Serving with Kindness | Part Nine
I love observing the relationships between different Bible characters and how those relationships reflect their relationship with God.
There is a very special relationship between Paul and Timothy. Paul addresses the young Timothy as
“My true child in the faith[1]”,
and
“My beloved child[2]”.
Paul had a nurturing, guiding and developing relationship with the young Timothy that was more like a loving and caring parent than just a teacher. The sort of relationship we need to have with our students.
The relationship was not one of dependency but of serving together. Paul commends Timothy to the Philippians:
“For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.[3]”
Can you see the strong connection between love, service, kindness and the gospel?
Paul is speaking like a delighted parent and a satisfied teacher, noting Timothy’s genuine concern for the needs of others that arises out of his relationship with Jesus. Timothy has proven himself in generosity, kindness, service and working in harmony with others. The key to Timothy’s compassion and service is his clear recognition that by the grace of God, he has been brought to faith in Jesus Christ and is consequently motivated to do good things.
Timothy serves alongside Paul. One of the greatest joys for a parent is having our children (or grandchildren) work alongside us. One of our sons is immensely practical and just loves doing things with me; one of our grandsons delights in doing practical things with his dad. When you cooperatively serve with enthusiasm things become a joy not a chore. There is no doubt that one of the reasons Timothy took joy in serving was because Paul did, and I’m guessing Paul enjoyed it more because Timothy did. Are we enthusiastically serving in love and kindness with our students; do they “catch” our enthusiasm?
Blessings
Brian
[1] 1 Timothy 1:2
[2] 2 Timothy 1:2
[3] Philippians 2:20-22