Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus shows us what discipleship should look like. Knowing the myriad distractions Timothy will encounter, Paul writes in 1 Timothy of the urgency of remaining steadfast. Challenges such as age-related doubts, Paul’s absence, spiritual neglect, and ministry obstacles threaten to steal Timothy’s focus. These issues, unique to Timothy, mirror one of the great stumbling blocks that we all face–getting distracted.
Attention Deficit
Experts claim that we live in an era of shrinking attention spans, overwhelmed by an avalanche of information and choices. With so much to see, do, and experience, how do we even begin to choose? What triggers our loss of focus? I’ll admit, when faced with restaurant TVs, I’m easily derailed. At home, I’ve often found myself nodding to requests without truly listening. Our senses are on constant alert. In this whirlwind of messages that we live within, how can the church hold fast to its core purpose? How can we keep ourselves from becoming attention deficit when it comes to the gospel?
Pay Attention
Over the next few weeks we are going to explore some of Paul’s exhortations to Timothy about what kinds of things need to hold his focus from 1 Timothy 4:11-16. We will get to see Paul disciple Timothy. Discipleship is helping someone else grow to become more like Jesus. Because we are all weak, we need others to help us keep our focus. And so we will see Paul help Timothy in his weakness, and he will help us in our weakness as well.
1 Timothy 4:11-16
What’s the heart of this passage? Phrases like “give attention,” “do not neglect,” “take pains,” “be absorbed,” “pay close attention,” and “persevere in these things” carry a sense of urgency. This urgency mirrors moments in life when a jarring event snaps us to attention (much like narrowly avoiding a car collision, which has certainly happened to many of us). That feeling when you come alive again to your surroundings is what Paul is after in Timothy’s heart. And just as Paul urges Timothy to remain vigilant, we’re also beckoned to awaken from spiritual slumber and shake off the shackles of distraction. In a world brimming with diversions, where maintaining focus feels like an uphill battle, we’re tasked with safeguarding our spiritual attentiveness. By acknowledging the pressing exhortations raised in 1 Timothy 4:11-16, we can confront the temptation to become attention deficit to the gospel and rediscover the urgency of staying awake and committed to our calling.
