Setting an Example

1 Timothy 4:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.



This verse is written by Paul to his loyal friend Timothy. Timothy converted during one of Paul's missionary journeys and later headed a church at Paul's request. The strange thing about this verse is that Paul isn't counseling Timothy to be forceful and argumentative in his leadership, but to bring order to the church by being the example they are so desperately needing. Timothy, being fairly young for such tasks, is being told not to let that get in the way of his ministry.

Although Timothy's biggest obsticle was getting other believers to take him seriously given his youthful age, we might struggle with obsticles of our own. Whether it be age, gender, fear, reputation, or any number of circumstances, we are also to remain strong in the Lord and set a good example for others, whether they are believers or not.

When Christians strive to live their lives in a way that would please God, it can be a powerful thing. Eighty-five percent of Christians come to Christ gradually and relationally. Translation: if you maintain steady friendships with people while living a righteous life, God can use you to bring others to Him. People should be able to look at your life and think, "What is it about that person that makes him/her so different?" And yes, when the world is filled with prostitutes and drunkards and hypocrites and gossips, being "different" is a good thing.

On the flipside, if Christians aren't friendly, kind, or compassionate, how can people be expected to want that for their lives? William J. Toms once said, "Be careful how you live; you will be the only Bible some people ever read." Many people are not at all interested in picking up a Bible and seeing what Christianity is all about; the only way they'll know is if you show them through your actions.

The following video is a popular "spoken word" poem that may help show how important our actual actions are.

“The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians--when they are sombre and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths." -Sheldon Vanauken

Therefore, behave like a person you would be proud to know, and leave others whispering to themselves, "Wow. How can I have what that person has?"

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