1 Timothy 6:20-21 Freedom in Christ

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. [1 Timothy 6:20-21 NASB]

Much of the content of 1st Timothy has been about how to lead and interact with the church. These closing remarks are directed to Timothy for his own well being. Paul admonishes Timothy to guard that which has been entrusted. 

This encompasses the gospel message, but it's more than that. The gospel is the story of Jesus Christ; how He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the price for our sins, and demonstrated his power as God by rising again on the third day. He ascended to heaven where he is with the Father, and will one day return to reign on earth.

Timothy was entrusted with the principles of godliness; not only to preach and teach them, but to live them out as an example. Godliness is more than the difference between sinning or not sinning. It speaks to the freedom we have in Christ. Jeremiah prophesied;

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” [Jeremiah 31:33-34 NASB]

We are living in the time of this New Covenant. We are not bound by laws written in books or on scrolls. We are not bound by the rituals and traditions of religion. If you are saved, then the Holy Spirit lives within you, and He will teach you right from wrong. He is the Spirit of truth who will guide you into all truth. If you let Him.

God has chosen to work in partnership with you. All of the power of God is at your disposal. But if you crave power, you will never find it. If your deepest desire is to live a godly life free from sin, then He will give you the power to overcome sin. If you choose to indulge the flesh instead of seeking Him, then He will allow sin to run its course in you. You are free to choose if you will live for the flesh (and suffer the consequences of sin) or if you will walk in the Spirit. Paul says;

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, [Romans 8:5-6 NASB]

And;

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [Galatians 5:16 NASB]

Many Christians walk through life forgiven, yet still bound by sin. I have had conversations with Christians who are convinced that ongoing sin is an inevitable part of daily life. Their idea of freedom in Christ is the freedom to be forgiven for the same sin over and over and over.

But I'm telling you that you can be free from that sin - whatever it is. You do not have to go on sinning. There is no greater freedom than being set free from the power of sin.

Here's the tricky part. You can't overcome sin with your own strength. Any effort you make to overcome sin by your will is an act of the flesh, and only serves to strengthen the power of sin in your life.

First you have to really want to overcome sin. Then you have to stop trying to overcome it. Turn your mind entirely to Jesus. When you are surrendered to Jesus, then He will overcome the sin in you. If you continue to walk in the Spirit, then He will keep you free from sin.

Lord, I thank you that You have promised to give us the Spirit of truth, and that He would guide us into all truth. Thank you for Your freedom, and that You have set me free from the power sin. I pray for the grace to always walk in Your Spirit, that I may always be pleasing to You.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Riches

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. [1 Timothy 6:17-19 NASB]

Earlier in this chapter, Paul said;

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. [1 Timothy 6:9-10 NASB]

That is not a mandate that Christians must live in poverty. He acknowledges rich Christians in this passage, but with a warning. Jesus said;

“Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” [Matthew 19:23-24 NASB]

Rich Christians are warned to not be conceited, or proud of their riches. This a very current problem in modern America. I have heard preachers in the pulpit boasting of their investing skills, and bragging that they are a millionaire. I have had conversations with Christians who brag about their big house, and how their next house will be even bigger. The more "spiritually" minded put it in more religious terms, and talk about following the "investment principles of the Bible."

It's as if God didn't provide everything. They did everything by their own wisdom.

I have heard Christians say that they are not worried about the future, because they have money saved, and they can always sell off some properties if push comes to shove.

But we are supposed to place all of our trust in God. You should be able to lose everything that you have, and still be okay, because your trust is in Him.

I have been in that position, where I had nothing except debt. I was getting calls from creditors trying to squeeze a little blood from my turnip. I confess that I became discouraged; not knowing what to do. My wife and I prayed, and we determined that we would trust the Lord. Somehow, He saw us through. We paid our bills; we got out of debt; and although some of our meals were simple, we never went hungry.

Later in life, I became injured and lost my job with its income. By then, we had a mortgage and more bills and debts. I couldn't see how we could get by. But, having seen God's faithfulness in the past, I placed my trust in Him for the present, and once again, God made a way.

I have never been rich. Sometimes I have imagined what it might be like to have whatever I want, but that quickly passes. I know that I am blessed, because I trust in God alone. I don't have riches on earth. All of my riches are stored up for me in heaven.

