According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:11
If someone of wealth and power allows you to drive his brand new luxury vehicle–think of something with a distinctive emblem perhaps?–to perform an important service for him, imagine the extreme care you’d take driving it. This is what Paul is talking about here in the teaching of God’s glorious–again think of that shiny $75k automobile–good news.
Likewise are we to communicate the gospel, with extreme care and precision. It was one thing for Paul to deliver the message himself. No worries there. But to entrust the responsibility to another man, a “young” man at that, and be confident that nothing would be garbled in the transmission, was a major risk.
Every time we transmit God’s truth we carry the same responsibility. This is why a teacher undergoes “stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)
Something to think about.
Do you think we have a commitment to leaving every person we pass with a greater understanding of the Kingdom? I do. I believe this is what Paul is talking about also. Extreme care is something that can’t be left one day, and then picked up the next. Extreme care is careful consideration. We were entrusted by God Himself to be deliverers and practitioners of Jesus’ ministry. This is why carrying my Bible with me everywhere serves me such a great reminder. Just like those cheesy WWJD bracelets of the 90s. I consider it such an honor to be chosen to continue His message, but at the same time it’s an enormous responsibility to “forgive as we have been forgiven” and to “love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” I know that these things are extremely difficult for myself and others, but I constantly find myself being able to do much easier when I am walking hand in hand with Him, rather than just reading these scriptures as if they were intended for others.
Walking around with the Bible in hand equates with walking hand in hand with Him. It’s just as offensive to the world it seems, but it can be compelling to see someone unashamed to carry the Word of God, and a matter of curiosity. If they knew what treasures were within its covers! The heart of the evangelist is to pass on the Good News to everyone he meets. Not all may have such a calling–but we should–and sometimes we leave the enthusiasm to the newly converted, and to our shame.