Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Paul gave this charge to Timothy when he was young and inexperienced in gospel work, facing temptation, with his success turning on the course he chose and on giving himself to teaching, example, attention to Scripture, exhortation, doctrine and use of his entrusted gift. The things to be thought upon are the Scriptures, the word of the living God, to be studied with prayer and sustained attention, since studying and living by that word strengthens, refines and lifts the mind and forms character for eternal life. To meditate is to receive that word as living seed sown in the mind, to cherish it and practice it in daily life with diligent care over each stage of its growth until it brings a hundredfold return, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain, because human glory withers like grass but the word of the Lord stands forever. Giving oneself wholly means devoting time, strength, prayer and thought to preaching and care of souls, including visiting, counseling, correcting and comforting, rather than dividing strength with merchandise or other business that exhausts and distracts, leaving such work to others whenever possible. When workers, students and young believers do this with eye single to God's glory, their growth in truth, love, sound judgment and fruitfulness keeps increasing day by day and becomes plain to all, while ceasing to grow means going backward into weakness, dimness and fruitlessness.
Words and Original Setting
Paul's charge was given to Timothy, who was inexperienced and faced temptation while serving in Christian ministry, and whose success depended in large part on the course he chose. The duties he was to reflect on seriously, commit himself to wholeheartedly, practice faithfully and devote himself to fully were teaching, setting a faithful example, attending to Scripture, exhortation and doctrine, and using the gift entrusted to him, so that his progress in faith, ministry, growth and influence would become evident to everyone.
The things to be meditated upon and given wholly to are the Scriptures, the Word of the living God, studied together with prayer and with sustained attention. Diligent study of them and faithful practice of what is learned develop mind and character. Studying and living by God's Word strengthens, refines and elevates the mind and forms a character fit for eternal life.
To meditate is to receive the Word prayerfully as living seed sown in the mind, to cherish it, to practice it in daily life, and to give diligent care to the successive stages of its growth. Giving oneself wholly in this way brings a hundredfold return, with profiting appearing to all as the seed springs up and bears fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. This is enduring because all flesh is as grass and human glory as its flower that withers and falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
To meditate is also to dwell with careful thought, diligence and thoroughness on what is pure and excellent, guarding against the sins of a degenerate age and standing aloof from everything savoring of undue familiarity, with every word and action tending to elevate, refine and ennoble character. Thoughtlessness about such matters is sin, and thoughtful consideration rather than impulsive action brings much greater success in labor, because those handling subjects of infinite importance cannot afford to weave their own defects of character into the work but must represent the character of Christ. So done, growth, progress, usefulness and profiting become evident to all, and the same counsel is greatly needed by young men now.
Careful reflection on matters essential to success in this life and happiness in the life to come, with wholehearted attention to them, helps a person grow in sound judgment, usefulness and trustworthiness. Heeding this lesson prevents failures caused by rash decisions and ignoring experienced counsel. Meditating upon the Word of the living God and giving oneself wholly to it is the only way to know that the hand of Jesus Christ holds firmly, to work in cooperation with God who works to will and to do of His good pleasure, and to walk without fear instead of slipping in mere human wisdom.
Wholehearted Service and Visible Growth
The charge is laid on workers for God, on ministers, and on young people preparing for ministry, canvassing, or other service, to meditate on the instruction and responsibilities entrusted to them and to devote themselves wholly to them, including reading, exhortation and doctrine, so that growth, progress, learning, faithful service and profiting become evident to everyone. A minister is to meditate on the duties and teachings entrusted to him and give himself fully to them, devoting time and strength to gospel work rather than allowing temporal duties to consume them.
Giving oneself wholly means devoting time, strength, prayer and thought to preaching and to caring for souls, with faithful earnest study and a Christian life, rather than dividing strength by merchandise or other business that weakens ministry. Time and strength belong to preaching and to the care of hearers through visiting, counseling, correcting and comforting them, while selling publications and other business can distract hearers from sacred truths and exhaust ministers, so such work should be left to others whenever possible in order to preserve mental and physical vigor for thorough service. Dedicated workers are to be freed from unnecessary anxiety and excessive secular employment, while still having enough exercise to keep mind and body vigorous, and those chosen to teach present truth are to give themselves wholly so progress is seen, though not everyone is called to devote himself to that work full-time.
