This week's Bible study will be 1st Timothy chapter 6

Setting the Record Straight About Wealth and Money

[1^st Timothy chapter 6]

Last week when we finished chapter five of 1^st Timothy, we read the apostle Paul warning Timothy about entanglement in the sins of others. Some sins, Paul wrote, go ahead of those who are sinning, which is the true origin of a bad reputation. Other sins, Paul wrote, follow after those who are sinning, and so those who are on the receiving end of those type of sins don't find out until it's too late. So, the really sneaky sinners – who do so deliberately and repeatedly – are (sometimes) clever enough to conceal the true purpose of their activities. The ones whose sins go before them, who have the worst reputations, aren't as innovative or imaginative, but they are so ruthless about achieving their objectives in life that they often don't care who knows what they are up to or not. So Timothy, who was likely in his twenties at the time the apostle Paul was writing this, was being warned about shady characters who ingratiate themselves within churches for their personal gain. Bearing that in mind, in this sixth and final chapter of 1^st Timothy, Paul moves on from direct threats within the Body of Christ to the root cause of the above mentioned sins – greed.

“All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them. If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree with the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to Godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about the words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and have pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1st Timothy chapter six, verses 1-10, NIV)

As to verse one where slavery is mentioned, some would dismiss this as something from a bygone era when slavery was an institution and a way of life. In actuality, this first verse of chapter six is very applicable today in an era of falling wages, long-term unemployment (particularly for the older and most experienced workers), human trafficking, and the epidemic of homelessness. To put this into perspective, the Federal Reserve was established a century ago in 1913. Using that as a benchmark for the buying power of the dollar and figuring economic inflation into the equation, one dollar in 1913 is worth four cents today. (By the way, that works out to an inflation rate over the last 100 years of just over 2,000%! So, if you hear anyone in or out of church that says hyper-inflation is coming because it's mentioned in Biblical prophecy, I've got some news for those people. Hyper-inflation is already here, it started 100 years ago, and it was done in a really sneaky way. Wake up, people! The economic futures of your grand-children have already been stolen from them!!) At any rate, this ties in with modern slavery around the world. Individual take-home pay no longer covers even the most basic essentials for modern living. If your income is less than your monthly expenses, you're a slave, like it or not. I would rather be vilified for telling the truth than be popular for telling a lie, but that's just the way it is. But due respect is still due to your employer despite all this. You don't have to like them, but that does not excuse us from being the best employee we can possibly be. Remember that God is watching us. The best revenge in such circumstances is to save up enough money to start your own business.

“Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers ... These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.” If your boss or supervisor is a born-again believer like yourself, we are to be good workers here on earth while maintaining our Spiritual equality, since all are equal in the sight of God. Lead by example to your co-workers, and if you have children then that goes double. Do it all for the glory of the Lord as a Spiritual act of praise to Almighty God, and He will reward you. Trust me on this point because I'm speaking from experience. “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree with the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to Godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about the words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men … who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” Sounds familiar, doesn't it? If anyone teaches subject matter in or out of church that contradicts the Word of God, they are guilty of propagating false doctrines and bogus “religion”. Today in the US alone there are well over 400 different Protestant denominations alone, and all are teaching just as many different versions of Christianity. All of these various divisions within the greater Church even preach against one another, and some even condemn each other. They are forgetting that judgment and condemnation (or not) is God's job and not ours. Instead, we are to love our enemies because Jesus said that this is mandatory, not optional. “If you love me”, Jesus said, “keep my commandments”.

There are those “who think that godliness is a means to financial gain”, and these people are seriously in error, to put it mildly. This looks and reads like the modern-day purveyors of the so-called “prosperity gospel”. If you want to get anything from God, they tell us, you must first give, and money is the primary thing they seek to obtain. The truth of the matter is that God doesn't need our money. Granted, the church needs some positive cash flow to remain solvent. The rent or mortgage on the building must be paid, ditto for the light bill, plus the pastor's needs and those of his/her family, and let's not forget about community outreach while we're at it. But giving to the church for the sole express purpose of getting something back in return, such as a new car and a bigger house that probably wasn't really needed in the first place, is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ as well as the writings of the apostle Paul. In point of fact, quite the reverse is true. When we give, we do so out of an intense desire to help support the church of our choice. Nothing is expected in return since our contributions are done not out of a sense of duty, but out of love for God, as it is written, “God loves a cheerful giver”. Those who think that financial success and the Gospel of Christ go hand-in-hand are way off the mark. They have been completely deceived. Break the chains of the prosperity gospel and set yourselves free! Remember what Jesus said: “You cannot worship both God and money”.

