Paul’s 5 Encouragement Hacks
The Apostle Paul loved Timothy. A lot. He called Timothy his beloved and faithful son. He wrote to the Philippians "I have no one else like him … Timothy has proved himself.”
Yet, when he wrote directly to Timothy in Ephesus, Paul got in his face:
Stay there and do what you have been assigned to do. Don't be intimidated. Don't give into your natural weaknesses. Stir up the gifts of God that are in you. Remember who you really are. You can do this Timothy. You must do this.
Timothy was tasked with the critical responsibility of fighting against false teaching that was being propagated in the nascent Christian church there and threatening the Ephesian church’s very survival. And he was charged to raise up leaders who would stabilize this church. This was a pivotal moment in early Christianity.
Was Timothy the man for the job?
The Ephesian assignment exposed Timothy's weak points. Regardless of his past success, here was a new frontier that challenged every part of who he was.
He loved Timothy so much that he gave him a cause to fight for, in line with God's call on his life, that would build him and his faith and allow him to live knowing that he had fulfilled his destiny.
There is a very important passage early in Paul's first letter to Timothy that is both foundational for the rest of his letters and a wonderful example of how a leader can encourage a discouraged follower:
“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience…” (1 Timothy 1:18 – 19 NKJV)
Let’s call these Paul’s 5 Encouragement Hacks for Timothy. They are critical reminders to every one of us who’ve been charged with a God assignment.
1. Own the charge
(“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy…”)
Timothy had been charged with a particular responsibility. And difficult as it may have been, he was to own it. I think we are more successful in doing the things we are called to do when we see ourselves as the responsible party.
I fully embrace the thesis of extreme ownership put forward in Jocko Willink and Leif Babin’s book Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win. Extreme ownership is a mindset, and the practices that flow from it, where we accept responsibility for everything in our domain—or our “charge.” Extreme owners do not make excuses. Ever. They do not blame others. They do not wallow in victimhood… even if they have in some ways been victimized.
The supreme example of extreme ownership is Jesus. Even though He was sinless He accepted responsibility for the sins of the whole world.
Look, you may feel in over your head in a difficult assignment during a difficult season. You might expect the hospitable leader, like me, to relieve you. Nope, not if it is a God assignment. I love you too much to say anything other than, “I know it's challenging but you must own this. Fulfill your charge. God is faithful; you be faithful. God will help you do the thing you've been called to do and you are going to make it and be better for it.”
2. Remember the prophecies
(This charge I gave you… according to the prophecies previously made concerning you…)
On several occasions the Apostle Paul referred to prophecies that had been given to Timothy which foreshadowed inevitable success in his life and in Ephesus. A prophecy is an inspired word from God given for our edification. Timothy needed to constantly remind himself of what God had promised him.
Many times—especially during difficult seasons—I have forced myself to remember some edifying words that have been spoken over my life. Sometimes a literal prophecy. Sometimes words of encouragement from a leader I admire. Sometimes, things I believe God has spoken deep into my heart about His good plans for my life.
I encourage you! During challenging seasons dig deep to recall God's inspiring Word and words in your life. Regardless of the present circumstance, He has not changed His mind about you.
3. Fight the good fight
(This charge I commit to you… according to the prophecies… so by them you may wage the good warfare…)
We must not be surprised when it feels like we are in a war to fulfill our callings.
Because we are.
We struggle against the resistance of a fallen world, our own proclivity to mess things up, and evil spiritual powers. We must fight the battle well.
We need to teach our followers that there will be resistance to their dreams. The only way to defeat this resistance is to face it. God promises to help us win but only if we engage in the battle. In a culture marked by a sense of entitlement, this is a difficult message. But I submit that if we love people we will teach them to wage a good warfare.
4. Hold onto faith
(This charge I commit to you… according to the prophecies… wage the good warfare having faith…)
We simply must hold onto faith! Faith in God expresses our confidence that God will do things on our behalf that only He can do. This speaks to the power of the gospel. God never just calls us to do a thing without giving us the power to do it.
We may have a difficult assignment but if God is working on our behalf then our success is assured. Ultimately then our faith is not in ourselves or our own efforts. Our faith is in God and when we have faith in God, He responds in miraculous ways in our lives.
5. Keep your conscience clear
(This charge I commit to you… according to the prophecies… by them you may wage the good warfare having faith and a good conscience…)
Conscience is what we know about ourselves. Our conscience will remind us of what we shouldn't do. And our conscience will remind us of what we should do. I see Paul's words to Timothy more in line with the “what we should do” emphasis. Like James wrote… “if you know the good you want to do and don't do it, you sin." (James 4:17 NIV)
I think Paul is saying to Timothy, “You know what you should be doing. Own your charge. Remember the prophecies. Wage a good warfare. Hold onto faith. And if you do this you will keep your conscience clear.”
We must challenge people to fulfill their God-given assignments and actualize their God-given dreams in spite of how difficult the struggle might be.
This is the love of a leader. Only then can they have a clear conscience and experience self-actualization.
Sometimes my heart just aches when I see someone I care about—who I inspired or challenged—suffer through some of the same things I have suffered through over the years. I wish I could protect them from the pain that pulses through any attempt to do something great. Then I remember that I want them to have the same sense of immense satisfaction I feel, for instance, when I drive up to a majestic building that stands on the property that at one time was just a big muddy expensive hole in the ground … and a pain in my chest.
And that's just a building project.
Much more than that, the unmitigated joy I feel at the lives I have seen changed because God gave me—and gives me—consequential dreams and demanding assignments, surpasses any sense of struggle I have ever experienced.
I do not want to deny anyone I lead the ineffable depth of fulfillment that can only be tasted when someone has a dream significant enough that they must fight to make the dream come true.
Challenging people to want something worthy enough to struggle for is one of the most hospitable things a leader can do.