Investing in the Dividends of Discipleship

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Timothy 2:2

The Scriptural passage quoted above describes four generations of disciples; men who
invested their time, treasures and spiritual talents (gifts) in the lives of others in order to contribute to their spiritual growth in Christ. Paul’s young protégé Timothy (2^nd generation) was to take that which he had heard from the apostle Paul (1^st generation) and entrust those sound, life changing biblical truths to reliable people (3^rd generation) who in turn, having matured, would be qualified to teach the others (4^th generation) the eternal truths of God’s holy Word.

Paul started with one young man and invested that which God had given to him in that fellow‘s life. Paul was more interested in being a faithful Christian than a famous person. He strove for significance, not success. The world will not applaud of efforts in enabling another person to come to Christ or grow in his or her knowledge and faith in Him, but the eternal impact of that investment will bring the applause of our heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus has told us, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:5, 8) Jesus was simply applying a natural phenomenon of growth of which all of His disciples were cognizant; it was after all an agrarian society.

If we plant eight kernels of corn in the ground a corn plant will grown with one ear of corn. That ear will have 800 kernels placed in 16 rows (1st generation). That is enough to grow 100 more corn plants (each with one ear) totaling 80,000 kernels to produce 10,000 more ears (2nd generation) each with the potential of 100 more corn plants (100 x 10,000); now we have 1 million ears of corn (3rd generation) or 800 million kernels (with a potential of 100 million ears of corn-4^th generation) and all that came from 8 kernels.

I have had the honor, pleasure and privilege of discipling and mentoring many men throughout my 41 years with Christ. Is it time for you to invest in the life someone else to achieve innumerable eternal dividends and to leave a legacy of faith when God calls you home? You will never be sorry if you do.