“But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap ...”. There you go, everyone, the proof is in the Spiritual pudding. As you can see, Paul – like Christ before him – was what we would call a minimalist in the early 21^st century. They, like myself, scoff at those who think that material wealth somehow makes one a better person. In fact, quite the reverse is true as you can see. I try to practice this very thing myself. I'm retired and on a fixed income. I don't derive a salary from this website, or from whatever blog you may be reading at the moment. It's not that I don't need one, but it's nice that once in a while somebody comes along and makes a donation or purchases a book or a t-shirt. Still, the fact that I'm not very prosperous usually doesn't bother me much. I no longer own a car and I have never owned property. I use Atlanta's public transit system to get around. I sneer at million-dollar houses and cars with six-figure price tags. And I, as an unpaid but nevertheless well-rewarded ambassador for Jesus Christ, have also in recent years become a minimalist who has no use for the phony trappings of material wealth. I have sufficient food and clothing, a nice new apartment, but few material possessions. I quit the rat race of capitalism for the simple life, and I'm glad I did. Try it for yourself and you'll see what I mean. Hint: the simple life lowers your blood pressure.

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and have pierced themselves with many griefs.” This is likely the most misquoted verse in the entire Bible. “Money is the root of all evil”, as the old saying goes. But the apostle Paul wrote that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”. Although I seriously doubt that God wants us all to be rich, I'm absolutely sure that he does want us to be comfortable and contented. The pursuit of wealth, or materialism, is a trap laid by Satan for all who are convinced that material pursuits are good, maybe even beneficial. But that is true only to a certain extent. For example, I'm a retired IT professional. I owned my own computer store and repair shop all through the 1990's, and I know what it means to have a six-figure income, and what it takes to be able to make payroll, pay the rent and utilities, have enough cash flow built into each sale to replace what I sold and still turn a profit. I've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt! But my customers were driving me crazy, and competent help back then was very hard to find. My ownership of this business for over 8 years, especially towards the end, was more a curse than a blessing. I seriously doubt whether I will ever own a retail store-front operation like the one I had, and I am not sad about it in the slightest way. I left all that stress behind while I moved on. Those individuals reading this whose lives are dominated by stress would be wise to find a way to do the same. Having said all that, let's move on and finish up 1^st Timothy.

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness and faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.” (1^st Timothy chapter six, verses 11-21, NIV)

The first thing that I notice as I type this Spiritual message is Paul calling Timothy a “man of God”. To have the apostle Paul call anybody – not just Timothy – a man of God would be the ultimate compliment for any Christian. I would surely receive such acclimation from Paul in total humility and thankfulness just as I would if I were told this by Billy Graham or someone else of equal stature. And what does it take to be a Godly person? Paul defined it for us all when he wrote, “... pursue righteousness, godliness and faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”... We are charged with the task of being a God-loving people who are righteous, faithful, loving and gentle, but with the greatest of endurance. “Fight the good fight of the faith”. We are commissioned to be peaceful and gentle, to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ, but we are also continuing to work on fighting evil, opposing inequality, standing up against social and economic injustice, and being a proponent of world peace.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God … In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” Here we see Paul reminding Timothy one last time about the futility of the pursuit of materialism. Wealth is so uncertain – just ask anybody who lost money in the stock market, and there's a lot more of them than Wall Street would care to admit. Instead of laying up riches on earth, store up Spiritual wealth in heaven which lasts for eternity – unlike your bank account, which will evaporate when the US dollar gets devalued, which is a certainty by the year 2020 at the latest, and maybe even sooner than that. “ Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge...”. I'm quite sure that Paul was referring to the advancement of science, which in those days proclaimed that the sun revolved around the earth, and that there were only seven planets. This was during a time when over 90% of the population was illiterate. Although science has made several quantum leaps since then, mankind is struggling to catch up. But, that's another topic for some other time. Until then, take good care, and let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

