Twice in Paul's letters to Timothy he referred to "the gift that is in you" (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). Paul called it, "the gift of God." He gave Timothy two words of advice concerning this gift of God: 1) don't neglect it, 2) stir it up.
I used to love building fires in our fireplace back in Kansas. I could sit for hours just messing around with the fire and watching it burn. I learned something about fires. I learned that for a fire to go out I didn't have to pour water on it, or smother it with dirt or ashes. Actually, I didn't have to do anything. All I had to do was leave it alone and eventually the fire would go out.
The same is true of the gifts God has given to us. It may be the gift of a relationship. It may be the gift of a wonderful opportunity. It may be the gift of a special talent or ability; something you can do better than 99% of the general population because God gave you the gift. All you have to do to waste the gift is neglect it. Just do nothing. Just leave it alone and it will be lost.
Back to the fire illustration. So you neglect the fire and it all but dies out. There are just a few glowing embers left. Now, what happens when you begin to stir it up? What happens when you begin to add some more fuel to the fire? I will tell you what happens. When you start messing with the fire it comes back to life! That's why Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift inside of him. Don't let it die out. Stir it up. And that which was almost dead will come back to life.
I heard a commercial the other day on the radio. The announcer was talking to men about how they used to be energetic, in great shape, and attrative to the opposite sex. But now they are sitting on the couch, overweight, and have lost their sex appeal. Then the announcer made a strong statement. He said, "DON'T BE THAT GUY!"
Maybe you were once passionate, driven in your ambition for God, on top of your game. But now you have become apathetic, spiritually lazy, and you are neglecting the gift of God in your life. You are literally watching your gift die. Listen to me today - DON'T BE THAT GUY! DON'T BE THAT GAL! Say a great big NO to a life of mediocrity. God gave you the gift, but you have to stir it up. So start stirring! Start messing with that fire that may be dying from neglect. It will come back to life, and can burn stronger and brighter than ever before.
Pastor Todd Weston
I used to love building fires in our fireplace back in Kansas. I could sit for hours just messing around with the fire and watching it burn. I learned something about fires. I learned that for a fire to go out I didn't have to pour water on it, or smother it with dirt or ashes. Actually, I didn't have to do anything. All I had to do was leave it alone and eventually the fire would go out.
The same is true of the gifts God has given to us. It may be the gift of a relationship. It may be the gift of a wonderful opportunity. It may be the gift of a special talent or ability; something you can do better than 99% of the general population because God gave you the gift. All you have to do to waste the gift is neglect it. Just do nothing. Just leave it alone and it will be lost.
Back to the fire illustration. So you neglect the fire and it all but dies out. There are just a few glowing embers left. Now, what happens when you begin to stir it up? What happens when you begin to add some more fuel to the fire? I will tell you what happens. When you start messing with the fire it comes back to life! That's why Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift inside of him. Don't let it die out. Stir it up. And that which was almost dead will come back to life.
I heard a commercial the other day on the radio. The announcer was talking to men about how they used to be energetic, in great shape, and attrative to the opposite sex. But now they are sitting on the couch, overweight, and have lost their sex appeal. Then the announcer made a strong statement. He said, "DON'T BE THAT GUY!"
Maybe you were once passionate, driven in your ambition for God, on top of your game. But now you have become apathetic, spiritually lazy, and you are neglecting the gift of God in your life. You are literally watching your gift die. Listen to me today - DON'T BE THAT GUY! DON'T BE THAT GAL! Say a great big NO to a life of mediocrity. God gave you the gift, but you have to stir it up. So start stirring! Start messing with that fire that may be dying from neglect. It will come back to life, and can burn stronger and brighter than ever before.
Pastor Todd Weston
