1 Timothy 5 - Christian Conduct - Show Your Faith in Christ
Paul emphasizes the weight of God’s instructions for His church in 5:7 and again in bold in 5:21, “I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.” Wow. I was still a little sleepy even after three cups of coffee, but now I’m awake.
God says we will be open to criticism if we do not follow God’s instructions. More than that. God says that we deny the true faith by refusing to do what He commands. This passage gives clear instructions as to what we are required to do as believers and what pleases God. We hear: take care of others, don’t live only for pleasure, work hard, reprimand those who sin, require a due process by hearing the full story don’t take sides or show favoritism, don’t share in the sins of others, and keep yourself pure.
It’s an incredibly strong message. I suspect we get a foretaste of what God will say to us when believers in Jesus stand before God to be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10).
The way we live and how we show our faith by following the Bible’s instructions for Christians has eternal consequences. The Bible says we must stay true to what is right for the sake of our own salvation and the salvation of those who hear us (1 Tim. 4:16). What a sobering thought.
There is no greater responsibility, no greater priority than our salvation - and the salvation of those we share the Gospel with.
This passage weighs heavy on me. Both for my personal actions and for how I see God’s instructions here ignored by the church. This passage says that those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church. When was the last time a church held anyone to account for sin? We are quick to plead grace and slow to obey God. The Bible says that our salvation is at stake and that these instructions are a command from God.
Lord Jesus, I’m sorry for how I have not personally lived up to the standards in this chapter. Please forgive me and help me to understand how to treat people the way you want me to. Your standards are high for your way is good and pleasing and perfect. Amen.
We hear that we must treat older men with respect and younger men as brothers. And we treat younger women with all purity as we would our own sisters. Do that today.
We have a responsibility as Christians to care for our relatives, in particular our elderly parents. This pleases Jesus.
The Bible says that churches should have a list of true widows (not widowers, men that means you work and serve until the horn goes) who have no one else to care for them. These widows must not live only for pleasure (this is a principle for all of us). Those who live only for pleasure are spiritually dead.
True faith requires active love - caring for those in our own households. Does the modern church encourage or follow God’s command? I think not enough, or not at all.
Lord God, may we not be unfaithful to the true faith. May we take responsibility for caring for others? And may we be careful to honor those who are faithful - the women who rely solely on God. Let us be wise - for you want us to be wise and loving. Amen.
There is a concept or principle here that is completely foreign to us now. Modernists never want to appear to judge anyone - even though judging is at the heart of what is needed in this passage. It is judging what you will do every day and discerning and asking for God’s wisdom to make good decisions. Over and over you hear the principle in the Bible that we must judge those in the church (1 Corinthians 5:9).
Today it seems that the church does not want to decide based on merit, accomplishments, or proven behavior. We talk about a game of merit but in practice, we exercise favoritism and nepotism - exactly what God tells us not to do here. The church seems fearful of the world - we don’t fear God. Instead, we are scared to be seen by the world as unfair, harsh, or unforgiving.
But I think that’s the point of this passage. This instruction from God through Paul is to have tests. Hold ourselves to God’s standard. Encourage each other to start anew today. And judge based on people’s proven actions. In 1 Timothy we are told of tests for the elder, the deacon, and now the support list for elderly women. Some will cry that this is unfair to older men. So be it. This is God’s standard. It’s a Christian principle of responsibility. Do not call unfair what God, the Judge, calls fair.
The Bible states what godly character looks like for men and women. I am so thankful for my wife. She is a godly woman. Godly women are to be respected
The godly woman does not slander others. She exercises self-control and is faithful to God (3:11). The godly woman prays. She believes in Jesus Christ. She cares for her children and her elderly relatives if needed. She is well respected for the good she has done. She brings up her children well. She is kind to strangers. She serves other believers humbly. She helps those in trouble. And she is always ready to do good.
Men and women are equal before God. For each of us, the best life is one committed to the Lord God Almighty, to God and His ways. Not the ways of false teachers or lukewarm religion - the religion of those who follow Satan (5:15).
Lord Jesus, thank you for your instructions. May we grow in our understanding and obedience. Amen.
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