DON’T FORGET YOUR GIFT

2 Timothy 1:6 

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

Have you ever gotten a gift and then forgot about it?

• Maybe you put it in some closet, and forgot you had it
• Maybe it was Christmas time and, after the celebration, when you packed to go home, you forgot to bring it with you.
• I am notorious for forgetting who it was who gave me the gifts I have received 

Of course the whole idea of gift giving has become so much more a bigger thing than it was in Biblical days.

American commercialism has preyed upon the population to the extent that we feel cheated if 

• We do not get gifts on special days in our lives and
• We feel guilty if we do not give gifts to those who are special to us on their special days

I listened to a history program the other day on the history of “white weddings” – you know, the traditions behind the white wedding dress.

Although the subject isn’t one that demands my interest, as a preacher it seemed relevant to my avocation.

Did you know the whole reason diamond weddings rings are the thing is because sometime in the early 1900’s a huge stash of diamonds was found in Africa and jewelers saw an opportunity to market them as a wedding gift.

Previous to the last century diamond wedding rings were unheard of.

It all started with silver.

A merchant in the 1800’s successfully sold the public on the idea that giving silverware to the wedding couple would create for them an heirloom that would last from generation to generation.

Of course most people could not afford buy a whole set of silverware, so the idea of people joining together and buying one piece each for them was created.

Some people could not afford even the price of a fork or a spoon, so they created baby-sized forks and spoons to put in condiment dishes.

That worked well enough they created the concept of a separate spoon for the soup, and main dish and a separate fork for the salad and the main dish.

Those who made and sold fine china saw how successful the silverware people were and they began the same marketing campaign to weddings, with the same success.

Jewelers witnessed their success and used the exact same marketing strategy to get people to buy diamonds.

Then the greeting card companies jumped onboard and sold the American public, especially those who were upper and middle income, that the polite thing to do would be to acknowledge and thank all those who gave those gifts with a card.

Among those in the middle to upper incomes weddings average $30,000’s and couples receive more than 150 gifts.

And it was all created by a marketing strategy that exploited American consumerism.

You know the same thing is true with birthdays and Christmas.

There was a time when it wasn’t difficult to remember who gave you a gift because you didn’t get that many of them.

I said all of that just because I have to say something to introduce my lesson where Paul urged Timothy to remember his spiritual gift, and to stir it up.

2 Timothy 1:6 (KJV)

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

Timothy had a gift. 

It wasn't a mere talent nor was it a skill. 

*It was something that 

• once he did not have, 
• was purchased by another and
• was imparted to him by someone else

Timothy's gift was, I believe, his calling into the ministry and his equipping for that ministry. 

Notice with me three things about Timothy’s gift:

*I. IT WAS A GIFT OF GOD

2 Timothy 1:6 (KJV)

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

The ministry is not a vocational choice. 

Please don’t get the impression that Timothy and his parents sat down with Paul one day and interviewed him about the pros and cons of the Gospel occupation.

Timothy didn’t explore his career options and select preaching above maybe a half dozen others.

There was no aptitude test that Timothy could take that pointed him in the direction of being a preacher.

Though if a man desires it he desires a good work, yet, he ought not to enter into it without clear direction from God. 

Though we do not know, it was quite possible that Timothy supported himself through some other occupation.

He was a preacher because God chose and gifted him for that ministry.

However,

*II. IT WAS GIVEN BY PAUL’S HANDS

2 Timothy 1:6 (KJV)

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

This is where the idea of ordination originates and I grieve that modern day preachers tend to view it as a formality rather than a spiritual operation. 

One could claim that this work of Paul involved his years training Timothy.

I do not doubt that. 

But it is more than that. 

It is reminiscent of Elisha's receiving Elijah's mantel.

Paul passed down: 

• knowledge and understanding
• experience and wisdom
• AND this gift of God

The point of the passage is that

*III. IT MUST BE STIRRED UP

2 Timothy 1:6 (KJV)

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

The phrase means to re-kindle. 

The gift that God gave to Timothy through the instrument of Apostle Paul had to be maintained.

*Albert Barnes in his commentary says of this passage,

“However rich the gifts which God has bestowed upon us, they do not grow of their own accord, but need to be cultivated by our own personal care.”

In my head this is at least one justification to some sort of Bible college training for those called to the ministry.

• God gives the gift but
• The gift has to be cultivated and stirred up

*On a more practical level though, John Gill says that the gift,

“…may be re-inflamed or increased, when they seem on the decline, by reading, meditation, prayer, and the frequent exercise of them.”

Did you notice his four-fold plan for stirring up the gift of God?

• Reading
• Meditation
• Prayer and
• Frequent exercise of the gift

Conclusion

Every Christian, including those who are not called into pastoral ministry, has a gift of God. 

• That gift is developed through the ministry of preachers but 
• it requires our own personal maintenance. 

Don’t forget to stir up your spiritual gift.