Having warned about the hazards of wealth, Paul addresses the responsibility inherent in riches. He speaks of giving as a gift of the Spirit;

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality... [Romans 12:6-8 NASB]

God will provide some Christians with wealth. It is not for them to live a life of abandon and luxury, but so that they can give generously to those in need. Use your money to do good works. Remember where you got your money. It wasn't because you are so smart, or because you worked harder than anyone else. It's because the Lord has provided it.

God didn't provide your money because you are more holy or have more faith than anyone else. It was a gift of His grace.

The biggest problem I have with the prosperity preaching is the notion that faith and wealth go hand in hand. That was the teaching of the Pharisees. 

Please understand; the poor person living in poverty has no more or less faith than anyone else. The rich person also has no more or less faith than anyone else. I would contend that the rich person is at greater risk of falling into temptation and walking away from the faith.

Turn your mind towards Jesus and trust in Him. If you are poor, you will see His hand of provision. If you are rich and trust in God instead of your money, then it will be easy to be generous, and to share freely.

God, I thank You that You are my provider. I know that whatever I have has come from You. Please direct me in the best use of my money. I pray that You will open my eyes to see a need, and give me the wisdom and generosity to give to that need.

1 Timothy 6:13-16 The Immortal Jesus Christ

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. [1 Timothy 6:13-16 NASB]

When Paul says, "I charge you in the presence of God...and of Christ Jesus," he is not talking about two different people. He is saying that Jesus is God.

When talking about a family, we may say, "The family has a husband and a father," or "a wife and a mother." When we say "husband and father" we don't normally mean that one person is the husband and another person is the father. We refer to one person who fills the roles of both husband and father.

Of course it is a bit more complex when talking about God. The Father is God. The son is also God. As is the Holy Spirit. We think of the Trinity as three separate individuals in our minds and refer to them as "them", but it is also appropriate to say of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that "He" is God. We have only one God.

Paul has this to say about Jesus, that he gives life to all things. The gospel of John says;

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. [John 1:3-4 NASB]

Jesus testified of Himself to Pontius Pilate that He is the King of heaven. He has promised us that He will return. Regarding this, Peter said;

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”...But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9 NASB]

Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. There have been many who have tried to conquer the world. Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Hitler. But there is only one who is sovereign over the whole earth. When Jesus returns, He will establish his kingdom on earth and rule over the whole world.

He alone possesses immortality. It is true that we have the promise of eternal life. It is true that angels are eternal beings. But no creation has existed eternally before time. No creation has immortality by its own nature. Our Lord chooses to impart immortality to us as a gift, but He alone possesses it in Himself as part of who He is.

When Jesus walked the earth as a man, His disciples saw his face. But they did not see Him is his full glory as God. Remember what He told Moses;

But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” [Exodus 33:20 NASB]

The glorified Jesus Christ, who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one can see and live - this is the God we serve. He is mighty, powerful, and glorious beyond description, and He is love. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. Imagine the depth of love you have for any one person or thing, such as your spouse or child. It doesn't even come close enough to compare to the love that He has for you as an individual. Yes, He loves the world, but more specifically, He loves you.

The only sane response to His love is to love Him back. How do we show our love for Him?  Jesus said;

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. [John 14:15 NASB]

And; 

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. [John 15:12-13 NASB]

Sacrificial love for one another - placing the needs of others before your own - demonstrates your love for Jesus.

Let Jesus be your inspiration. Consider how you may please Him. Consider your reward of one day seeing Him face to face, when you have been glorified, and fully transformed into His image.

Lord Jesus, I give you praise and glory and honor. You alone are worthy of all praise. Thank You that You have revealed Yourself to Your church through the Word and through the Spirit. I look forward to the day when I will see you face to face, and know You as I am known.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 Pursue Righteousness

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. [1 Timothy 6:11-12 NASB]

The man of God will flee from such things as greed, false teaching, and all of the evils that go with them. Instead, we are to pursue the things of the Spirit of God.

There are innumerable books on the subject of how to be a success in the world. Usually, the first principle in these books is "setting goals". It is a simple, yet profound, principle. If you are going to achieve something, you have to know what it is that you want to achieve. A common proverb is, "if you aim for nothing, that's what you will get."

In business, you may set a goal to own your own business, or to increase sales volume by 30%, or to become a CEO.

