July 10, 2022
Morning Service

In our study in Timothy, Paul is instructing us “how to conduct ourselves in the house of God.”  He began with revealing to us that the commands of God, when allowed to work in our lives, produce within us a “love from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.”  He then defined sin for us and charged us to “wage the good warfare” against our evil enemy.  He emphasized the need for prayer in our personal lives as well as within the church.  Chapter 3 outlined the qualifications for those in leadership roles within the church.  Last week in chapter 4, Paul warned us of false teachers who are not seeking to simply cause confusion in the church, but to destroy it.  He also encouraged us to exercise our faith and by believing, living out, and teaching the truth.  As we begin in chapter 5 this morning, Paul instructs us on how to treat each other within the church.  We are, as we often say from this pulpit, all family, brothers and sisters, united together along our journey to follow Jesus.  We are here to help and exhort one another along that journey knowing we are following the command to “love others as Jesus loved us.”

 1Ti 5:1-2 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, (2) older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

            Paul simplifies relationships within the church to things we understand.  If we view older men as our fathers and older women as our mothers, we will show a higher level of respect and honor to them.  It is our culture’s trend to always be moving forward with the “new and better way of doing things” and that sometimes leaves our older generation behind.  Within the church the older generation should not be “overlooked,” but be treasured and utilized for their experiences they have endured during their journey.  They create within our younger generation a hope that following Jesus can be done over a lifetime and it is a journey worth taking.  As we get farther along in our journey we should be willing to share our stories of how Jesus has been faithful to us to encourage those facing the same trials we did along the way. 

            We are to treat younger men as our brothers and women as our sisters; family.  Family holds each other accountable and are able to say the hard things that need to be said.  Family takes up for one another and are there in the time of need.  As a Jesus follower we are never alone as the Spirit is with us always.  We are also never alone because we are members of a church family that will both celebrate and mourn, both laugh and cry, with us along our journey.  Paul also stresses that as men treat women as their sisters, it will be done in purity.  Anytime there are interactions between men and women, temptations are a part of that.  It is vital that within the church those relationships remain pure as a brother loves his sister and nothing more.  Next Paul begins a lengthy teaching on how the church is to handle widows.

 

1Ti 5:3-16 Honor widows who are really widows.  (4)  But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.  (5)  Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.  (6)  But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.  (7)  And these things command, that they may be blameless.  (8)  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  (9)  Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, (10) well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.  (11)  But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, (12) having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.  (13)  And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.  (14)  Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.  (15)  For some have already turned aside after Satan.  (16)  If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

            In this time frame that Paul writes to Timothy, there was no social security or life insurance so a woman who lost her husband had nothing to fall back on to support herself.  Paul creates three categories of widows for us and how the church is to respond to each.  He is very clear in saying the younger widows, under 60 years old, are to seek to remarry and create their own household and not fall under the church’s responsibility to support them.  He wisely explained that support to that age group could create a temptation of idleness for a younger woman that does not always lead to productive activities.  Paul is also very clear that widows who have family should fall under the responsibility of them to care for her.  A family who denies to care for her, “denies the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  Christian it is our responsibility to care for our family as they grow older.  We are to become the parents of our parents and grandparents taking care of them as they cared for us.  It is not an easy transition, but one that we must embrace with love and patience.  This frees up the resources of the church then to care for widows who are truly alone.  He defines certain criteria as well for a widow to qualify for the church’s care.  She must be a believer and one who has lived out her faith through service to others.  He lists many good works in verse 10; raised children, housed strangers, washed the saints’ feet, helped those in need and diligently sought to do good works.  A woman who has lived her life following Jesus and is all alone falls to the church to take care of.

            In today’s world where there is help available through government programs, we encourage those in need to first seek those funds that are available before coming to the church for aid.  This is a ministry I believe that we need to pursue; someone who knows what is available and is able to guide those in need in the fellowship to find that help.  There are times we help families or individuals on a short time basis, but right now we have no one that we are having to fully support.  If help is needed, please ask because we are here for you just as a family would be.  We are able to help you through a rough time, and then when you get on your feet, you then begin to give and support others who are struggling as you did.  But as Paul clearly spells out here in principle, the church is only to fully support long-term no one other than those who are truly widows.   Paul now touches on how the church is to treat those in leadership.

 

1Ti 5:17-20 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.  (18)  For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT TREADS OUT THE GRAIN," and, "THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES."  (19)  Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.  (20)  Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

            The church leadership is not only to be respected and honored, but also financially taken care of.  It is expected for a church to pay the pastor.  This is where the Lord has truly blessed us as a fellowship.  I want to say that I am telling this to be in full transparency and in no way to brag or place a spotlight on anyone.  Jerry never drew a salary from the church in the time he was working at Lehigh.  When he retired, he began (deservedly so) to draw only a small amount to supplement his income.  I too have been blessed with a full time occupation and do not take any salary for ministering other than the church buying my lunch on the days I speak.  We don’t pay a youth pastor, music minister, or even a treasurer to manage our money.  These things and many other ministries are all covered by volunteers who are giving their time and abilities to the work of the Lord.  There may be a point in the future that where that has to change, but for the last 40 years that is how the Lord has blessed us.  This blessing has allowed our fellowship to be very financially sound over the years with the only true overhead we have is our building (which we paid of two years ago) and maintenance costs.  We have used that surplus to help those in need not only in our fellowship, but also in our community.  We support many ministries in our community with a monthly gift that are doing the Lord’s work well.  We have never had to plead or beg for offerings, but use only what the Lord provides us.  We have never fallen short even without passing the offering plate.  God meets our needs and much more.  Paul ends this chapter with a challenge for the church to do things without ever showing partiality.

 

1Ti 5:21-25 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.  (22)  Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.  (23)  No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.  (24)  Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.  (25)  Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

            We all stand before Jesus on equal terms of being “sinners saved by grace.”  No one stands higher than another and we treat everyone equal regardless of any criteria.  The church is called to love others unconditionally and create within these walls an atmosphere that points everyone to “the Christ, the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world.” When someone enters these doors they are to feel loved, safe and respected, not judged.  I feel we do that very well!

            Paul also tells us to “not lay hands on anyone hastily,” which means don’t elevate a young believer into a positon of authority to quickly.  We require new family members to worship with us at least a year before putting them into such positions.  It is a time of learning, growing and proving for them without the pressure to jump right in and lead a ministry.  Verse 24-25 remind us to remember there are always two sides to a story.  We must be wise enough to discern that sometimes the facts are evident and sometimes hidden from our view.  Trust the Spirit to guide to the truth.

            This chapter is full of some very practical ways for the church to deal internally with itself.  It is our goal to follow this plan as we know it has not failed us yet and will never fail us in the future.  Honor and respect our older generation, take care of those who are truly in need, and show partiality to no one but love everyone.  Look around you this morning and thank God for the wonderful church family you have been blessed to be a part of.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling each one of us individually to follow You.  Thank You for calling each one of us to be part of this church family and help us to be found faithful in all we do.