Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Summary: Paul’s instruction in this verse is quite simple and straightforward.
Have you ever neglected a gift?
When I was a child, I was given a gift of special watercolor paints. It was a complete set of paints in small metal tubes. Much more sophisticated than the kits that kids normally get. You know the kind, hard blocks of paint that you wet with a brush. Tube paint is special.
In fact, it was so special that I neglected to use it. I was afraid that the tiny tubes of paint would get used up too quickly, so I carefully preserved the gift, but didn’t use it.
Perhaps you are wondering why I would remember such a thing? Because I found the paint kit just the other day. Decades old now, perhaps not even usable. I neglected the gift!
Timothy was given a gift, too. A very precious gift from God.
Paul says it was “given … through prophecy.”
Interesting!
A prophet is “one through whom God speaks.”* A prophecy, then, represents a communication from God.
So what kind of “gift” would be conveyed by a prophecy from God?
It certainly wasn’t a watercolor paint set! Most “gifts” we think of represent a material thing of some kind. Fortunately, looking at the original Greek answers this question for us.
The Greek word Paul used in his letter to Timothy was “charisma.” Yes — the same root word we get “charismatic” from. Charisma is a spiritual gift. We cannot buy it with money, but apparently, we can ignore it if we choose.
Paul is encouraging Timothy to use his charisma. I can almost hear the thoughts behind Paul’s words:
Timothy, use the enthusiasm for Jesus that God gave you! Don’t let it languish!
Use your passion for serving God to inspire others!
Use the gift of reflecting God’s grace to motivate those around you to serve God faithfully.
Much of Paul’s letter to Timothy is focused on the problems all leaders face when they are trying to lead others. It would be easy to get lost in the technical aspects of leadership and forget that what is important is the passion for Jesus that God places in our hearts.
Application: Take your gifts out of the closet and put them to use.
Food for Thought: What other kinds of gifts might the Father give his children?
*”G4396 – prophētēs – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 2 Jun, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4396/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
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