Some churches are run the same way. I was once involved in a church that hired a business manager to manage the church. As a successful businessman, he had made several companies grow, and so he applied the same principles to running a church. Set a goal for so many new members each quarter. Maximize profit, and minimize expenses. The church fell apart, in part because they had set worldly goals instead of spiritual goals. They placed the welfare of the institutional church over the welfare of the people. Other abuses followed, and sin was allowed dominion in the leadership. Paul said;

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. [1 Timothy 6:3-5 NASB]

We are told to fight the good fight. Paul liked to use sports metaphors. He said;

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. [1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NASB]

In other words, set a goal for your spiritual life, and then live it in such a way as to achieve that goal. And what should be our goal? In today's passage Paul said;

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. [1 Timothy 6:11 NASB]

This is reminiscent of the fruit of the spirit;

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [Galatians 5:22-23 NASB]

Note that it is "fruit of the Spirit", singular; and not "fruits of the Spirit", plural. 

If you feel like you need more joy in you life, don't set a goal to be more joyful. Don't say, "I'm doing well with all the fruits except patience. I need to work on patience." That's not how it works.

If you want to live out the attributes of a godly person, seek God. If you want all of the fruit of the Spirit, seek God. 

These things are not character traits that we need to work on improving, they are signposts indicating our relationship to God through His Spirit. So then, if you are lacking in love, faith, patience, or any other thing, then the solution is to draw closer to God in prayer. Spend intimate time alone with Him. Don't settle for just a quick prayer in the morning, or the passing prayer in your car or at work. Set aside time to get alone with God.

The more time you spend with Him, the more He will transform you into His image, and these attributes you seek will flow freely from your spirit.

Father, I pray that, by Your grace, You will keep me free from greed and wickedness, and lead me in the paths of righteousness.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 Love of Money

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. [1 Timothy 6:6-10 NASB]

The gain of godliness is a heavenly reward, and has nothing to do with money. Godliness must be accompanied by contentment. It is enough that we have food and clothing. Jesus said;

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? [Matthew 6:24-26 NASB]

Desire for money and its trappings leads to a trap. Desire fulfilled doesn't lead to contentment, but leaves you craving more, and leads to more and different desires, even leading to depravity and a loss of faith.

Christians who follow the "prosperity doctrine" define prosperity as financial wealth. They have to either ignore these scriptures, or pervert them to mean something that they don't.

I once spoke to a Christian man who rejected the idea of contentment. He reasoned that it was God who gave him a desire for a bigger house and a more luxurious car. He said that if he was content, then he would no longer want to improve. He, of course, missed the point. He was blinded by his greed, and refused to listen to any scripture that might disrupt his plans.

I hear a lot of Christians say that they want financial freedom. "Financial freedom" means different things to different people. To some it simply means being out of debt. This is a noble and Biblical ideal.

To others, "financial freedom" means accumulating wealth and having a high enough income to fulfill their every desire.

Don't believe the lies of the prosperity preachers. They appeal to your greed, and lay a trap for your soul. Jesus was an anti-prosperity preacher. Mark gives this account of Jesus in the temple;

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” [Mark 12:41-44 NASB]

And remember what Jesus told the rich, young ruler;

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” [Matthew 19:21 NASB]

Jesus made it clear;

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [Matthew 6:19-21 NASB]

Financial prosperity has nothing to do with the prosperity that is taught in the Bible. True prosperity is doing the will of the Father, and storing up treasures in heaven. If you seek rewards in this lifetime, you may receive them, but, having received your reward on earth, you will forfeit your reward in heaven.

Father, I thank You that You have provided all of the things I need. Your provision has never failed me. I pray that You will give the grace to be content with what I have, and not to strive and long for more and more.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 False Teaching

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. [1 Timothy 6:3-5 NASB]

Paul begins by talking about the specific teaching regarding slaves. He quickly expands that to include all of the teaching about Jesus and the principles of godliness. This includes, not just this letter written to Timothy, but to all of the teaching of the New Testament.

Anyone who disagrees with or disregards the teachings of the gospel are arrogant and ignorant. What is translated in the NASB as "morbid interest" literally means "sick". In other words, he has a mental illness in his attraction to controversy. He is insane.

