who will follow their generation? The call rings loudly in every era of time since the inception of His church. Let us be the people to see it obeyed.