Students must take the charge as their own duty, giving themselves completely with zeal and earnest effort to reading, exhortation, doctrine and meditation on them, learning how to study, forming the habit of industry, and letting no second-class work come from their hand, so that growth and progress become visible to all. Young men and women must look their calling fairly in the face and decide to devote time, strength, influence, toil, talent and wealth to the work nearest to God under the conditions of serving the crucified Redeemer. They are to learn in God's school to use the gift within them, attend to reading, exhortation and doctrine, be an example in word, conduct, love, faith and purity, think deeply on these duties and give themselves wholly to them so growth and profiting appear to all, take heed to themselves and to doctrine and continue in them, put on the armor of righteousness and make no provision for the flesh, use no power in selfish projects, do their best under obligation to God, and thus advance His cause in the very last period of earth's history and save themselves and those who hear them.
The young Christian must fulfill all belonging responsibilities and meet obstacles and difficulties with courage while keeping purpose fixed solely on the glory of God, so that spiritual progress becomes visible to everyone. God intends grace to be sufficient in whatever arises, so love abounds more and more, what is excellent is approved, and the life is filled with the fruits of righteousness by Christ Jesus to the glory and praise of God. Growth must continue, for unless the Christian keeps growing he goes backward and becomes sickly and fruitless, while obedience glorifies the Father by bearing much fruit.
Anyone who desires to teach must first be a learner, giving self wholly to spiritual things through the means of grace, keeping the eye single to God's glory rather than being self-centered, and growing in pure, Christlike love. Faithful study of Scripture is necessary to be sanctified by truth and qualified to teach others. Profiting means love for the Saviour abounding more and more, discerning and approving excellent things, being filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ, practicing the virtues of Christ's character, and increasing in spiritual growth and knowledge of truth and righteousness, which prepares a person for difficult responsibilities. Desiring Christlike character above advancement in study and learning from Christ the great Teacher makes the mind fruitful in every good work, strengthens memory to retain essential education, and supplies what others need in Christian words and example, while spiritual life must not become poor, sickly and inefficient, since weakness and indecision invite assault and failure to keep growing brings frequent defeat.
Growth in truth and in the love of God must continue day by day and become plain to everyone, and this happens only when those placed as ministers and in positions of responsibility live as examples, work with an eye single to the glory of God, make the Lord their dependence, and use all God-given energy and talents to uplift and save perishing souls. The Lord has made every provision for strength and maturity, yet all remain on trial and must keep advancing in knowledge and wisdom as responsibilities increase and new fields open. Being once in grace is not always in grace, and without daily increase light becomes dim and finally flickers into darkness, spirituality and brotherly love weaken through misuse of speech to misrepresent, misjudge and depreciate, and the candlestick is shaken and will be moved unless there is repentance.
Paul gave this charge to Timothy when he was young and inexperienced in gospel work, facing temptation, with his success turning on the course he chose and on giving himself to teaching, example, attention to Scripture, exhortation, doctrine and use of his entrusted gift. The things to be thought upon are the Scriptures, the word of the living God, to be studied with prayer and sustained attention, since studying and living by that word strengthens, refines and lifts the mind and forms character for eternal life. To meditate is to receive that word as living seed sown in the mind, to cherish it and practice it in daily life with diligent care over each stage of its growth until it brings a hundredfold return, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain, because human glory withers like grass but the word of the Lord stands forever. Giving oneself wholly means devoting time, strength, prayer and thought to preaching and care of souls, including visiting, counseling, correcting and comforting, rather than dividing strength with merchandise or other business that exhausts and distracts, leaving such work to others whenever possible. When workers, students and young believers do this with eye single to God's glory, their growth in truth, love, sound judgment and fruitfulness keeps increasing day by day and becomes plain to all, while ceasing to grow means going backward into weakness, dimness and fruitlessness.
Words and Original Setting
Paul's charge was given to Timothy, who was inexperienced and faced temptation while serving in Christian ministry, and whose success depended in large part on the course he chose. The duties he was to reflect on seriously, commit himself to wholeheartedly, practice faithfully and devote himself to fully were teaching, setting a faithful example, attending to Scripture, exhortation and doctrine, and using the gift entrusted to him, so that his progress in faith, ministry, growth and influence would become evident to everyone.
The things to be meditated upon and given wholly to are the Scriptures, the Word of the living God, studied together with prayer and with sustained attention. Diligent study of them and faithful practice of what is learned develop mind and character. Studying and living by God's Word strengthens, refines and elevates the mind and forms a character fit for eternal life.
To meditate is to receive the Word prayerfully as living seed sown in the mind, to cherish it, to practice it in daily life, and to give diligent care to the successive stages of its growth. Giving oneself wholly in this way brings a hundredfold return, with profiting appearing to all as the seed springs up and bears fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. This is enduring because all flesh is as grass and human glory as its flower that withers and falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
To meditate is also to dwell with careful thought, diligence and thoroughness on what is pure and excellent, guarding against the sins of a degenerate age and standing aloof from everything savoring of undue familiarity, with every word and action tending to elevate, refine and ennoble character. Thoughtlessness about such matters is sin, and thoughtful consideration rather than impulsive action brings much greater success in labor, because those handling subjects of infinite importance cannot afford to weave their own defects of character into the work but must represent the character of Christ. So done, growth, progress, usefulness and profiting become evident to all, and the same counsel is greatly needed by young men now.