Remember that Timothy was in Ephesus, which was seeing the beginnings of Gnosticism. The teaching that was becoming vogue was that through personal holiness and asceticism, one could receive revelations that went beyond what the apostles were teaching. They believed that they could start with the gospel as a foundation and then build on it with their own dreams and fantasies. Any revelation or doctrine that they dreamed up was as valid (or more valid) as the teachings given to the apostles by Jesus Christ.

The result was a fractured church. Their teaching led to jealousy, strife, blasphemy, paranoia, and constant in-fighting. The men are described as being of "depraved mind and deprived of the truth."

Gnosticism, as a formal movement, wasn't fully formed in the first century, and it is considered to be extinct in the 21st century. But the idea that we can either add on to the gospel or reinterpret it has always been around.

Mormonism is the most obvious example of this, with the book of Mormon being added to the Bible.

Others are more subtle in their efforts. The Jehovah's Witness uses their own Bible translation, in which they re-translate passages that they don't like to match their preconceived theology.

I've heard evangelical preachers fall into the same trap. Not by re-translating the Bible, but by conveniently ignoring the parts that contradict their message. One example of this is the prosperity doctrine, which picks a few prosperity promises from the Bible and ignores all of the passages about suffering and tribulation. It's easy to preach prosperity when you're pulling down a six-figure salary.

As dedicated Christians whose desire is to conform to sound teaching and follow the principles of godliness, it is vital that we do not engage with these false teachers. They love to argue, and their words only sow division, so don't debate them. If you can show them the error of their thinking, that's fine, but if they argue, just walk away from the conversation.

You may not be a "teacher" in the sense of calling or position, and you may never stand in front of a group to teach, but everybody teaches someone as we go through our life, in our conversations, and by our examples. It is very important, therefore, that you study and know the word of God. Make sure your beliefs are based on the Bible, and not on anything that any man has taught you. Learn from your teachers, and then study it for yourself. Don't be afraid to think differently from your pastor. That's not a sin. And if it's a small matter, you can let it go. If you come to believe that your pastor is teaching a false gospel, violating the scriptures, then you should find a pastor and teacher whom you can trust.

Be very careful who you listen to and follow. There are a great many people out there who speak in Jesus' name, and who would lead you into ungodliness.

Father, I thank you that You have given me Your word, with the teaching of godliness. Please direct my path to those who teach well with sound doctrine.  Give me the grace to speak only the truth of Your word.

1 Timothy 6:1-2 Slavery

All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. [1 Timothy 6:1-2 NASB]

Slavery has existed since the early history of man. As one nation conquered another, nation, the conquered became slave of the conquerors. 

The Bible neither condones nor condemns slavery, but merely accepts it as societal reality in the first century. It even acknowledges Christian slave owners, without condemning them. It does, however, encourage slaves to accept freedom if they can get it.

Otherwise, slaves were encouraged to accept their position as slaves and to do their best work;

Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. [Colossians 3:22-24 NASB]

There is a tendency among humans to give in to spiritual pride. After all, we are children of God, the King of all things. Paul's warning to slaves is to honor their earthly master, and not to look upon them with contempt.

Likewise, slaves with Christian masters had to be careful of their attitude. After all, it would be easy to think, "We are both brothers in Christ, and in Him there is neither slave nor free." However, in the flesh, the relationship remains. Complicating matters even more is the fact that some slaves were elders in the church, and had spiritual authority over their earthly masters in the flesh. No doubt, that was confusing and hard to reconcile.

Over time, it was the Christian influence that prompted the nations of the earth to eventually abolish slavery. The Bible encouraged the freedom of slaves, but didn't call for social reform;

Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. [1 Corinthians 7:21-23 NASB]

 If the world followed Christian principles, there would be no inequality. Paul said;

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; [Philippians 2:3 NASB]

There would be no prejudice;

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3:28 NASB]

Unfortunately, Christians will always be in the minority compared to the people of the world, including those who are Christian in name only. Jesus said;

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. [Matthew 7:13-14 NASB]

In the world, they fight and claw their way past one another. They destroy so that they can build themselves up. That should not be our way. Paul said;

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. [Philippians 4:11-13 NASB]

Be content with whatever your position is in life, but if you can improve it, do so. It is not a contradiction to be content, and also aspire to better circumstances. It is your personal responsibility to make the best of your circumstances. It is not the responsibility of society to improve your circumstances for you.

