A L M A C I A S

DEVELOPING CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

As we study the Scriptures, we find that God has made available all that is needed for our salvation. We find many lessons throughout the Bible that help us be the kind of people God would have us to be. It is in the Scriptures that we learn to be careful in what we put into our hearts and into our minds, so that we do not begin to think as and be like those in the world. In the letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul wrote: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Phil. 4:8) Since what we put into our hearts and minds is very important, we all need to be extremely careful in the things that we read and the things that we hear.

Another very important lesson that we learn from the Scriptures is in regard to Christian character. As we read the first letter that Paul wrote to Timothy, we find that the apostle Paul considered Christian character to be of tremendous importance to Timothy, and all who are obedient to the Word. We read in I Timothy 4:12,13, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." We do understand that Paul wrote this to Timothy because he was still a young man, and perhaps was having some difficulty with the brethren because of his youth. Nevertheless, the advice that Paul gave to Timothy was not just Paul's own ideas on what Timothy needed to do, but rather it was what the Holy Spirit had to say in the matter. Timothy was commanded to be "an example of [to] the believers." Timothy should set the best example he could for all of those who were observing him.

Paul was advising Timothy on how he could develop good Christian character. Timothy could do this by being very careful in his speech, not only as he conducted daily conversations with others, but also in the proclamation of God's Word. Timothy was to set a good example in his daily conduct before all of the brethren, as well as in his love for the brethren; in his faithfulness to God and man; and, last of all, in his purity. To help Timothy accomplish this, Paul told him to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine. But what kind of reading was the apostle Paul referring to? Not just any kind of reading, but the reading of the Scriptures. How do we measure up to what Paul told Timothy to do, which could very well apply to every Christian?