For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:6 NIV
As a young believer, Paul’s letters to Timothy really spoke to me. I could identify with Timothy, a young and somewhat timid man. And I was encouraged, along with him, to be faithful to the Lord, to be an example of Christ-likeness to older believers, and to avoid the temptations common to young men. And to fan into flame the gift of God.
Paul does not specify what gift of God Timothy had received, although it likely had to do with the task Paul had given him (1 Tim. 1:3-4). Nor do we understand the significance of it coming through Paul and the elders laying hands on him (1 Tim. 4:14). But whatever this gift was, and however it had come to him, he was reminded to fan it into flame.
Oxygen is an essential component for fires. The more oxygen applied to the fire, the hotter the flames will burn. And one way of getting more oxygen to the fire is to fan the flames.
And that is what Paul was telling Timothy to do. To fan into flame the gift of God. There is no hint that Timothy was failing to use his gift. But he was encouraged to develop and use it even more. To always seek to have the flame burn brighter.
Each of us should take to heart what Paul told Timothy. To fan into flame the gifts of God that we have been given. We should not be content to let our gifts lie dormant and unused. Instead, we should discover, use, and develop those gifts to build up Christ’s body. Let them burn brightly in the service of our Lord. And do so more and more.