Lord God, I pray for healing in our nations. Please heal the racial divisions, and the class divisions between the rich and the poor. I pray for the grace to keep my eyes fixed on You, in whom I find my peace. 

1 Timothy 5:24-25 Our Deeds; Revealed and Hidden

The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. [1 Timothy 5:24-25 NASB]

Often, criminal activity is obvious. We can see if someone is a thief, a rioter, or a murderer. In less criminal circumstances, we can tell if someone is a habitual liar, or a drunkard. We can look at such people, and unless they acknowledge and receive the Lord's grace, we know their fate in the judgement. We can easily recognize the deeds of the flesh;

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [Galatians 5:19-21 NASB]

There are other sins that are not quite so obvious. Jesus said;

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court. [Matthew 5:21-22 NASB]

He also said;

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [Matthew 5:27-28 NASB]

I have heard Christians justify their roving eyes by saying, "There's no harm in looking." But, according to Jesus, there is. It is sin, just as surely as if you hooked up and had an adulterous affair. In God's eyes, sinful thoughts are just as sinful as sinful acts.

Likewise, some good deeds are obvious, and others are not. But all of our deeds, whether obvious or hidden, will be revealed in the final judgement;

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. [1 Corinthians 4:5 NASB]

In this context, it is apparent that Paul was still instructing Timothy regarding the discipline and appointment of elders.

On a more personal note, this scripture applies to our own lives. We need to examine ourselves, and we need to be sure of our righteous standing with God. We may think our sin is hidden, but God has said, "be sure your sin will find you out." [Numbers 32:23 NASB]

In the same way, your good deeds will also be apparent to the world. Jesus said;

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. [Matthew 5:16 NASB]

Some of our good deeds are noticeable, but others will never be seen or recognized. We must remember that we do good works for the glory of God, and not for recognition. Jesus said;

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. [Matthew 6:1 NASB]

This is a question of motive. If you do good works to be seen, then the recognition of men is the only reward you will receive, and you will have forfeited your heavenly reward. 

But, if you serve with the right motives, and the world sees your good works, then the glory goes to God, and you will receive your reward in heaven.

Father, I pray that you will reveal my heart and show me my hidden sins that I may confess them to You. Please forgive me of my sins and give me the grace to overcome them. Please show my motives in service to You, and help me to keep them pure.

1 Timothy 5:23 Wine and Healing

No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. [1 Timothy 5:23 NASB]

There are a couple of interesting points to be made in this passage. The first regards the drinking of alcohol.

There are some religious traditions that absolutely forbid the drinking of alcohol. To them, alcohol in any form and any amount is sinful. They say that when the Bible speaks of drinking wine, it means non-alcoholic wine (that is, juice). But the scriptures don't bear this out. They say that the excessive use of wine leads to drunkenness. You don't get drunk on grape juice.

It's easy to see where this doctrine came from. After all, the Bible teaches that drunkenness is a sin;

envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [Galatians 5:21 NASB]

If you abstain from wine completely, then you never need to worry about drunkenness. Total abstinence seems to have been Timothy's tactic, but Paul corrected him by telling him to drink a little wine for medicinal purposes.

I know a God-fearing Christian who enjoys an ice-cold beer at the end of a hot day. He is able to limit himself to a single beer, and doesn't get drunk.

There are others who, if they have one, they have to have a second, then a third and more. If they drink a little, it leads to drinking a lot. They need to abstain from alcohol altogether; not because religion dictates it, but to avoid the sin and consequence of drunkenness.

Whether to avoid alcohol or not is not a matter of religious imposition, but of personal responsibility.

The second interesting point, to me, is the mention of Timothy's "frequent ailments". You can me sure that with Timothy and Paul's close companionship, Paul prayed for Timothy to be healed. Timothy's ailments were never healed; not because of lack of faith on the part of either Paul or Timothy, but because God didn't  heal him.

I believe that God heals today, just as He did in the Bible. I have prayed for people to be healed, and I have witnessed miraculous healings. I also acknowledge that not everybody is healed.

