Note 29 at 1 Tim. 4:16: Paul began this segment of his instructions to Timothy in verse 12 by saying, "Let no man despise thy youth. . . ." All the directions that followed were keys to achieving that goal. Paul is summing up those instructions here.

Paul told Timothy to take heed to himself and the doctrine or instructions he had been given. Paul did not tell Timothy to pray for others to change and respect him, he told him to earn their respect by doing these things.

People today think that respect and trust are personal rights that others should automatically give them, but that is not so. We love people with an unconditional love, independent of what they deserve, but trust and respect have to be earned. We should love everyone with God's kind of love, but that does not mean we should trust and respect everyone.

Paul is basically telling Timothy that if he will do these things that he has commanded him, others will respect him and follow his leadership. He doesn't have to spend his time trying to straighten out everyone else. If he will take care of himself, the Lord will take care of the others. As Paul said in Romans 13:3, ". . .do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same."

If you seem to be lacking the respect and recognition you think you deserve, don't complain and don't pray to God to straighten everyone else out. Seek God with your whole heart consistently, and when that produces visible results, the respect and recognition you desire will come.

Note 30 at 1 Tim. 4:16: The Greek word "EPIMENO" was translated "continue" here. This word means, "to stay over, i.e. remain, (figuratively persevere)" (Strong). It was translated "abide" in Acts 15:34; Romans 11:23; and Philippians 1:24. It is stressing consistency.

The Christian life can not be lived effectively if we do it in spurts. We have to abide in Christ and His doctrine. The just live by faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38), they don't just visit there every once and awhile.

Paul is instructing Timothy to give himself totally to seeking God, and the Lord will cause him to succeed. That same thing holds true for us. The Lord manifests Himself through our lives proportional to the way we seek Him.

Note 31 at 1 Tim. 4:16: Regardless of how diligently we follow Paul's instructions here, not everyone will hear us. Not everyone heard Jesus and they certainly won't give heed to everything we say. That's why Jesus said in Matthew 11:15, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (see note 3 at Mt. 11:15, p. 179).

Paul is telling Timothy to seek God with all his heart and those who have ears to hear what the Lord is saying will respond positively to him.