Jump Start # 1011

1 Corinthians 16:10 “Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without causes to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am.

  Paul seemed to have two concerns in the book of 1 Corinthians. First, he was concerned about the church. He was concerned about their continual walk with the Lord. He wanted them to do what was right. Fighting, fussing and division characterized those brethren. There were many problems from moral issues, to relationship issues, to doctrinal issues. Paul wanted them to make it and be the people that God expected.

Paul’s second concern was about Timothy. Paul left Corinth and he was going to send Timothy there. Timothy was the follow up. He was to continue hammering away by teaching the will of God. Timothy was not an apostle. Timothy was not Paul. Timothy was young. Our verse reminds us of those things when Paul says, “see that he is with you without causes to be afraid…” Later when writing to Timothy, Paul reminded him that God has not given us a spirit of timidity” (2 Tim. 1:7).

Two simple thoughts here.

First, we should not cause anyone to be afraid. It’s hard to know exactly what Paul meant by those words. I expect more than anything, it involved resistance to what Timothy would say. Fear can silence what ought to be said. Fear follows threats. From a preacher’s perspective, it means the fear of being fired, of being tossed out, of the church ignoring what you say. There is a bigger picture here than just the preacher. We can be afraid of one another. Our fellowship ought to include, accept, and enjoy one another. Fear is one word that should not be found within the church. But often it is. Here are a few “fear factors”

• Fear of not being accepted because of your past
• Fear of not being included. The feeling that you are always on the outside. The feeling that there is an inner circle and you are not in it.
• Fear of looking foolish or dumb. This is why some never speak out in a Bible class. They are smart and have great insights but they fear that they will say something wrong or dumb and everyone will laugh at them.
• Fear of serving publicly. Some go into the panic mode if they had to stand before an audience. They are terrified of such things.
• Fear of sharing any personal matters. You fear some will gossip about you. You fear some will make fun of you. You fear inferior and unworthy compared to others.

So, because of these fears, we keep our boat next to the dock. We sit silently in worship. We don’t sing too loud, because we fear those around us will hear us. We don’t want to be noticed, called upon, or looked at. When the preacher or teacher looks at us, we quickly look down into our Bibles. We’ve looked at the floor a lot. Our conversations are generally shallow and cover the same topics. Safe topics, like the weather, sports, the weather, and the weather. We talk about the weather a lot. It’s a safe topic. Most folks have the same opinions—we hate cold weather and we hate hot weather. You’ll find yourself in safe company there. So we talk about the weather, often and a lot. Our opinions are guarded and spiritual topics are never brought up. Fear does that. We hate to admit it, but many of us are afraid of others.

Sure it is a low self esteem issue, but there it is. I understand. I have sat with the afraid and numbered myself with them before, especially when around other preachers. That would make me shudder. I used to dread having to preach with another preacher in the audience. I just knew what he was thinking. I couldn’t even look at him. After services, when he approached, I would be shaking. I knew he was going to tell me what a joke I was and that I ought to get into some other line of work. Some very well known preachers have sat in the audience when I preached. It nearly destroyed me when I was younger. I was afraid. And now, I get to do it to younger preachers! I’ve learned some things.

First, all of us are in the same boat. We have a past. We want a glorious future that includes Heaven. We have not been the perfect mate, nor the parent of the year. Our faith has been up and down. There are topics that we don’t understand, issues we struggle with, and days that we ought to stay in bed. Now we feel that we are the only ones like that, when all of us are like that. We need each other. There is comfort, strength and hope with each other. Alone, we are toast. Alone, we get discouraged.

Second, your greatest fan and support comes from fellow Christians. They will stand behind you when you have to do the tough job. They will be with you when you need them. I found this true when preaching to preachers. Preachers understand what it takes to develop thoughts and deliver them. All preachers had those first sermons that they just hope everyone forgets. Preachers understand what it is like on the other side of the pulpit. I have found the best friend a preacher has is another preacher. They want you to do well. They are with you. Many will even “borrow” what you said and use it down the road. What a compliment that is. But beyond preachers, our greatest fans are found among brethren. What we often fear, is one of our greatest strengths and helps—each other. We all want everyone to do well. We all want everyone to do their best for the Lord. We are not in competition, but rather, on the same team. The guys on the bench want the team to win just as much as the guys in the game. We are team members. We are in this together.

Third, most of our fears are imaginary. We think the worst. We dread because of what might happen. Paul’s words to the Corinthian church was a warning. Do not give reason for Timothy to be afraid. There are a few knot heads and jerks who are nothing more than spiritually bullies. They talk tough and seem mean but what they lack is the genuine love of Jesus. I’ve encountered a few spiritual bullies. They scared the stuffins’ out of me at the time. I got through it. It toughed my skin and gave me a backbone and made me trust my faith and now fear isn’t an issue. It’s like child on a stormy night. The moment is scary. The next day, it wasn’t so bad. Because of the experience you get stronger and tougher. We can either run all of our life and be afraid or we can face our fears, with the Lord, and overcome them. Many men who have never prayed publicly fear going blank and not knowing what to do. The solution? Pray more at home and in small settings. Build up to the next level. Publicly serving isn’t for everyone, nor should it be looked upon as a characteristic of faithfulness. Some can do it, some can’t. That’s all. Don’t push people, rather invite and lead them. Those that can will. There are other ways to use talents and serve the Lord.

Fear is what led Adam and Eve to hide. Fear is what put Elijah in the cave. Fear is why the one talent man buried his talent. Fear characterized Joseph who overcame that fear and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Fear and faith are opposites. The greater the fear, the less the faith. The greater the faith, the less the fear.

Do not give reason for Timothy to be afraid. Strong words to the Corinthians. We ought to make sure that we are not giving others reasons to fear us.

Now, there is another thought from out passage, but we’ll have to look at it tomorrow.

Bless be the tie that binds our hearts…there’s no room for fear, only love. Love melts fear. Love picks up after someone has fumbled. Love remembers…

Roger