There are those who teach that God no longer heals. But there is no scriptural evidence that the Holy Spirit would stop moving in supernatural ways after the "apostolic age". They usually refer the scripture;

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. [1 Corinthians 13:8-10 NASB]

The idea that "the perfect" is the end of the apostolic age and completion of scripture is simply reading into the scripture according to preconceived notions. The only description of perfection refers to the new heavens and the new earth, when this earth has been destroyed.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are those who believe that God will heal everyone in this life, and if you are not healed it is because of unrepentant sin, or lack of faith. Again, they cherry pick their healing scriptures and create a doctrine without considering the full context of scripture. Jesus did not heal every person in Israel. As today's passage indicates, Timothy was not healed. 

Some preachers say that if you live a godly life, you will have perfect health. They arrogantly point to their own robust health as an example. The problem with teaching that people are not healed because they are in sin, or lacking in faith, is that it nullifies God's grace. God's gifts become something to be earned.

People who are not healed are shamed, and made to believe that their sickness is their own fault, and not the result of living in a fallen world. The wagging tongues speculate about what kind of sin is keeping them from being healed, or marvel at the weakness of their faith.

The teaching falls apart when the preacher falls ill or infirm with age, and eventually dies, as we all must.

Why wasn't Timothy healed? I don't know. The Bible doesn't say. It doesn't tell us why some people are healed and others are not. 

This does not diminish my faith in God in any way. I thank Him for my health, and I praise Him for my infirmities. I propose that it takes more faith to thank God for your sickness than it does to believe for good health. As we are told;

always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; [Ephesians 5:20 NASB]

Thank God for all things. Believe that, in all things, He loves you and has your best interest at heart. Believe that God will do only good for us, and not evil. Not all things that are hard or unpleasant are evil. Sometimes we just don't understand, but that's okay. We continue to trust God.

Lord, thank You that you are the God who heals. Thank you for your promise that I can come to You with my request for healing. I pray that You will keep me in good health, and heal my infirmities.

1 Timothy 5:17-22 Honoring Elders

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. [1 Timothy 5:17-22 NASB]

The word "elders" used in this passage doesn't refer to age, but to position. They are the appointed leaders who preside over the local church. They are not rulers in the sense of a king ruling over his subjects, but as the first among peers. An elder is like a tour guide who leads the way because he has been there before, or has studied the maps and know the way.

The elders are worthy of double honor. There are some pastors who would like for this to mean that they should make twice as much money as those in the congregation. Unfortunately for them, the scriptures don't bear that interpretation out. There are some congregations who go to the opposite extreme and say that the pastor shouldn't be paid at all. That also is unscriptural. Elders ("pastors" according to modern usage) should be honored with respect and with support. The man of God who devotes his life to the work of the ministry should receive a livable wage.

Paul quotes two scriptures to make his point; Deuteronomy 25:4, and Luke 10:7. At the time of this writing, Luke's gospel had been in circulation for about ten years. It was already considered scripture. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, felt free to quote the work written by his own helper and ministry partner, and call it scripture.

Honoring elders involves giving them the respect to disregard rumors. 

Devoting yourself to the service of God places a target on your back. For the elders, this means that they must live a life so far above reproach that there can be no credible accusation against them. 

For the rest of us, it means that if an accusation is made against an elder, it is to be disregarded as mere rumor unless it has been corroborated. This corroboration must be from two or three eyewitnesses, and not two or three people who have heard and repeated the same rumor.

Elders who fall into sin deserve the same consideration and correction as any other believer. Jesus said;

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [Matthew 18:15-17 NASB]

Pastors are human, and are subject to the same human frailties as you and I. If they fail, they should be rebuked in private, and, if they turn from their sin, it should go no further. But, as Paul said, if they continue to sin, then they should be rebuked in the presence of all.

There are some who are so biased against ministers that the merest hint of a rumor will have them clamoring for the pastor's removal. There are others who are so enthralled with the pastor that they believe he can do no wrong. Both attitudes will prejudice your judgement. But if anybody is brought before the church for judgement, or if you are in a position to judge, then you must not form an opinion until you have heard all the facts.

The elders - or pastors - deserve honor; not because they are better, and not because they rule, but because the have chosen to serve. The word "minister" literally means "a servant". There are some who have lost sight of that. But those pastors who serve well have chosen to be a servant of God, and a servant to His people.

Father, I thank you that You have appointed ministers to teach us and guide us in the paths of righteousness. I pray for the elders at my church that you will bless them and give them wisdom lo lead.