This week's Bible study will be the rest of 1st Timothy chapter 5

Advice From the Apostle Paul to Church Elders

and Those Who Aspire To Be

[1^st Timothy chapter 5, verses 15-25]

Today we will be finishing up the fifth chapter of First Timothy from verses fifteen to twenty-five. As we begin today we find the apostle Paul finishing his thoughts about widows and how they should be living. Evidently there were at least a few widows who were living it up, and others within the various churches were complaining about it. Apparently word of this had reached Paul, compelling him to intervene. As we begin at verse 16, Paul weighs in on how the more prosperous women should be more willing to assist the most needy and elderly ones.

“If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help the widows who are really in need. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain', and 'The worker deserves his wages'. Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning.” (1^st Timothy chapter 5, verses 16-20, NIV)

“If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help the widows who are really in need.” Here we can see in stark detail the difference between what life was like in Paul's time compared to what it is today. Back then, the care of the sick and the elderly was viewed as being one of the primary functions of the church community. This tradition remained much the same way up until around the 1930's during the Great Depression era. The enactment of the Social Security Act of 1935 was the beginning of the end of this tradition, as government took on – I would call it usurped – the care of the sick and the elderly. To exacerbate the situation, some of the churches (never mind which ones, that's not important) became slack in their duties to tend to the needs of the poor, having been given the mistaken impression by the government of that era that, “Your good old Uncle Sam has everything under control”. As anyone who has ever dealt with the majority of the US federal government knows, nothing could be further from the truth. At any rate, the greater Church recognized and began to correct this error when President Kennedy launched his “war on poverty” campaign back in the early 1960's, with the established churches both great and small being inspired by his example. This war on poverty that John F. Kennedy started still resounds today, and I am honored and feel privileged to be a part of it.

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” Notice that it says those who direct the church's affairs well are most commendable, not just 'those who direct the church'. I see too many pastors today who have turned their churches into profitable enterprises by buying airtime on Christian TV stations for the sole express purpose of soliciting donations. These people are in the ministry for all the wrong reasons, and I prophesy that God will deal with each of them most severely according to what he or she has done. “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning.” How would you like to be involved in a church like that? Getting caught up in a shady business deal, or cheating on one's spouse, or getting caught up in a law enforcement sting operation would, in that eventuality, get any of us vilified right in front of the entire congregation, much to the complete shame and embarrassment of those who would be accused. Now there's something that would instantly cause the genuine fear of God to be firmly planted in the hearts of men and women all over this planet! Bearing that in mind, let's move on now and finish today's study.

“I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and do nothing out of favoritism. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” (1^st Timothy chapter 4, verses 21-24, NIV)

“I charge you ... to keep these instructions without partiality, and do nothing out of favoritism.” These are timeless instructions, no question about it. Plus, impartiality applies equally to churches as well as businesses. Would any of us run a business favoring one or more employees over the others, or pastor a church showing favoritism to certain members of the congregation while excluding others? Of course not! Yet sadly there are a few – and thank God it's not a majority – who are doing this very thing both in the workplace and at houses of worship. I can practically hear God telling me right now that those who do not confess their sins and repent of them will be dealt with most severely on the Day of Judgment. “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” Paul was referring to the laying on of hands during prayer for any individual who was sick and asking for healing. Not sharing in the sins of others and keeping ourselves pure are self-explanatory. They should be put into practice from the time we get up until the time we go to sleep at night.

“Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” This is a Scripture, or one of them, that I quote whenever I find myself talking to any Christian who thinks that abstinence from alcoholic beverages is a way into heaven. That is actually only true up to a point. If anyone feels any conviction about their drinking, they should stop. By the same token, if there is one who struggles with addiction, there is certainly no shame in asking for help. This would be an instance where I think the “laying on of hands” would be very appropriate. Just remember that Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine, and it is documented that there were at least two glasses of wine consumed at the Last Supper. Those two facts alone shoot down the argument that one must be a teetotaler in order to be born again. As we have just read, even the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to drink a little wine for medicinal purposes.

