Any honest person, however, would have to confess that God hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Men frequently focus upon David’s extreme failures but fail to realize that he also exemplified a tremendous example of someone who understood loyalty. King Saul’s antics would have allowed most people to justify not affording Saul the loyalty his position warranted. Even many of David’s men held to this position. Yet, we read that David felt and acted otherwise. Although Saul repeatedly attempted to kill David, David did not take advantage of any of his opportunities to kill Saul. The Bible says that he refused to stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed. Instead, David decided to send a message to Saul by cutting off the skirt of Saul’s robe. Because of David’s loyalty, even this act immediately smote his heart. His godly character trumped his personal frustrations toward the very man who sought to bring him grave, personal harm. Although David’s men were prepared and able to take the most aggressive actions, David advised against it.
Paul served as Timothy’s mentor. In fact, Paul referred to Timothy as his “son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). As Timothy’s mentor, Paul gave Timothy truths with the intent that he would pass along those teachings to other believers. Though there are certainly variations of what should be taught, Paul laid out two foundational categories when he mentioned “words of faith and of good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6). Though specifics are given in the epistles of First and Second Timothy and Titus, every teaching should reflect the categories set forth by the apostle Paul. Even practical teaching ought to be based upon the words of God, as some teachings are good (2 Thessalonians 2:15), and some are bad (Matthew 15:9). Every teacher should teach with hopes of eventually learning from his students when they too become the teachers.
Those with their ear toward the world have many accessible teachers. Unfortunately, far too frequently, that which is being taught contradicts the plain teaching of scripture. In order to combat the propagation of false teaching, the Lord calls upon His people to teach the truth. God placed men within the New Testament church to spread the truth through teaching and preaching (Acts 13:1). He placed older men and women in the church in order to teach the younger men and women (Titus 2:1-8). He placed godly moms and dads in the home to teach the children. Every believer should have a desire to come to a point where he or she can teach others. According to the scriptures, this is the will of God (Hebrews 5:12).