Careful reflection on matters essential to success in this life and happiness in the life to come, with wholehearted attention to them, helps a person grow in sound judgment, usefulness and trustworthiness. Heeding this lesson prevents failures caused by rash decisions and ignoring experienced counsel. Meditating upon the Word of the living God and giving oneself wholly to it is the only way to know that the hand of Jesus Christ holds firmly, to work in cooperation with God who works to will and to do of His good pleasure, and to walk without fear instead of slipping in mere human wisdom.
Wholehearted Service and Visible Growth
The charge is laid on workers for God, on ministers, and on young people preparing for ministry, canvassing, or other service, to meditate on the instruction and responsibilities entrusted to them and to devote themselves wholly to them, including reading, exhortation and doctrine, so that growth, progress, learning, faithful service and profiting become evident to everyone. A minister is to meditate on the duties and teachings entrusted to him and give himself fully to them, devoting time and strength to gospel work rather than allowing temporal duties to consume them.
Giving oneself wholly means devoting time, strength, prayer and thought to preaching and to caring for souls, with faithful earnest study and a Christian life, rather than dividing strength by merchandise or other business that weakens ministry. Time and strength belong to preaching and to the care of hearers through visiting, counseling, correcting and comforting them, while selling publications and other business can distract hearers from sacred truths and exhaust ministers, so such work should be left to others whenever possible in order to preserve mental and physical vigor for thorough service. Dedicated workers are to be freed from unnecessary anxiety and excessive secular employment, while still having enough exercise to keep mind and body vigorous, and those chosen to teach present truth are to give themselves wholly so progress is seen, though not everyone is called to devote himself to that work full-time.
Students must take the charge as their own duty, giving themselves completely with zeal and earnest effort to reading, exhortation, doctrine and meditation on them, learning how to study, forming the habit of industry, and letting no second-class work come from their hand, so that growth and progress become visible to all. Young men and women must look their calling fairly in the face and decide to devote time, strength, influence, toil, talent and wealth to the work nearest to God under the conditions of serving the crucified Redeemer. They are to learn in God's school to use the gift within them, attend to reading, exhortation and doctrine, be an example in word, conduct, love, faith and purity, think deeply on these duties and give themselves wholly to them so growth and profiting appear to all, take heed to themselves and to doctrine and continue in them, put on the armor of righteousness and make no provision for the flesh, use no power in selfish projects, do their best under obligation to God, and thus advance His cause in the very last period of earth's history and save themselves and those who hear them.
The young Christian must fulfill all belonging responsibilities and meet obstacles and difficulties with courage while keeping purpose fixed solely on the glory of God, so that spiritual progress becomes visible to everyone. God intends grace to be sufficient in whatever arises, so love abounds more and more, what is excellent is approved, and the life is filled with the fruits of righteousness by Christ Jesus to the glory and praise of God. Growth must continue, for unless the Christian keeps growing he goes backward and becomes sickly and fruitless, while obedience glorifies the Father by bearing much fruit.
Anyone who desires to teach must first be a learner, giving self wholly to spiritual things through the means of grace, keeping the eye single to God's glory rather than being self-centered, and growing in pure, Christlike love. Faithful study of Scripture is necessary to be sanctified by truth and qualified to teach others. Profiting means love for the Saviour abounding more and more, discerning and approving excellent things, being filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ, practicing the virtues of Christ's character, and increasing in spiritual growth and knowledge of truth and righteousness, which prepares a person for difficult responsibilities. Desiring Christlike character above advancement in study and learning from Christ the great Teacher makes the mind fruitful in every good work, strengthens memory to retain essential education, and supplies what others need in Christian words and example, while spiritual life must not become poor, sickly and inefficient, since weakness and indecision invite assault and failure to keep growing brings frequent defeat.
Growth in truth and in the love of God must continue day by day and become plain to everyone, and this happens only when those placed as ministers and in positions of responsibility live as examples, work with an eye single to the glory of God, make the Lord their dependence, and use all God-given energy and talents to uplift and save perishing souls. The Lord has made every provision for strength and maturity, yet all remain on trial and must keep advancing in knowledge and wisdom as responsibilities increase and new fields open. Being once in grace is not always in grace, and without daily increase light becomes dim and finally flickers into darkness, spirituality and brotherly love weaken through misuse of speech to misrepresent, misjudge and depreciate, and the candlestick is shaken and will be moved unless there is repentance.