“The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” The sins of some go before them because of bad reputations. But the sins of the sneaky and the trickster, no matter how cunning they may be, will sneak back up on them in the end. I think it's safe to say that none of us wants to be the unlucky recipient of either of those two fates. Instead, follow Paul's advice. If you want to be a person who has no need to prove themselves to others, then spend as much time as you can involved in contributing to the betterment of others. It doesn't matter what you do or how you go about it, just do what works best for you and for your clients or church members. People who spend their days making positive contributions in the service of others build good reputations that last a lifetime. Even those deeds which aren't very obvious, even if they are deliberately hidden, will still emerge sooner or later, and always at just the right moment. Jesus said it best: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. God isn't nearly as interested in how much you donate to the church each month as he is in how you treat those around you, or how well you treat people you don't know, especially when no one else is looking. Let's focus on that until next time. Let's love our neighbors as ourselves just as Jesus taught us. Since the world is an infinitely smaller place than it was during the time of Christ, that means our love must by default extend outward globally from each of us. Let's continue to practice that until next time, when we'll be finishing up First Timothy. Shalom!

BIble study this week will be the first half of 1st Timothy chapter five

Giving Proper Respect To Women and the Elderly

[1^st Timothy chapter 5, verses 1-15]

Last week when we finished chapter 4, we read the apostle Paul's warning to Timothy about false prophets, phony healers and deceitful teachers. Do not hesitate, Paul wrote, to put these individuals out of the church, and to warn everyone he knew about them as well. Having instructed Timothy about how to treat those who preach a gospel other than that of Christ, as we begin chapter 5 we find him shifting his emphasis to internal matters within the church. This, Paul wrote, is how we should treat each other.

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions too, so that no one may be open to blame. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than the unbeliever.” (1^st Timothy chapter 5, verses 1-8, NIV)

Here is practical, everyday advice from the apostle Paul on how to treat others. Remember what Jesus taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. These are very good examples of how to do so. There is also considerable advice and admonition about widows. Remember that this was written at a time when the average life expectancy was about 40-50 years of age, and sometimes much younger. So, there were more than enough widows to go around as it was. Paul is very clear about the dignity and respect that should be given liberally to widows, especially those with children. But Paul is equally adamant that any widow's children who are old enough to work should support their mothers in their time of need. He finishes the thought by stating unequivocally that any professing Christian who does not care for his widowed mother or sister is a phony and self-deceived Christian. How can we profess our love for God and our faith in the salvation of Christ while simultaneously turning away immediate family members who need help most urgently? To say the least, I would call that a glaring contradiction, and it's just as applicable today as it was 2,000 years ago. Now let's hold that thought as we continue at verse 9.

“No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over 60, and has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity to slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” (1^st Timothy 5, verses 9-15, NIV)

This was written during a time period when women going off to work each morning was nearly unheard of. Those who are widowed – and there were a lot of those by today's standards just because life back then was really, brutally difficult – lost their sole source of financial support. The best way to get that source of income reestablished was to go out and find someone else to marry. Apparently people married for practical as well as emotional reasons, a practice that continues to this day in many countries around the world, including the US. We already know from our previous studies on Paul's letters that he thought women should be subservient to men, and he once even wrote that women were to be “silent” in the church. Times sure have changed since then, and for the better, I think. Equality, as I posted on this website awhile back, is Scriptural (2 Cor. Chapter 8, verses 13-15; Acts chapter 4, verses 32-36). Although the apostle Paul was certainly entitled to his opinion, I have always treated men and women as equals and I always will.

