1 Timothy 4:6–7
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Paul makes it surprisingly simple.
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things…” In other words, keep bringing people back to what they already know is true. You do not have to invent something new. You do not have to impress anyone with originality. Just remind them.
That is how you become a good minister of Jesus Christ.
Notice what he does not say. He does not say, “Win every argument.” He does not say, “Master every controversy.” He does not say, “Chase down every theory floating through the culture.”
Stay away from esoteric posturing. Stay away from endless dietary debates. Stay away from legalism dressed up as depth.
Keep the main thing the main thing.
And the main thing is Jesus.
Then Paul shifts the focus inward. “Nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine.” A good minister is not starving. He is feeding. Not on speculation. Not on mythology. But on words of faith. Solid doctrine. Truth that has weight to it.
In Paul and Timothy’s day, people were wrapped up in Greek and Roman mythology. They were tracing genealogies, trying to figure out which god they descended from or which divine story they could attach themselves to. It sounded impressive. It sounded spiritual.
Paul calls it what it is. Profane. Fables.
Refuse it.
Do not toy with it. Do not get sidetracked by it. Refuse it.
Instead, “exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” That is training language. Like an athlete who goes to the field day after day, not to talk about the game but to run drills. Godliness does not grow from fascination with side issues. It grows from steady practice in what is true.
If you want to be a good minister, do not complicate it.
Feed on the Word. Refuse distractions. Train your life toward godliness. Keep pointing people back to Jesus.
That is enough.