Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from 1 Tim 5.1 and following. Indeed, in relations with other Christians, it is the family ties that must serve as a model for us: “like a father… like brothers… mothers… of the sisters”. Let us never lose sight of the fact that we are one and the same family, the family of God. Everyone is invited to show their piety, but first of all towards their own home. The Pharisees preached the opposite. While displaying devotion, they nullified God’s commandment by diverting children from their most legitimate duties to their parents (Mark 7:9-13). A single verse summarizes a whole life of service to the Lord. May every Christian desire nothing else. Also, the 14 verses (3 to 16) devoted to widows remind us that God watches over them in a very special way (Ps 68:5-7). Luke’s Gospel mentions four: Anne the Prophetess, who prayed night and day (Lk 2:36-38); the widow of Nain to whom Jesus returned his son (Luke 7:11-17); the one who demanded justice in the parable of the iniquitous judge (Lk 18:1-8); and finally the poor widow who before the eyes of the Lord – and for His joy – gave to the treasure of the Temple all that she had to live (Luke 21:1-4). Complete faith in Him is what pleases God above all else (Heb 11:5-7).
Paul continues to explain to Timothy “how to conduct oneself in the house of God” (1 Tim 3:14-16). A crucial question, in which they are interested: God Himself – this is His home , – Christ Jesus, finally the chosen angels, called to consider the wisdom of God in the assembly (Eph 3:8-13)! But this “so diverse” wisdom must also appear in the various details of the life of the assembly: duties of the flock towards its elders, behavior of the servant of God to settle difficult cases, instructions given to servants… How many disorders are introduced as soon as one is no longer subject to the sound words, which are those not of Paul or Timothy, but of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess 4:1-8). Piety accompanied by contentment is in itself a gain, a great gain within the reach of all (see ch. 4 v. 8 1Tim 4:6-8). Our civilization is based on the creation and satisfaction of ever new needs. Nevertheless, man’s greedy heart remains insatiable (Ps 49:17-21). Let us thank the Lord for ensuring that we are needed. We will always be satisfied with what He gives us, if He Himself, the Giver (who is the great Object of piety) fully satisfies our hearts.
Thus, the apostle now returns to the elders in his instructions to Timothy. It is the honour to be given to them, regardless of the form it should take, whether it is respect or material assistance or care of some kind. The manner in which elders discharge their office, by “presiding duly”, is mentioned here. The manner in which the elders carried out their duties as overseers was to be recognized as worthy of a “double honour”. This is by no means a double salary, because there is no more mention of salaries for expenses than for donations. Here the double honor is bestowed upon the elders when they perform two tasks at the same time: supervision, and service to the Word and doctrine, a dual function that was not the work of all the elders, although all must have been able to teach and refute the contradictory (Titus 1:9.
Timothy had to be on his guard about charges against an elder. A prominent charge easily leads to jealousy, therefore to bad words and slander. One must be protected against all this and follow the instructions of the Word: “Through the mouths of two or three witnesses, every matter shall be established” (Deut. 19:15; Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1). But on the other hand, each one being fallible, there should be no bias in favor of those who were in sight or dignity. This was how Paul had behaved toward Peter, who calls himself “elder” (1 Peter 5:1). He had taken it back in front of all (Gal. 2:14; 1 Tim. 5:20).
The case of an elder who sinned was doubly serious, for he could, by his influence and authority, lead others down the same path. Once Barnabas had been dragged in this way into concealment. Therefore, since conviction was public, other elders should not be tempted to imitate the sin of the former. Paul urged Timothy to keep these things in the most solemn way, for the house was that of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, head over his house, and it was offered as an example to the “chosen angels” who could thus see Christ in the assembly of saints. What a practical exhortation and how important for one who is called to service in the house of God!
Timothy is now urged not to lay hands on anyone in a hurry. The laying on of hands, when it did not come from the apostle himself who had the capacity to do so, conferred neither a gift of grace nor the gift of the Holy Ghost (2 Tim. 1:6; Acts 8:17). The laying on of hands of the elders expressed blessing, punishment, and public identification with what was bestowed upon Timothy by the apostle. By laying hands on the elders about any mission or service, Timothy declared his solidarity with them, identified with their service or mission, and put his sanction on their office, call, or work. If they sinned, he would thus expose himself to participating in the sins they would have committed in the exercise of their functions.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
A large family:
- Courtesy
Acts 27:3 The next day we approached Sidon; and Julius, who treated Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends and receive their care. Acts 28:7 There were, in the vicinity, lands belonging to the main character of the island, named Publius, who received us and lodged us for three days in the most friendly way. Col 4:6 May your word always be accompanied by grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to respond to each one. 1 Pet 3:8 Finally, be all animated by the same thoughts and feelings, full of brotherly love, compassion, humility.
