Rich in Good Works

Reading:  1 Timothy 6:11-21
    
    Paul has been discussing people who have a “craving for controversy,” discontent and seeking to become rich.  “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.  Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness”(1 Tim 6:11).  Timothy should be different.  He must “flee” such twisted motivations and “pursue” faith and love and kindness.  Honoring God with our lives involves running away from certain things, but it also involves diligently seeking after things that are good and noble.  The daily choices we make to flee and pursue determine who we become.

    As Paul winds down his letter, he urges Timothy to keep teaching (“fight the good fight of faith,” 6:12, and “charge them,” 6:17) and remember that he will be judged by “the King of kings and Lord of lords”(1 Tim 6:15).   He has a specific lesson he wants Timothy to teach:  “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life”(1 Tim 6:17-19).  He has warned about the “desire to be rich”(1 Tim 6:9) and now addresses those who are already rich.  There are right ways to view and use wealth.  Money is unworthy of our hopes; it is God (not money) that provides what we need.  Money is not good in itself, but is an opportunity to “do good.”  True riches are held by those who are “rich in good works.”  Especially does he want wealthy people to share and do good with what they have been given because they are confident greater riches are in the age to come.

    With the desire to be rich usually comes the hope that we will spend our wealth on ourselves.  We long to indulge our cravings, sleep securely without fear, and face the obstacles of life with more buying power.  We rarely question the deep selfishness in these desires.  Whatever measure of wealth we have been given, we can use our money to bless others and lay up treasure in heaven.

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One Thing to Think About: Am I “generous and ready to share”?

One Thing to Pray For:  The wisdom to flee evil and pursue righteousness today
 

The Desire to Be Rich

Reading:  1 Timothy 6:1-10
    
    The thread of contentment runs through these verses.  Paul wants Christian slaves to continue to honor their masters (1 Tim 6:1) and “serve all the better”(1 Tim 6:2) if they learn their masters are fellow believers.  Their state might not be ideal, but they can faithfully serve Jesus where they are.  He then profiles the type of person Timothy might encounter as an opponent:  “he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.  He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain”(1 Tim 6:4-5).  Some oppose the gospel because they are “puffed up with conceit,” proudly declaring that they know more than Jesus can teach them.  Some oppose the gospel because they have a “craving for controversy and quarrels about words”; they just love to fight.  Some twist the gospel because they believe “godliness is a means of gain.”  None are content to live quiet, faithful lives in submission to Jesus.

    But the restlessness that seeks wealth is Paul’s gravest concern here.  “Godliness with contentment is great gain”(1 Tim 6:6).  If we can live rightly—and be content with that—then we have found something immensely valuable.  “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction…it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs”(1 Tim 6:9, 10).  The desire to be rich is not restricted to rich people; many poor people suffer from it.   Though we often think that there is no harm in wanting a little more, Paul warns that this desire is remarkably destructive and painful.  It is a craving that pierces us with many pangs and leads us away from Jesus.

    The risk here is for us to mistakenly conclude that this passage does not apply to us if we are not uber-wealthy.  Hungering for money leads to us compromising our convictions, alienating our friends and family, violating the law, and living in continual discontentment.  Worst, it makes us believe that “godliness with contentment” is not enough.

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One Thing to Think About: Am I content right where I am?

One Thing to Pray For:  A balanced and appropriate view of money
 

Doing Nothing from Partiality

Reading:  1 Timothy 5:17-25
    
    Paul has already detailed requirements for men to be elders/overseers (1 Tim 3:1-7); here he gives practical instruction about how the church interacts with its leaders.  “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and ‘The laborer deserves his wages’”(1 Tim 5:17-18).  All elders are worthy of honor, but certain men are worthy of “double honor” because they are a key part of the teaching efforts of the church.  This involves receiving pay for their work, as Paul’s two Scripture references imply (see 1 Cor 9:9).  He also cautions Timothy, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses”(1 Tim 5:19).  Paul wants respect shown to elders.  They deserve honor, the benefit of the doubt, and multiple witnesses to accusations.  This is not because elders are above other people, but because these are men whose character the entire congregation has already validated.