1 Timothy 5:9-16 Widows

A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. [1 Timothy 5:9-16 NASB]

Today's passage must be understood within its cultural context. In the first century Roman empire, there were no social programs for the elderly. Retirement programs were unheard of since a family's wages went to feeding and housing the family. A man was expected to work all of his life, until the day he died. There were very few business women. Most women raised a family and relied exclusively on their husbands or grown children to take care of them. It that culture, when the husband died, the woman was left desolate.

In this setting, the church took it upon itself to care for the widows within the church. Unfortunately, as often happens, what started as a good thing was taken advantage of and corrupted. Paul sent Timothy some guidelines to correct the abuses to the system.

First, he says that the widow must be "not less than sixty years old." At first glance, this seems like an arbitrary age. But there is a principle involved. In the first century, it was very rare for anyone to live beyond their sixties. It would be like saying 90 years old today. The point is that she has reached an age where she is too elderly to work, and is unlikely to remarry. If she has no means of support, and no prospects, then she is needy indeed.

She must have been demonstrating Christian virtues throughout her life, and not just when she is looking for help. The virtues demonstrated by her actions include faithfulness, generosity, responsibility, humility and compassion.

She also must have no children or grandchildren who are able or willing to take care of her.

Younger women were abusing the system by taking the support from the church, and then lazily going about being gossips and busybodies.

Paul also said that the younger widows tend to remarry, "thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge." Before a widow was added to the list for support, she had to make a vow to the Lord to serve Him and the church through prayer and acts of service. They weren't to be distracted by any outside interests such as work, romance, or anything of a carnal nature. The young widows tended to remarry. There is nothing wrong with that in itself, except that it meant breaking a previous vow to the Lord.

Modern American culture is different from first century Ephesus in many ways. For starters, society has decided to take care of the elderly through social programs, effectively filling the role that once belonged to the the church.

Not only do most women work in some capacity, but many hold positions of power that once was the exclusive domain of men. It is not uncommon for parents to retire having more money than their children, making the question of children supporting their aging parents moot.

Most churches have some kind of benevolence fund to help people in need, but I am not aware of any church that fully, financially supports widows. Is this wrong? Let's consider.

A modern widow who fits the criteria to be truly needy needs to be elderly beyond the ability to work, she must have no other living family, and no other source of income. Even Social Security, though not a rich source of income, provides enough to live on. There are other programs for health care, and help with medications.

So, does that mean we can ignore this passage? No. There are still principles that apply.

We need to honor the elderly in our midst, and not dismiss them as "out of touch" or "irrelevant". We should be ready to help them whenever they have a need. Perhaps the need isn't financial, but physical. They may need a ride if they have lost the ability to drive. A person who is knowledgeable and "handy" can install grab bars in the bathroom so that they don't fall and injure themselves. Perhaps someone can make small repairs to the home, or mow the lawn. There are many practical ways to help, and honor the elderly.

Lord, I pray that you will give us wisdom in taking care of the elderly in our midst. Please give us the heart to value them and care for them when they need help.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 Respect

Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. [1 Timothy 5:1-2 NASB]

There is a Greek word that is used only once in the entire Bible. It is translated here as "sharply rebuke". The literal meaning is "to strike, or to lash out". In other words, don't harshly berate your elders. Instead, treat your elders with respect, as you would your own father.

This shouldn't be taken to mean that a leader shouldn't rebuke an elder at all, only that he does so respectfully. Paul said;

Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. [1 Timothy 5:20 NASB]

The younger men are to be treated as equals. Timothy may have a position of authority, but that does not make him better than them. We are all equal under Jesus Christ, who is the head of us all.

In the same way, the older women are to be treated with the same respect that is shown to the older men, and the younger women are to be treated as equals as well.

There is an added dimension when a man is dealing with young women. Paul tells Timothy that his relationships with them must be "in all purity." A man of God must never be inappropriate with a woman. That includes more than just overt actions. There should be no flirting, no suggestive language, and no double entendres.

While this letter is addressed to Timothy in his role as an apostle, the principles apply to all believers.

The concept of "respect your elders" is largely lost in modern society. Instead of respect we get a dismissive "okay boomer." The younger generation is saying that their elders are irrelevant, and rather than treating them with respect, they speak to them and about them with contempt.

