Close Watch

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16 ESV)

It’s particularly easy in our world today to drift away from the clear teaching of the Gospel. The reasons for this are legion. Much of the prevailing teaching by leaders who have risen to stardom status is sadly a message that drifts away from the unadulterated Gospel. To be fair, much of it is good. But much of it veers from the Gospel and replaces cross-carrying, Christ-centered discipleship with comfort-focused self-centered living. Paul told Timothy in his second letter to be careful of those with itching ears (2 Tim 4:3). I think that warning can be received from both the proclaiming end and the receiving end and calls for self-evaluation on both fronts.

Another drift can be seen in the skepticism of the authenticity and reliability of Scripture brought about in the higher criticism thinking of our universities. It is threatening the faith of young adults who no longer have a solid foundation in biblical truth and no longer believe what they used to believe about Scripture and Christianity.

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy cannot be understated. “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” I believe this is a much-neglected practice of our day. We need to constantly examine ourselves. And do it honestly. Are we holding fast to the truths of the Gospel? Are we keeping a close watch on what we believe and on the faith we are proclaiming? Does God’s Word still incite a feeling of awe in our hearts when we open it? Are we constantly blown away by the grace and mercy of God?