Tell City Nazarene Church's Biblical Journey
With Pastor Charles Areson
Today's reading is 1 Timothy 3-6
If you look over the scripture we have today you might wonder what this has to do with the Christmas season (this was the time of Year I studied this passage). The truth is that if we live right and treat each other right then we are living the spirit of Christmas.
When we consider the Bible, there is much said about caring for the poor and to help those who are in need. Charles Dickens in his timeless classic The Christmas Carol tied the season of Christ’s birth to the care for those in need. It reminded us that there is a time for celebration and feasting but not at the expense of ignoring the poor or worse exploiting them.
The two extremes in the Christian community are to give everything away to others and to give opportunities to others to improve themselves. One side looks at the wealthy that God blessed and say, “That is the way it should be.” The other looks at Jesus warning about choosing God or money and Jesus words to the rich young ruler “Sell all you have and give to the poor” and proclaim, “This is the way we should live.” Society swings between these two extremes. Political parties thrive on claiming to represent one or the other, as with most people and man Christians want others to live to the standard rather than live the standard out themselves.
So, what is the truth? What does God want? As with many things in life both extremes are wrong. What God wants is a balance of giving without hope of return and of giving opportunities. God is a God of balance.
When we come to chapter 5 of First Timothy Paul gives Timothy a list of practical applications to taking care of issues in the church, specifically when it comes to the spending of church money.
In the early church we see that they took care of those in need, specifically widows in Acts 6:1-7. In that scripture, they deal with an improper dealing which was happening in the church. The surprising thing that happened is when the church dealt with the issue of fairly helping those in need the church grew.
So let's see what this chapter tells us about how to treat others and ourselves.
Verses 1-2
Treat older men as fathers (not as a stupid old man)
This doesn’t mean you can’t correct them but you should do it respectfully. We seem to have lost this.
Younger as brothers
Older women as mothers
Younger women as sisters (with all purity)
This is not a command to not look for a women to marry how could you if you thought of them as sisters, but to treat them as such until the relationship changes.
Verses 3-16 Recognized widows-
What to consider before helping them (continually serve as their source of income).
1No other help available (family should do the work first)
2 Faithful in church
3 Old enough not to have other opportunities (the idea was not to give anyone capable the opportunity to have idol time which could lead to temptation. Idol hands…)
4 A person of character
Interesting side note in verse 16 we see that Paul specifically talks to women about widows in their family. From reading historical information and personal experiences, women sometimes have trouble with other women in their family. Paul is saying don’t dump them on the church if you can help them.
Verses 17-20
Elders-Pastors in the church
Support them financial, don’t be quick to believe accusation made (they will be, one accusation doesn’t make proof). Correct publicly.
Verse 21 Don’t show favoritism or partiality.
Verse 22 Don’t promote quickly, don’t participate in sins of others this would be directly or indirectly, stay pure (Greek word here indicates not mixed with guilt or anything condemnable.).
Verse 23 right after telling Timothy to stay pure he says it was okay to use wine as a medicine there are some commentators who believe this meant to mix the wine with the water which would serve to purify it.
Verse 24 Everything is going to be found out- bad and good. This carries the idea that God we can trust God’s judgment in ever area even in those areas we feel are forgotten.
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