While we appreciate Covey's wisdom and
brilliant book marketing strategies, however, let's not forget that
the Bible has plenty of practical advice about good and bad habits
alike. In fact, the Book of 2 Timothy, in particular, offers some
nuggets of what it takes to live the apostolic life. It should be
duly noted that Paul's book is also a bestseller - one part of the
best-selling book of all time, in fact. In this time-tested volume,
the Apostle Paul gives final instructions to his spiritual son.
Second Timothy contains some of Paul's famous last words. When
someone is about to leave this earth, the last words they speak are
worth noting. What did Paul say to Timothy in his last letter? What
did he leave him with that would help him fight the good fight of
faith that he himself won? What did this great apostle share with
Timothy about apostolic living?
Paul warned Timothy of some bad habits that would lead him away from
his destiny, like idle talk that leads to ungodliness. He also
warned him about the potentially deadly habits of being
self-centered, greedy, proud, arrogant, disobedient, ungrateful,
profane, slanderous, rash and treacherous, among others. But more
than anything Paul imparted some wise words that Timothy could refer
back to long after his mentor went on to be with the Lord. These are
what I like to call the seven habits of highly effective apostolic
living.
Effective Habit #1: Stir up the gift and use it boldly.
The Apostle
Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift of God – and keep it stirred up. I
like how the Amplified Bible puts it: “Stir up (rekindle the embers,
fan the flame and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the
inner fire] that is in you…” (2 Timothy 1:6 AMP). Paul goes on to
exhort the young minister that fear does not come from God and
encourages him to walk in the power and love of God rather than to
cringe and fawn in fright. Apostolic living requires us to fan the
flame of passion within us because there will be those who seek to
drench our revolutionary dreams with rivers of negativity.
Effective Habit #2: Hold tightly to the truth.
The Apostle
Paul poured his life
into Timothy. Like a good spiritual father, Paul taught Timothy the
doctrines of Christ, modeled the way and kept him in prayer. He
expected Timothy to hold on to the sound teaching he had received;
to hold tightly to the truth. “Guard and keep [with the greatest
care] the precious and excellently adapted [Truth] which has been
entrusted [to you], by the [help of the] Holy Spirit Who makes His
home in us” (2 Timothy 1:14 AMP).
Apostle
Paul went on to warn Timothy about what happens to those who do not
hold tightly to the truth: they fall by the wayside, like Phygelus
and Hermongenes. Apostolic living requires us to maintain a healthy
balance between new revelation and solid foundations so that we move
forward in the progressive truth that God is revealing.
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Effective Habit #3: Raise up others in ministry.
Next, Apostle Paul tells
Timothy to be strong in the grace that is found only in Christ Jesus
as he sets out to raise up others in ministry. Here, Paul was
calling Timothy to a higher level of leadership. He knew that
spreading the unadulterated Gospel to the nations depended on
multiplying himself through others. “The [instructions] which you
have heard from me, along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust
(as a deposit) to reliable and faithful men who will be competent
and qualified to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 AMP).
Notice that Apostle Paul qualified the instruction. He told him to choose
reliable and faithful men. Apostolic living takes into account the
need to redeem the time by pouring into only those who are pursuing
God with their whole hearts.
Effective Habit #4: Be disciplined and ready to endure hardship.
Apostle Paul
didn’t sugarcoat apostolic living. He told him straight up that he’d
need a good habit called discipline as he prepared to endure
hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul admonished him not
to get entangled by the affairs of life. In other words, don’t let
the world complicate your ministry. Stay focused on what you are
called to do. Be disciplined to play by the rules that God has laid
down; submit your life to the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:3-7).
Apostolic living means suffering the pain of discipline even when
those around you may seem to be having an easy ride.
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Effective Habit #5: Stay focused on Christ.
“Constantly keep in mind
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, [as] risen from the dead, [as the
prophesied King] descended from David, according to the good news
(the Gospel) that I preach” (2 Timothy 2:8 AMP). Paul knew that
Timothy would need to keep in mind the power of Christ’s
resurrection in order to handle the persecution that went along with
spreading the Gospel in his day.
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Apostolic living means preserving and standing your ground with
patience to endure anything and everything for the sake of the
Gospel. It’s a realization that if we die with Him, we shall also
live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we
deny and disown and reject Him, he will deny us (2 Timothy 2:11-13).
Effective Habit #6: Know the Word.
The Apostle Paul’s next word of wisdom to young
Timothy was a charge to know the Word of God. Paul instructed him to
“study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God
approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be
ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly
handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15
AMP). Apostolic living is living in the Word. It is only the firm
foundation laid by God that stands in the midst of shakings.
Effective Habit #7: Live a pure life.
Finally, The Apostle Paul told Timothy to get
into the habit of living a pure life. He explained that whoever
cleanses himself will be a vessel set apart for God’s use, fit and
ready for good works. “Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and
aim at and pursue righteousness – all that is virtuous and good,
right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word and
deed. [And aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and
concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call
upon the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22 AMP). Apostolic
living forges a habit of refusing to get involved in trifling
controversies over ignorant questions that breed strife.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of godly habits, but I am
convinced that if we would pursue these seven areas that Paul
highlighted our lives and ministries would be more effective for the
glory of God. Isn’t that the whole point?
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Stephen Covey has built a publishing empire on the back of his blockbuster bestseller "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Living." There's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens," "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families," and, most recently, "The 8th Habit." In these books, Covey tells us to do things like be proactive, synergize and sharpen the saw. All good advice.