Paul also wrote about “helping those in trouble and devoting (ourselves) to all kinds of good deeds.” Let's ask ourselves this very question – when was the last time I helped someone in trouble? Did you ever pull over to the side of the road to help a stranded motorist? When have any of us stopped to help a handicapped or disabled person cross the street at a busy intersection? Just think of the most dangerous intersection you know of in your hometown, and then imagine your elderly mother or grandmother trying to cross that street at rush hour. Here in Atlanta where I live, I would either drive her to wherever she needed to go myself, or I would hire a cab for her. I'm sure you would do the same, even if you're not on the best of terms with them. I think elderly people have earned that privilege out of respect for their advancing years. “As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves...”. To a skeptic, this could very well read as if Paul were saying, 'If you're a widow and under sixty, go and get another husband because you will get only limited assistance from us'. By today's standards that would seem very chauvinistic to many, or even sexist. But please remember that there was no such thing as political correctness in Paul's day. Also, let's give the apostle Paul a little slack when it came to his attitude toward women, because he was a product of his own environment. I do not believe as Paul did about women, and I stand up and applaud those ladies who find themselves widowed or divorced and who decide to shake off their misfortune and go it alone in spite of the setback they have endured. 

 

“So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity to slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” I think it's sad that these were the only options available to “younger widows”, and that Paul made the age limit sixty at a time when the average life expectancy including men was two thirds that much. Had I lived back then, I think I would have taken a more liberal or progressive approach to addressing this issue within the early Church. Apparently women going to work or starting businesses was offensive to the apostle Paul. In that respect, I continue to hope that we live in a kinder and far more tolerant society today than was the case during Paul's lifetime, and I am doing everything I can to bring it to fruition. And next week we will finish up 1^st Timothy chapter five. Shalom!

This week's Bible study will be 1st Timothy chapter 4

Warnings About Organized Religion

[1^st Timothy chapter 4]

Last week as we closed out 1^st Timothy chapter 3, we found the apostle Paul giving Timothy, his former understudy and pastor-in-waiting, additional pointers about church administration as well as the fine points of choosing those who were to be serving under him. The qualifications for such men (since women were not allowed to serve until the 20^th century charismatic movement came along, but that's another topic) are spelled out in unmistakable clarity. But there is also an prophetic warning about the End Times that we are living in today, and it reads as if the apostle Paul was prophesying about the future church that he could only see from a distance. So let's begin our study starting at verse 1.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the teachings of the truth and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be Godly. For physical training is of some value, but Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy chapter 4, verses 1-8, NIV)

Paul pulls no punches from the very start, and he was speaking in the Spirit when he wrote, “… in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”. What was Paul writing about here? For the answer to that we only need to look 2 sentences down, where Paul wrote, “They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving ...”. Let me be clear that Paul wasn't writing about any particular religious denomination or teaching or faith. Paul was writing about the newly planted seeds he saw all around him that would later become organized religion as we know it today. For example, Jews, Muslims and at least a few Christians don't eat pork. I will decline to comment on that one way or the other, but the Catholic church says their faithful must abstain from meat on Friday, and on and on it goes. In modern times we have, as another good example of what Paul wrote about, the “prosperity gospel”, which I have written about at length in the past. For my newer readers (and thank you so much for taking time out to read this, by the way), the “prosperity gospel” basically says, “If you want anything from God, you must plant a seed because believers reap only what they sow. So if you're finances are in a bad way, send me/us a love offering of 'x' amount of money and God will bless you for it in such-and-such a way”. What this “teaching” actually amounts to is a perversion of the true Gospel. Certain elements are correct and quite Scriptural, such as the part where 'we reap what we sow'. Jesus did say that (in all 4 Gospels to the best of my recollection), but it was in a completely different context. In this instance, Jesus wasn't talking about money, he was talking about our deeds and how we treat other people. Therefore, this amounts to a twisting or warping of the true gospel of Christ, which is the cleansing from all sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. This false gospel won't cleanse anyone, it will only make them worse, because Jesus said, “You cannot worship both God and money” (Matt. Chapter 6, verse 24 NIV).

“If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus...”. Paul was writing these things at a time when the illiteracy rate was well over 90%, so the only way to teach about the Way – as Christianity was called back then – was verbatim from memory. Paul is telling Timothy to keep up the good work, and to never slack off the pace of his work in the Lord knowing, as we know today, that by doing so he was building up an eternal reward for himself in heaven. “ ...Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” This is confirmation of what I just wrote above, and on further thought that works both ways. Cling to Christ, the only hope of those who believe! As these Last Days unfold before us, the world around us is perishing before our very eyes. We are entering into the tumultuous “end times” that have been prophesied about for at least the last 3,000 years, and possibly as much as 4,000. After pausing to consider that pertinent fact, let's now finish our today's study beginning at verse 9.