- Social duties, looking at all men as brothers
-a common father Pr 22:2 The rich and the poor meet; It was Jehovah who made them both. Ml 2:10 Don’t we all have one father? Isn’t it one God who created us? Why, then, are we unfaithful to each other, desecrating the covenant of our fathers?
-A spiritual kinship Mk 3:34 Then, casting glances at those who were sitting all around him: Behold, he said, my mother and my brothers.
-A relationship of blood Acts 17:26 He made all men, coming out of one blood, dwell on the whole face of the earth, having determined the duration of time and the limits of their abode;
Prevents harsh judgments Rom 14:13 So let us no longer judge each other; but rather think of doing nothing for your brother that is a stumbling block or an opportunity for fall.
-Requires self-denial 1 Cor 8:13 Therefore, if a food scandalizes my brother, I will never eat meat, so as not to scandalize my brother.
- Seductions that lead to giving in to temptation
-The seduction of the forbidden fruit Gen 3:6 The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to sight, and that it was precious for opening the mind; she took from its fruit, and ate it; she also gave it to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
-The seduction of the fertile plain Gn 13:10-13 Lot looked up, and saw the whole plain of the Jordan, which was completely watered. Before jehovah had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was, as far as Tsoar, like a garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.11 Lot chose for him the whole plain of the Jordan, and he advanced to the east. This is how they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan; and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tents as far as Sodom. 13 The people of Sodom were wicked, and great sinners against Jehovah.
-The seduction of appetite Gen 25:29,30,33 As Jacob was cooking a soup, Esau returned from the fields, burdened with fatigue.30 And Esau said to Jacob: Let me, I beg you, eat this redhead, this redhead, for I am tired. That is why Esau was given the name of Edom. 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me first. He swore it to her, and he sold his birthright to Jacob.
-The seduction of silver and gold Jos 7:21 I saw in the booty a beautiful mantle of Schinear, two hundred sicles of silver, and a gold bar of the weight of fifty sicles; I coveted them, and I took them; they are hidden in the earth in the middle of my tent, and the silver is underneath.
-The seduction of women 1 Kings 11:1,4 King Solomon loved many foreign women, besides Pharaoh’s daughter: Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hethians, 4 At the time of Solomon’s old age, his women bowed his heart to other gods; and his heart was not whole to the Lord, his God, as had been the heart of David, his father.
-The seduction of ambition Mk 10:35-37 The sons of Zebedee, James and John, approached Jesus and said to him: Master, we would like you to do for us what we ask of you. 36 He said to them: What do you want me to do for you? 37 Grant us, they said to him, to sit one to your right and the other to your left, when you will be in your glory.
- Warning against secret sins
Jb 24:16 At night they force the houses, During the day they stand locked up; They don’t know the light. Ps 19:13 Who knows his wanderings? Forgive me those I do not know. Ez 8:12 And he said to me: Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each in his room full of figures? For they say: The Lord does not see us, the Lord has abandoned the land. Eph 5:12 For it is shameful to say what they are doing in secret;
From all of the above, we note that by avoiding the trap set in his footsteps, Timothy kept himself to himself. He was not to give the slightest grip to a reprimand that he would have deserved by his haste, for he would have defiled himself by thus participating in the sin of others. The recommendation to use a little wine seems to be related to the above, in that the participation could come from the excitement of the flesh. Timothy would have thought he should abstain all the more from any exciting drink. The apostle shows his concern for the health of his dear child in the faith, but moreover he knew how easily Timothy’s delicate and perhaps somewhat sickly conscience (2 Tim. 1:6) could be alarmed by the dangers to which his duties exposed him. These small details are very touching and show both the Apostle’s solicitude for his beloved companion and the Lord’s solicitude for his dear disciple by recording it in the Apostle’s inspired writing. Having spoken of the sins of others, the apostle mentions two characteristics of these sins. There are some who “are manifest in advance, and go ahead for the judgment.” We know them, they proclaim in advance the judgment of these men, so that no one can ignore them. Other sins are hidden now, but these men will follow later. They will find them in the open of judgment. It was not only the act of manifest sins that was to put Timothy on guard about the laying on of hands, but also the fact of sins that would not come into memory until later, so that he would not be “covered with shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28). It is therefore for Timothy not to lay hands on a man who sins secretly. The way to recognize this man is good works. They are manifest in advance and those that are not now will necessarily be manifested later. Hence the need not to use any haste in the punishment to be given to a worker of the Lord. Our prayers accompany you all in your efforts to follow the Word.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterhole to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and for centuries of ages. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow”false doctors and love of wealth.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.