Why We Do What We Do

I Timothy 3:14-16

Have you ever lost perspective of why you are doing a task? A person can be busy about the most noble of tasks, and if they forget why they started, it can become drudgery. When this happens, we start to work for a paycheck or to check a box on some to-do list. We may become frustrated, burnt out, and even feel like quitting. Paul knew this was true, especially for pastors, so he interrupts this letter to refocus Timothy on that which is truly important. He reminds him of why he is doing the work of a pastor.

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”These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,

Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,

Received up in glory.”

I Timothy 3:14-16

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Paul wanted to come see Timothy. However, just in case he was delayed in arriving, he wanted to remind Timothy of why everything he was writing was so important. Without the church, and the message she is commissioned to proclaim, there is no source of truth in this world. There is no light to shine into the darkness. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). The message we are called to preach (Matthew 28:18-20) is the words of life (John 6:68). We do not hold to doctrine for the sake of holding to doctrine. This makes us like the Pharisees who diligently kept the law, but did not understand why they were keeping the law. They couldn't see God for the law.

In the Book of Revelation, this very church was guilty of just that. They were keeping the law faithfully, but Jesus spoke to them in chapter 2. He told them that they were doing a great job of holding fast to sound doctrine, but that they had left their first love. He commanded them to go back and do the things that they had done in the beginning (Revelation 2:1-7). That is, they needed to fall in love with Jesus again, and not just work to keep His teachings like a bunch of boxes to check off. They were guilty of exactly what Paul was warning Timothy of here.

What was Paul's remedy for all of this? Worship! Paul was saying, Timothy take a step back and remember who God is. GOD! God was manifest in the flesh! God became a man Timothy! Remember! He was justified in the Spirit! Not like you and I are justified. He wasn't being saved from His sins, but He saved us from our sins by His obedience! The Angels were witness to this! We have preached His gospel among the Gentiles! Can you believe that! His message is going all throughout the world! Not only are we preaching it, but they are believing it. All over the world, people are coming to Christ. He was received up into Glory. He died and rose again Timothy! He is alive and is in Heaven with the Father! That is why we are doing what we are doing. Don't forget. How easy it is to forget this and to just go about our day trying to live obedient to Christ, without actually worshipping Him. We cannot be effective for Him if He is not the focus of our lives through worship. That is what kept the Apostle Paul going. That is what he wanted to pass on to Timothy. This love and adoration of God empowered him to service. It is that same love and adoration that will empower us to keep going and not feel like God's calling on our life is drudgery. I have the privilege of teaching kids. I have the privilege of pastoring a church. I have the privilege of preaching the Word of God. If I forget about who Jesus is, if I lose sight of what is important, I will get bogged down. I will get burnt out. I will be checking off boxes on my to do list each week, and I will dread my callings. However, if I view each of these as an act of service to a God who is beyond worthy of my service, praise, and worship, He will empower and invigorate me to keep going. He will encourage me in my work, and I will keep going for Him.

Father, thank You for Your calling on my life. So often I say that "I have to..." do something. Help me to wake up each day and say, "I get to..." do whatever it is You call me to. Help me to view everything as an act of service for You. May my life be an act of worship and praise to Your holy and worthy Name!