The Self-Perspective Necessary For Faithful Service | 1 Timothy

Introduction:
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W. Tozer (Knowledge of the Holy)
That is true, but I would also add, that perhaps there’s nothing more revealing about how you think about God, than how you regard yourself.
And I’m not talking about how you think about yourself FORMALLY - ON RECORD.
I’m not talking about how you think about yourself PUBLICLY.
You don’t have to be in a sound church for very long before you learn that pride is out of place.
The result is that many learn to SPEAK HUMBLY.
People learn what they believe to be the language of humility, and they use it carefully - and sometimes - proudly. “Let me put on display my commitment to a humble self-perspective.”
No, I’m not talking about anything artificial or contrived - I’m talking about HOW YOU REALLY SEE YOURSELF.
In the realm that no one sees but you and God.
In the realm of your own private thoughts.
HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?
When tempted to congratulate yourself.
When tempted to pity yourself.
When tempted to compare yourself with others (that pride that would set you free to be suspicious of everyone but yourself).
When tempted to criticize others.
When tempted to hold a grudge.
When tempted to nurse your wounds.
When tempted to feel overlooked or unappreciated.
When given a compliment or given criticism.
When you go through difficult things that others don’t have to go through.
When you’re given blessings and kindnesses that others don’t receive.
NOW, HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?
THE ONLY WAY TO HONOR GOD IN OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT GOD - AND OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT EVERYTHING - INCLUDING OURSELVES - IS FOR OUR THINKING TO BE INFORMED BY SALVATION.
WE MUST THINK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOSPEL.
SALVATION IS NECESSARY TO SPIRITUAL SANITY.
It is true that we could express this by saying we must think BIBLICALLY.
But a Bible without saving grace will never produce humility. The Bible is only accessible, in terms of its marrow, where salvation has come.
Saved people can still think wrongly, but lost people, at the most fundamental level, can’t think rightly.
FROM PRIDE TO HUMILITY - FROM SELF-DECEPTION AND A VEIL OVER OUR UNDERSTANDING TO SPIRITUAL CLARITY - THIS IS THE SUPERNATURAL HEART CHANGE THAT SALVATION PRODUCES.
A losing of one’s life, as you once knew it, because now you see that life for what it really is, even as you have seen Jesus for who HE really is.
What was once your boasting is now your shame.
What you once had no regard for is now your boasting.
THIS IS WHAT SALVATION PRODUCES.
And all of this is CRUCIAL, not only for the Christian life, but for faithful ministry.
Faithful ministry requires right thinking about God, but faithful ministry also requires right thinking about us.
We see an example of this in our text today.
Paul is giving a personal testimony.
Paul is telling us about God’s grace to him, and why that grace was necessary, AND IS STILL NECESSARY.
And as he does this, he’s telling us how he saw himself.
He is telling us what he knew about himself and how that informed his understanding of ministry.
Today, I want us to think about a ministry explained by mercy - a self-perspective necessary for faithful service.