Pass it on
You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Every sensible organisation needs to reflect on its succession planning. Leaders come and go and it’s important that careful thought is given to the way in which potential new leaders are identified, trained and appointed. This was basically Paul’s concern in this verse.
He had trusted his young friend Timothy to teach the Christian truths but Timothy, in turn, needed to look out for people to whom he could pass on this responsibility. The precious gospel couldn’t just be handed on to anyone. The truths of the faith needed to be given to trustworthy people who could be relied upon to pass them on faithfully to others.
The key word is “trustworthy”. I have interviewed many people for jobs over the years, and however brilliant a person’s qualifications are, the most crucial question is whether they can be trusted. The simple fact is that a person who cannot be trusted is dangerous. They may be incredibly gifted or amazingly qualified but, if you never know whether they are going to turn up or not, or whether they are going to return your emails, you would be much better off without them.
Trustworthiness is so crucial that we need to do everything we can to encourage it. This begins with taking the step of faith and trusting someone to do a task. There may be the real possibility that they will fail. It can take courage to ask someone to do a task for the first time but, if we don’t, they will never grow. Our prayer must be that, through giving encouragement and support, they will do well – and then be in a position to take on more responsibility.
I thank God for those brave people who trusted me to do jobs when I was a teenager, and who then gave me loads of encouragement. That process of trusting and encouraging is absolutely crucial to any church – and Paul knew it!
QUESTION
What are you doing to make sure that the gospel is passed on to trustworthy people?
PRAYER
Lord God, help me to be willing to trust other people and to encourage them in the work that they do. Amen