For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
“I ain’t got no fear of nobody, nowhere,
no how. (Except spiders.)” That’s how I come across to some people. To some, I
have no fear. To others, I have little but fear hidden behind double negatives
and denials. Having read Sea Wolf, I would quickly point out that I do
have fears, because without fear, I could not be brave and I’d rather be brave
than fearless.
But that’s not what Paul is really
talking about here. In the previous verse, he urged Timothy to fan the flames of
his spiritual gift(s.) Paul never mentions what that gift is, but if nothing
else, Timothy was a pastor. He seems to have been what some folks are calling
an empath, or perhaps a people-pleaser. And Paul’s admonition about the manner of
Spirit Timothy received appropriately relates to the absence of timidity, and
the presence of power, love, and self-discipline. Had Paul written to someone
else, he might have mentioned other things that the Spirit gives us, though I
suspect those three would be on lists frequently.
As I read this verse this morning, the
word privilege came to mind. The gifts the Spirit gives could easily be
seen as privileges. They are things that we are given, and others aren’t. In
our current society, certain individuals are quick to tell others to “check
your privilege.” Privileges can be misused or abused, used, or ignored. Today’s
passage suggests the proper response to privilege – use them with power, love,
and a sound mind. How different the world would be if we started living this
out.
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