What’s Inside Counts - Paul And Timothy

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

On his daughter’s sixteenth birthday, a father got the wheels rolling on his promise to buy her a used car. That morning, the two headed out to visit some local lots to see if they could find a car that she liked and he could afford.

As they passed one used-car lot, a car caught the daughter’s eye, and she excitedly asked her dad to stop so they could check it out. At a glance, it looked like a great deal. The paint was in excellent shape, and the car had no dents.

When they prepared to take a test drive, they noticed the heavy smell of cigarette smoke, the tears in the front seats, the badly stained carpet, and the sun-faded dashboard. The test drive ended before it began.

“Wow, Dad!” the daughter said as they left the lot. “That car looked great on the outside, but the inside was a total mess!”

What really counts is on the inside.

That was the essence of the apostle Paul’s message to Timothy, the young pastor of the Ephesian church. Timothy had doubts about his ability to lead. He wondered if some of the church’s older saints might look down on him as a wet-behind-the-ears kid who became their pastor only because he was Paul’s friend.

Paul wanted Timothy to understand that his fitness to serve had nothing to do with his age or experience. It had everything to with what lay within him—godly character and an understanding of God and his Word.

If people could look inside of your soul, what would they see? Would they come away from the experience encouraged, impressed, or aghast?

What do you think qualifies you to serve God as a leader in your home, workplace, or church? In God’s mind, your qualifications have nothing to do with your appearance, youth, charm, or any other external feature. You lead best when you understand that what is on the inside—strong character and a passion for God and his Word—is what really counts.