* If someone gave you a precious gift and then went on a long trip, but they said they wanted to see you when you returned, what would you do with that gift?

* You know they’re going to ask you about it.

* You guard it carefully.

* Paul is giving Timothy this instruction.

* He had been given a precious gift, but it was his responsibility to guard it.

* This means two things:

* 1) You need to be aware of the threat.

* If you have to guard something then there is a threat that exists.

* 2) You can lose the gift by not exercising it.

* If you don’t use it you lose it.