PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOURSELF
15 MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS; give yourself entirely to them, THAT YOUR PROGRESS MAY BE EVIDENT TO ALL.
16 TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF AND TO THE DOCTRINE. Continue in them, FOR IN DOING THIS YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU.”
1 Timothy 4:15,16 (NKJV)
Progress in the ministry work occurs by giving attention to the word of God.
As you meditate on the word of God, you give yourself to it completely, your progress will be evident to all (Joshua 1:8; 1 Timothy 4:15).
Result in the ministry work is a product of giving yourself to God’s word and all He specifically instructed you to do (Acts 6:2-4).
You pay careful attention to yourself and the doctrine—teaching. In other words, you should concentrate on your personal development and your teaching.
You continue in the teaching. It means you should persevere in doing these things—your personal development and the teaching of others.
It is by paying attention to yourself and the doctrine that you save both yourself and those who hear you.
To save both yourself and those who hear you means you will keep yourself and the people you are ministering to on the right track. That is, taking heed will prevent you and the people from the deviation from the truth.
A minister's success would be determined by his communion with God, when he pays attention to his spiritual life.
Paying attention to the self means paying attention to your fellowship with God—your personal spiritual development and spiritual healthiness.
A believer or minister takes heed:
• When the believer or minister daily reads and studies the Word of God, the Bible, and practically apply what he read to his life (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:22-25.
• When the believer or minister prays daily and fellowships with God through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20).
• You also take heed when you read books and listen to the teaching of proven ministers of God whom God has stirred your heart to follow (Proverbs 13:20; 24:5).
• You also take heed when you do not give room for frivolities. When you give all the attention needed to your work—assignment (2 Timothy 2:4).
“AND SAY TO ARCHIPPUS, “TAKE HEED TO THE MINISTRY WHICH YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN THE LORD, THAT YOU MAY FULFILL IT.”
Colossians 4:17 (NKJV)
“HE WHO TILLS [works or cultivates] HIS LAND WILL BE SATISFIED WITH BREAD, BUT HE WHO FOLLOWS FRIVOLITY [vain things] IS DEVOID OF UNDERSTANDING.”
Proverbs 12:11(NKJV)
You will save both yourself and those who hear you. This is done by being a good example to them: "NOT AS BEING LORDS [masters] OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK" (1 Peter 5:3 NKJV).
This is a situation where you become a good model for the people to follow. The people can emulate and imitate good things they see in your life. They keep following you as you are following Christ (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1).
Being a leader, whatever the leadership level you may find yourself, you should comport yourself well and carry yourself with decorum. Because some people are following your faith, thus you should not let them down—you cannot afford to be carefree in how you live your life.
The people under your leadership are following your faith and they are considering your conduct—because the Bible says they should do it: “REMEMBER THOSE WHO RULE OVER YOU, WHO HAVE SPOKEN THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU, WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW, CONSIDERING THE OUTCOME OF THEIR CONDUCT" (Hebrews 13:7 NKJV).
Note:
• You can only produce your kind, the people who will be like you in character and results (1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3).
• A leader or minister should live or behave irreproachably or impeccably, because those who are under his leadership tend to copy him (Matthew 10:24).
• You should not disappoint God, because being a minister, or a leader of God’s people, is a trust (Acts 20:28).
Therefore concentrate on personal development, that is, character development, and pay attention to your teaching—hold to them that you may save the people under your leadership:
“PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOURSELF [concentrate on your personal development] AND TO YOUR TEACHING; PERSEVERE IN THESE THINGS [hold to them], FOR AS YOU DO THIS YOU WILL ENSURE SALVATION BOTH FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THOSE WHO HEAR YOU” (1 Timothy 4:16 Amp).
You will not be a disappointment to God and His kingdom in Jesus’ name.
Peace!