We live in exciting times in history. Recent advances in technology have improved our quality of life in many ways. Travelling around the world is faster and easier than ever before. In many ways, we have a better life now than rich people did hundreds of years ago. While many things have changed, the Gospel message remains the same. As Christians, we are all meant to share the Gospel, and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) still applies to us today. Missionaries have a challenging job: spreading an old message in today’s advanced society. That might seem hard enough already, but there is one more problem: in times when people are more and more self-centred, where everyone looks out for their own interests (Philippians 2:21 NIV), why would someone be willing to sacrifice their time and comfort to serve others and share the old message of the Gospel?

Two thousand years ago, this was the case of Timothy. When Paul writes to the community in Philippi saying that he would send Timothy there, he describes Timothy as the best choice for two reasons: Timothy would naturally care for their state, and the community knows the proof of him because of his work with Paul (Philippians 2:19-22). The assembly in Philippi could be considered an ideal church — strong, generous, and having a good reputation. The Philippians helped Paul financially and supported the spreading of the Gospel.

The apostle says he had no one else like Timothy. How did Timothy become the right hand of the most influential missionary of the Early Church?

We will explore three steps that applied to Timothy then and are essential for every Christian today.

Pursue Christ and Be Passionate About Him

To be a Christian implies knowing Christ. Or as Ellen White put it: to be Christian is to be Christlike, and Christ lived not to please Himself.¹ How could someone show others what Christianity is without having an authentic experience with Christ first? If not impossible, it would be inconsistent.

Thanks to the Divine Providence, Timothy was born to be a missionary. He grew up in a good environment where he learned from his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois), knowing the Holy Scriptures from infancy (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

In the Christological hymn (Philippians 2:5–11), Paul describes the humility of Christ: He renounced to the glory of Heaven, He became a servant, a human being, humbling Himself, becoming obedient to death, a shameful death on the cross. That was the example that Timothy had in front of him.

Imitating Christ, Timothy had a gentle spirit seeking guidance from God. When Paul met him, the believers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. The apostle recognized Timothy’s potential to become a missionary and took him along. Paul encourages Timothy not to let anyone consider him inferior because he is young but instead to be an example (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy rejected the pleasures and benefits of his culture and allowed God to use him in the humble work of the Church ministry. He was not afraid to be different in a culture where egotism and selfishness were the norm.

The natural outcome of a personal relationship with Christ is the desire to be part of His body which is the Church. I like how Ellen White explains it: Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His Church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church.² Through baptism, the Church confirms something that has already happened: Christ who lives in that person. I strongly encourage you to consider this matter if you are still unsure. And if you are a member already, inspire the youth to take the vital step of baptism.

Seek Spiritual Discipleship

The importance of having a spiritual mentor is often underrated in our culture. I believe that God placed spiritually minded people in each of us whom we can trust and who can help us in our spiritual development. The Church is the environment where we can find these people.

Timothy had the excellent opportunity to be mentored by Paul. After his trip to Lystra, Paul took Timothy with him. The bond between the two was so strong that Paul called Timothy my true son in the faith and my beloved son (1 Timothy 1:2, 1 Corinthians 4:17). While Paul was more experienced in the ministry, it is remarkable how he treated Timothy as his missionary partner. Six of the Pauline epistles mention Timothy as a co-author (2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Philemon).

Imagine a place where you could encounter devout people to guide you in your spiritual journey, as Timothy had Paul. One of the roles of the Church is to be such a place — a safe environment where you can find spiritual fathers and mothers who can help you in your spiritual development and answer your questions. They are converted people who are more experienced than you are, who will not use their knowledge as a sign of superiority — condemned by Christ (Matthew 23:8-12). The cycle continues for you: You will teach and guide the younger generations.

Discipleship is not always a comfortable or pleasant process. Its very nature is to help you grow in Christ so that you can witness for Him. Often, the most difficult discussions — the ones I would rather avoid — are the ones that bring the most benefits.

Following Timothy’s example, I encourage you to find someone who sincerely cares about your spiritual development. The results will be incredible, and you will feel your heart burning with the desire to tell others about Christ (Luke 24:32).

Become a Missionary!

Having a personal experience with Christ is a beautiful thing. Getting baptized is an important step. Discipleship is a blessing. But this continues further. From the beginning of the process, you are called to share the Gospel with others. Christianity is not a secret circle. In other words, there are no secret Christians — and if someone would claim that, they would not be a Christian anyway. In the Kingdom of God, all Christians are born as missionaries. The Great Commission is not an option; it is a commandment. The only question is how you will fulfil it.

Timothy was very young when God chose him, and he accepted the calling. He was not perfect, but he had a humble and teachable spirit. Despite the cultural pressure of his time, Timothy went against the flow. Regardless of the circumstances (illness, opposition, persecution), he remained faithful to his calling. In the selfish culture of his time, he boasted about Christ and Him crucified, as Paul did (Galatians 6:14, Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Timothy accepted the call to be the first missionary bishop at Ephesus, which was quite challenging for the ministry. The Temple of Diana — one of the seven wonders of the ancient world — was there, the Great Theatre accommodated 25,000 people, and the Library of Celsus — the third largest library in the ancient world — was packed with 9000-12000 book rolls containing pagan rites, ancient wisdom, virtue, and immortality. The city was a centre of pagan worship, and the Christians were a minority. However, God established His assembly there: the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).

You might not be a pastor, theologian, or Bible scholar, but being a Christian implies witnessing to Christ. Being a follower of Jesus and being his witness is the most important office to which human beings had ever been called, second only to that of Christ Himself.³ You might not go to Ephesus, Philippi, or a foreign country to share the Gospel, but God calls you a missionary in your community and circles of influence.

Take a moment and think of your friends from school, work, and neighbourhood. Don’t you want them to be saved and be together with you in Heaven? No matter how far someone seems to have departed from God, you must do your part and pray that the Holy Spirit will work in their lives. When you ignore the opportunity, all of Heaven weeps because it is Jesus whom you are disregarding.

However, when a sinner repents, Heaven rejoices (Luke 15:7), and how lovely will it be when you will meet them there! With tears of joy, they will come to you and tell you how they accepted the grace of God because of you; therefore, they are saved.

Conclusion

In a society where everyone tells you how to become the best version of yourself, in a world where possessing wealth is very much appreciated, in a selfish culture that promotes self to be the centre of everything, why would you want to spread a two-thousand-year-old message?

You will possess a missionary spirit because you love Christ and He abides in you and because the knowledge of Christ is superior to everything this world can offer (Philippians 3:7-8).

You will have a missionary spirit, as Timothy did, because despite our culture’s egocentrism, your ego will become nothing, and Christ will be everything (Galatians 2:20). Best of all, this will be the natural outcome for you as well.

References

¹ Ellen G. White, Testimonies 6, p. 214

² Ellen G. White, Education, p. 268

³ Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 19