If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables, and excercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithfull saying and wothy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.
1 Timothy 4:6-11.

The apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy out of concern for him. He offered him some good advice, encouraging him to be "nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed." Doing this, he says, will make him a "good minister", and help him finish well.

To be a good minister o Jesus Christ is to finish well. Paul did not fear rejection, injury, or even death for himself or his young disciple. What weighed heavly on his heart was the quality and purity of their teaching. He did not ever want to be disqualified as a good minister due to lack of sound doctrine or being swayed by " profane and old wives' fables."

Timothy was a young man when he met Paul. Raised by a believing mother and grandmother. Timothy's natural father was Greek. Paul became a spiritual father to Timothy, instruction him in spiritual matters. A special bond developed between them, as they endured  many hard times , and rejoiced  together  in the  victories of  ministry.

I once served in the military and went to war with other young men. I have traveled with commited men and women on short-term mission trips to several countries. A tremendous bond is forged between those serving side by side on the battlefield. It runs deeper than a casual friendship, but rather becomes a very personal, lifelong relationship. As a pastor, one of my greatest joys is seeing someone I've discipled enter into fruitful service in the Lord. One of my greatest heartbreaks is to see someone fall and go back to the world. It's not hard to understand the bond between Paul and Timothy, and Paul's concerns for this young friend's spiritual well-being.

"Exercise yourself toward godliness" Paul exhorts Timothy. With fitness centers almost on every corner, exercise is a popular activity in our culture. Men and women in America spend a lot of money on "bodily exercise" and all the accessories that go along with it - which Paul points out "profits little" because it only affects one person. No matter how fit you become, it primarily benefits you. Is exercise wrong? Of course not. It's good to take care of yourself. But our priority needs to be "godly exercise." What if we, as a culture, directed that same time, money, effort, and concentration on spiritual things? Just think how it would impact the world! Paul's exhortation to Timothy is timeless and applies to us as well. The profits of godliness affect our lives now, and "that which is to come" (4:8).

Paul had an incredible command language. He was free born, a Roman citizen, raised in a Greek culture. As a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, Paul was a Pharisee of great intellect and influence. But not until he came to know Jesus Christ, did he attain true wisdom. By his own testimony, he declared that everything he knew before knowing Jesus was "rubish" (Philippians 3:8). He threw out all his credentials but one: the qualification he described in verse ten: "...because we trust in the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of those who believe." He follows this with the simple exhortation, "These things command and teach."

Paul wisely reproduced himself through disciples like Timothy. And, he knew what was important in life. He determined for himself, and taught those he loved, the importance and joy of finishing well.

Dear fellow servant, I pray that you will know the joy of finishing, of running the race to the end. I have yet to see anyone fall away and end up happy and content.

Keep it simple, stay on course, please "don't grow weary while doing good and fallow Paul's simple exhortation. It is not our education or our experience that really matters, but it is our apprehension of these simple truths that will enable us to finish well.