2 Timothy 1:6 Why I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. I suppose that Timothy was a somewhat retiring youth, and that from the gentleness of his nature he needed to be exhorted to the exercise of the bolder virtues. His was a choice spirit, and therefore it was desirable to see it strong, brave and energetic. No one would wish to arouse a bad man, for, like a viper, he is all the worse for being awake; but in proportion to the excellence of the character is the desirability of its being full of force. There are many kinds of gifts. All Christians have some gift. Some have gifts without them rather than within them — gifts, for instance, of worldly position, estate, and substance. These ought to be well used. But we must go at once to the point in hand; — "the gift that is in you," we have now to speak of. I. First, then, WHAT GIFT IS THERE IN US? In some there are gifts of mind, which are accompanied with gifts of utterance. The stones in the street might surely cry out against some religious professors who make the Houses of Parliament, the council-chamber, the courts of justice, the Athenaeum, or the Mechanics' hall ring with their voices, and yet preach not Jesus — who can argue points of politics and the like, but not speak a word for Christ — eloquent for the world, but dumb for Jesus. If you have the gift of the pen, are you using it for Christ as you ought? I want to stir up the gift that is in you. Letters have often been blessed to conversions; are you accustomed to write with that view? Another form of gift that belongs to us is influence. What an influence the parent has. Many of the elder members of the Church have another gift — namely, experience. Certainly, experience cannot be purchased, nor taught; it is given us of the Lord who teacheth us to profit. It is a peculiar treasure each man wins for himself as he is led through the wilderness. May you be of such a sort as a certain clergyman I heard of the other day. I asked a poor woman "What sort of man is he?" She said, "He is such a sort of man, sir, that if he comes to see you you know he has been there." I understood what she meant: he left behind him some godly saying, weighty advice, holy consolation, or devout reflection, which she could remember after he had left her cottage door. Another gift which many have is the gift of prayer — of prayer with power, in private for the Church and with sinners. There is another gift which is a very admirable one. It is the gift of conversation, not a readiness for chit-chat and gossip — (he who has that wretched propensity may bury it in the earth and never dig it up again) — but the gift of leading conversation, of being what George Herbert called the "master-gunner"; when we have that, we should most conscientiously use it for God. II. And this brings us, secondly to the consideration of — HOW WE ARE TO STIR UP OUR GIFTS. 1. First, we should do it by examination to see what gifts we really have. There should be an overhauling of all our stores to see what we have of capital entrusted to our stewardship. 2. The next mode of stirring up our gift is to consider to what use we could put the talents we possess. To what use could I put my talents in my family? 3. But, next, stir it up not merely by consideration and examination, but by actually using it. 4. And then, in addition to using our gift, every one of us should try to improve it. 5. And then pray over your gifts: that is a blessed way of stirring them up — to go before God, and spread out your responsibilities before Him. III. WHY IS IT THAT WE SHOULD STIR UP THE GIFT THAT IS IN US? 1. We should stir up the gift that is in us, because all we shall do when we have stirred ourselves to the utmost, and when the Spirit of God has strengthened us to the highest degree, will still fall far short of what our dear Lord and Master deserves at our hands. 2. Another reason is that these are stirring times. If we are not stirring everybody else is. 3. And then, again, we must stir up our gift because it needs stirring. The gifts and graces of Christian men are like a coal fire which frequently requires stirring as well as feeding with fuel. 4. If we will but stir our selves, or rather, if God's Holy Spirit will but stir us, we, as a church, may expect very great things. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. |
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