“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4, verses 9-16, NIV)

“...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” Christians are people who have no confidence in the world that surrounds them. There are those who put their hopes in stocks, bonds, money markets, futures and other investments, others who put their hopes in their careers (I freely confess that I was once one of these individuals), or in their houses and estates, and still others in just plain useless junk made somewhere in China. First of all, for all those people who go to the mall and pay retail prices for everything from shampoo to a winter coat – you are spending way too much money! Get a grip already! Reject the empty pursuit of wealth and possessions and embrace Christ instead! Our only real hope is in the living God, whose only Son was crucified, died and was raised from the dead on the morning of the third day. Jesus is our only hope and our only salvation. Besides Him there is no other – period. 

 

“...set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Here, in just one chunk of a sentence, Paul spells out with crystal clarity how Christians should carry themselves and conduct themselves in an exemplary way. We are supposed to be setting a standard by the way we talk, how we live, by our unconditional love of others, and by our uncompromising purity – in this context meaning that we have pure motives – and the strength of our faith. “Do not neglect your gift...”: Evidently Timothy's gifts were preaching and teaching. But what is your gift? What talent, ability or specialty do you have that you can contribute to your church or community? For me, it's writing and music in no particular order. For others, their gifts are what Paul called “helps” in his Corinthian letters, meaning people who do pretty much whatever needs to be done, such as cleaning, or baby sitting. For others there is the gift of administration, or still others being a singer or other musician. The most important gift we have besides the salvation of Christ is prayer – that's one thing everyone can do. Whatever gift you have, give freely to God through the Prince of Peace just as God has freely pardoned all our sins through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” When in the Lord's service or not, guard your heart with your life, and your life with your “shield of faith” that we studied back in Ephesians chapter 6. Those of us who teach and evangelize Christ are charged with the duty to watch what we teach and how we teach it closely and at all times, because we are being watched more closely by God. But if we persevere, as Paul wrote, we will save not only ourselves, but more importantly those who we are teaching and evangelizing. Pastors are charged with the duty to save their entire congregations, and evangelists their viewing audiences, by watching closely to make sure the real and true Gospel is being made to known to all who can see and hear. Rest assured that this is something that I take very seriously as I write and blog each week, so as for me let it always be. Next week we will finish up with chapter four. Until then, be blessed in Jesus' mighty name.

This week's Bible study will be 1st Timothy chapter 3

Some Advice For Today's Church Leaders From the Apostle Paul

[1^st Timothy chapter 3]

Today we will continue our ongoing study of the apostle Paul's writings, taking up where we left off last week at the end of chapter two. In this letter to Timothy, Paul cautions him about certain individuals who crave to be in charge of a church, especially when it is for the wrong reasons. Notice Paul's terminology as he applies it to the church because it is different than today for the most part. So, let's explore the details of this chapter beginning at verse one.

“Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.” (1^st Timothy chapter 3, verses 1-7, NIV)

Notice Paul's terminology right here in the first verse. He calls the senior church leader an overseer. Not a bishop, an archbishop, or a pope (my apologies to all my Catholic brothers and sisters, but that's what the Bible says, I mean no disrespect). These are man's terminologies, and they should be viewed with skepticism. They weren't commonly used until at least 300 years after the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ. The head of a church, what we have become accustomed to calling pastor, reverend, or bishop, should have the title of overseer. And yet it is very seldom that we see or hear the senior leader of a church addressed as such. This goes to show you just how far off base the modern church has become – regardless of denomination – since that time. “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach...”. Paul makes it abundantly clear that anyone who desires to be the head of a church had better not have any skeletons in their closets. But he goes much further than that. Divorced men and women, greedy people, heavy drinkers and others who “party hardy” have no business in the pulpit. Neither do people with overactive libidos, or who have a bad temper or a mean disposition, or who are recent converts. On this last point, this could include anyone who has been a Christian for, say, less than 5-10 years. 

