Young People's Group

Strengths and Weaknesses

by Mitchell Tan
June 09, 2017

PAUL AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SERVANT OF GOD

In almost every generation, the Lord God will raise up examples for believers of God to follow. Moses was a good example of a servant of God for the people of Israel during the Exodus (Exodus – Deuteronomy). Elijah was another good servant of the Lord during the apostasy of Israel (1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 2). In the New Testament, Paul was an excellent example of what a minister of the Lord is.

“I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day”
2 Timothy 1:3

The word “serve” means to “serve as a form of offering worship to the Lord”. Paul was very conscious of the Lord God and sought to serve Him with a pure conscience at all times. He remembered how his forefathers like Moses and Elijah had served. He was committed to serving the Lord in the same manner. He was also a man who prayed constantly. He prayed for Timothy on a daily basis.

IDENTIFYING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Sometimes, it takes a mentor like Paul to point out the strength and weaknesses of a person’s faith and life. He identified for Timothy his strengths and weaknesses and how he can work on them.

1. TIMOTHY’S STRENGTH – HIS GENUINE FAITH

“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”
2 Timothy 1:5

Paul continually gave thanks for the genuine faith of Timothy. The word “Genuine” in Greek means “unhypocritical”. Timothy’s faith was sincere and real. This objective faith in Christ was first seen in both Timothy’s grandma and mother. It was inside them and it could be observed on the outside. Paul was also fully persuaded that it was in Timothy.

2. TIMOTHY’S WEAKNESSES

A. GIFT NOT DEVELOPED FURTHER

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
2 Timothy 1:6

Timothy’s spiritual gift that was given by the Lord had not been developed further. As such, this could be a potential weakness for Timothy. He needed to “fan to full flame” his spiritual gift. He needed to cultivate his gift fully.

B. HAVING THE SPIRIT OF TIMIDITY

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7

Another weakness that Timothy had was a spirit of timidity. Because he was timid, he had a problem of fearfulness. The challenge for him to know that he had been given the Spirit of power, of love and a sound mind. The Spirit of God can enable us to have dynamic power, deep love and self-control. Our part is to seek the filling of the Spirit.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: IDENTIFYING OUR OWN STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

It is good for us to know what our strengths and weaknesses are. Perhaps, we need someone more spiritually mature who can help us with this. Let’s seek to know what are our strengths and deal with our weaknesses that we may follow the example of Paul in serving our Lord.

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