“… and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Paul writes to Timothy, his young protégé, telling him to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you” (2 Tim. 1:6). One of the outcomes of this directive will be Timothy teaching others to pass on what Paul has taught him.
I still remember when Scripture first came alive to me in a profound way. I was new to in-depth Bible study, and I could clearly understand the passage’s practical application to everyday life. Second Kings records a worker who loses a borrowed ax-head in the Jordan River. The prophet Elisha throws a stick into the water, and the ax-head rises to the top to be retrieved (2 Kings 6:5-6). I could see so clearly that nothing is too small for God’s attention. Excitedly, I shared this with my group. Later my Bible study leader said, “You have the gift of teaching.” I had no idea what that meant, but it sounded daunting.
Eventually God called me to use that gift. And I almost said “No” because I felt wholly incapable. But through 2 Timothy 2:2, God clearly confirmed His call on me to teach the Bible. And I obeyed.
From that obedience of teaching others, God built some of the deepest friendships of my life. We shared life and laughter, traveled together, celebrated together. And they carried me through seasons of indescribable hardship and grief. God blessed my obedience one hundredfold.
But teaching Bible studies required a lot of time. There wasn’t much margin left over to serve in what I considered to be more practical ways. It took me years to realize that teaching is the most practical service I can give the Lord. I am using the gifting that God has placed specifically in me.
I thought everyone had the same experience I had in Bible study. Only later did I grasp that the ability to communicate God’s message and its application was a gift of the Spirit. But the gift is not merely for my own edification; it is to be given as a way to nourish other believers.
Do you struggle to find the place or area you are to serve God? Perhaps He is calling you to what you do most naturally and comfortably. Serving looks different for each of us. For my mother, it was providing homemade bread and soup to someone in need. For me, it is teaching. Neither is less than the other. Both build up the body of Christ.
What gift might you be afraid to offer, or are you withholding, because it doesn’t look like the obvious kind of service? Ask God to show you how you can serve others the way He has wired you. You will find He has given you what someone else needs.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that You have created us with gifts to build one another up. We confess that serving can be fearful. Please enable us when we say “Yes” to Your calling. Give us courage to serve the way You designed us, not the way we think service should look like. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want more?
Read Romans 12:3–8. Paul lists several distinct gifts. Which of these resonates with how God has wired you? Have you ever considered that gift as a form of practical service to others?