 

An overseer must have a good reputation outside the church as well as within. Nobody wants to have a crook or a swindler as the head of any church. Contrast that to some churches today, who spend all their money buying TV airtime so they can beg or grovel for even more. I know of two Christian TV networks, whom I will decline to name, that have millions of dollars in the bank drawing interest. The interest alone on these deposited millions would generate sufficient income to keep most any church solvent. Yet they always beg for more. I know of two pastors right here in Atlanta where I live that do this very thing. One of them drives a Rolls Royce, the other drives a Bentley convertible (as before, I will decline to name them). The question in my mind is, what are these two “ministers” doing driving around in cars with six-figure price tags? That money should be given to the poor and needy, as well as to help fund outreach programs at the local, state, national and global level. The price of a Rolls Royce would be sufficient to build at least three houses for Habitat for Humanity. That's three more homeless families that could be taken off the streets. Those who squander their church's money on highly expensive cars, enormous homes, expensive clothes, boats and even airplanes (I'm not kidding, there are TV evangelists who have their own planes!) will be held accountable by God at the final judgment. Having said enough about that – at least for now – let's continue starting at verse eight.

“Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who serve well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” (1^st Timothy chapter 3, verses 8-16, NIV)

Deacons, for those readers who don't go to church much, are basically assistant overseers. They answer to the overseer and the church as a whole, and they are held accountable to one another. They must be respectable, having a good reputation both within and out of the church, and it is imperative that they take their limited authority very seriously. They can't be shady salesmen or unscrupulous businessmen or women, and their reverence towards God, combined with their faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ, must be at the forefront of their lives. “They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.” This point is simply non-negotiable to any serious Christian. Church leaders can't be compromising with God, they can't lead Jekyll and Hyde double lives, and they and their wives must remain faithful to one another to set a good example for the rest of the church to follow. “They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.” This brings to mind a couple of experiences from my own past. I first became saved by Christ and committed the rest of my life to Him back in 1992. Since then I have served as a musician in five different churches, but I never started off that way in any of them. I sat quietly and fed on the Word during my initial time with these churches. I quietly let them know that I was a keyboard player and that I was available if needed. Then, provided that the Lord led and encouraged me to do so, I continued to attend weekly while beginning the process of learning their music. On average, it took me as much as four to six months just to get myself to a point where I had learned their songs enough to be able to play them (I can read music, but I mostly play by ear). During this trial process I learned as much as I could about that particular church while giving them an equal chance to get to know me as well. This is how I allow myself to be tested by them and approved by God in that congregation. Deacons and overseers are similar in this regard, except that the process for them would be more rigorous than a musician. This is just one example of what it means “to be tested”.

“A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who serve well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” Based on Paul's writing, a divorced person can't be the head of any church. There's no telling how many people are breaking this law of God even as I write this. I can only tell you that the pastor at my church has been married to the same lady for 31 years. Besides my blogging, book writing and my website, if I didn't have those I would still settle for being just a musician, having all of my former sins from before I gave my life and my heart to the Lord washed away by the blood of Jesus. That is good enough for me, and I am contented with that. But I serve to the very best of my ability in order to receive “excellent standing” and “great assurance” in Christ, not just to make a good impression with other people. I encourage you all to find a way to do the same. It doesn't matter what you do or how you do it, just get it done with the knowledge that your service gives you the greatest assurance in Christ.

“...you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” The church, regardless of denomination, is God's household. Are we loud and boisterous during church (babies excluded)? Of course not, no one would do that. But order should be maintained, not because of man-made traditions but because God is present, or at least I would certainly hope so. The same goes for our everyday living. Let me ask this question, for example. When you are driving in your vehicle, do you drive it as if Jesus was sitting in the passenger seat? Because, you know, he really is whether one believes it or not. Think about that the next time you're stuck in traffic, or if somebody cuts you off or pulls out in front of you. That's the proper perspective on this entire issue, and on this particular chapter of 1^st Timothy as well. Jesus is both physical body and Spirit, and he “was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” He will be returning soon to take home his Bride, which is the church. His bride must be spotless and without wrinkle or blemish, as the Bible says in the book of Revelation. Since the time of His return is very nearly upon us, let's take today's lesson to heart. While you're at it, start warning people that His return is nearly upon us. Therefore, this is how we should be living. We're just about out of time.