    But what if the elder is guilty?  “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality”(1 Tim 5:20-21).  Whether elders or not, those who continue in sin need to be rebuked.  Paul calls all of heaven to witness his charge that Timothy administer justice fairly.  He should “(do) nothing from partiality,” not making assumptions that an elder is automatically right or automatically wrong.  Timothy should not be hasty (1 Tim 5:22) and understand that some sins will lie dormant for a time (1 Tim 5:24-25).  Yet when all has been said, no one is above God’s law.

    Christians respect their leaders.  We speak well of them and treat them well.  Yet that respect never includes ignoring sin, even in men who have shown godly character in the past.  Sin among the people of God must be addressed, even when it manifests in the life of an elder.  No one is above God’s law. 

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One Thing to Think About: Do I speak respectfully about my leaders?

One Thing to Pray For:  Fairness to all parties when accusations are made
 

Widows

Reading:  1 Timothy 5:9-16
    
    Here Paul instructs Timothy in how to care for women who are “truly widows”(1 Tim 5:3).  In the New Testament era, widows had no social safety net, few employment options, and were dependent on others.  Paul wants the surviving family to be the first in line to care for women whose husbands have died:  “If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them.  Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows”(1 Tim 5:16).  Christians should take care of their families first, particularly those who are in a position of need because of a death.  Those who are “truly widows” have not only suffered a loss, but are “left all alone”(1 Tim 5:5) without any family to lean on.  They have no options.  They are worthy of the church’s ongoing concern and support by being “enrolled”(1 Tim 5:9).   

    Paul gives a list of requirements for church support of such a woman.  She must be at least 60, a faithful wife and mother, and a Christian worker (1 Tim 5:9-10).  But younger widows are different; they are not to be enrolled because they may choose to remarry and “(abandon) their former faith”(1 Tim 5:12).  This may indicate that ongoing support hinges on the commitment not to remarry.  Perhaps these widows are doing a special work for the congregation that would require their singleness.  Paul also has concern (probably born of experience) that younger widows will “learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not”(1 Tim 5:13).   Instead of “enrolling” them, he encourages them to marry and work at home so that they are not idle and causing trouble.

    These verses remind us that God has work for all of us.  It would be tempting for an older widow, who has suffered a tragic loss while aging herself, to feel unimportant.  It might also be tempting for a younger widow, who finds herself grieving and isolated, to become a busybody.  Yet Christians honor those who serve Jesus.  We value all people and the work they do.  God has concern for widows and their service to him.  Men or women, married or single, suffering or joyful, we all have a part to play.

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One Thing to Think About: Do I have “a reputation for good works”(1 Tim 5:10)?

One Thing to Pray For:  Opportunities to encourage and serve alongside faithful Christian women
 

Family

Reading:  1 Timothy 5:1-8
    
    Paul stresses family ties throughout this section.  Timothy needs to treat the members of the Ephesian church like he would treat his own family.  “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity”(1 Tim 5:1-2).  Older men deserve the respect of a father; older women the respect of a mother.  Calling Timothy’s contemporaries brothers and sisters implies tenderness and closeness, yet he also warns him to maintain “all purity.”  The family connection should affect how we talk with (and about) each other, how we resolve conflict, and how we respond to conflict together.  Christians are family.  We should bring the best of family dynamics to our interactions with each other.

    Paul also advises Timothy to be judicious in how the church handles widows.  “Honor widows who are truly widows.  But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God”(1 Tim 5:3-4). Christians should repay their parents by caring for them in their old age, acknowledging the sacrifice they have made by raising us.  “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever”(1 Tim 5:8).  These are strong words.  It is not enough to provide for ourselves; there are many others related to us to whom we have obligations.  Those who do not respect family bonds are not following Jesus.  

    God has expectations about families.  He wants us to love our families, treat them with kindness, and care for them when in need.  What is surprising is that how we live with our families inevitably influences the health of a local church.  If we will not care for our families, the church may be burdened (1 Tim 5:16).  If we  do not know how to treat a father, mother, sister, or brother, then we will fail to treat our Christian brethren appropriately.  No one has an ideal family life, but we can all love our brothers and sisters like family and honor our parents.

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One Thing to Think About: Do I treat my brothers and sisters like family?

One Thing to Pray For:  Loving families, both physical and spiritual