Young Christians need to keep themselves far from this attitude. Do not give in to the pressure of your peers in putting down older people. This is not just for the sake of your elders, but for your own relationship with God. If you are an example of godliness, showing respect, then you can influence your peers to do better.

Regarding relationships between men and women, sexual scandals have been a blight on the church since the early days. Paul addresses this situation in Corinth;

I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [1 Corinthians 5:5 NASB]

There is no room for sexual immorality in the Christian church. Many formerly respected pastors have been brought down by their sin.

Vice President Mike Pence was mocked by the media when he said that he never allows himself to be in a room alone with a woman who is not his wife. Instead of being mocked, he should be praised for his wisdom.

I once had a college professor ask a class, "Is there a man in this room who can prove that he has never raped a woman?" As we discussed and considered the question, it became clear that the mere accusation of a private event is nearly impossible to disprove. The solution, of course, is to never allow yourself to be in a position where you can be accused.

A pastor should never counsel a woman alone behind closed doors. Leaders aren't the only ones at risk. I once knew a man and woman who shared a ministry which often put them alone during the church service. Then they started to see each other outside of the service, and eventually had an adulterous affair.

Whether you are a man or a woman, it is okay to refuse to be put in a potentially compromising position. you can say "no".

Christians need to stay above reproach in our relationships, whatever that relationship may be. We must be respectful and humble, and we must be mindful of Jesus Christ who lives within us, and of His reputation.

Heavenly Father, I pray for wisdom and Your love when dealing with people. Please remind me to be humble and respectful in all of my words and actions. Give me the grace to bring You into every relationship.

1 Timothy 4:13-16 Using Spiritual Gifts

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. [1 Timothy 4:13-16 NASB]

Timothy's calling was to public ministry; the preaching and teaching of the word of God. Paul is using this letter to encourage Timothy in his task.

The Holy Spirit gave Timothy the gifts he needed to perform his ministry. Some misinterpret the scriptures that say that the gift "was bestowed on you." I have read and heard that the ordination ceremony with the laying on of hands bestowed Timothy's gift, and therefore bestows gifts on ordained preachers today. That is not the case.

It is the Holy Spirit who gives us spiritual gifts. Timothy's gift was bestowed by the Holy Spirit, who confirmed His work through prophetic utterance. The laying on of hands didn't confer the gift. It was a symbolic gesture acknowledging and confirming God's work.

I have heard references to Timothy's "ordination ceremony". It is a mistake to judge scriptures according to modern practices. We see an example of this practice in the book of Acts;

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. [Acts 13:1-3 NASB]

This wasn't a formal ceremony, or an ordination. It was a gathering of godly men who blessed other godly men before sending them on their journey. It wasn't until later generations that the church became more organized and "religious". 

Paul admonished Timothy to attend carefully to the work of the ministry, and not allow himself to be distracted from it.

He was also told to attend to himself, and to his teaching. He could not allow himself to be led astray, either in conduct or in doctrine. By persevering, he would be saved, and save others. 

Of course, salvation comes from God alone, by grace, through faith. None of us have the power to save another.  But God has chosen to partner with us to preach the word, to live as an example, and to lead people to the Lord. It is the power of Jesus' blood that saves, but God has given us the honor of working through us. That's why James could say;

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. [James 5:19-20 NASB]

Not all of us are called to a public preaching ministry, but the principles here apply to you whatever your ministry may be, whether it be preaching, ushering, accounting, sound mixing, or whatever.

God gives gifts for the work of the ministry. If you neglect your gifts, they will lie dormant and unused. You can serve without the benefit of a spiritual gift, but it will make for poor and ineffective service. If you use your gifts, then God can use you to be a blessing.

Often when people hear of spiritual gifts, they think of the gifts of power;

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. [1 Corinthians 12:7-10 NASB]

It is my belief that all of these gifts are valid and current, and that God will use anyone who will faithfully use the gifts he has been given. But these are not the only spiritual gifts mentioned in the scriptures. Later in the same chapter, Paul says;

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. [1 Corinthians 12:28 NASB]

And also;

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. [Romans 12:6-8 NASB]

Your gift may be in administrative tasks like accounting or organizing, or helping, or giving, or praying for the sick, or whatever. The point is, whatever you are called to do, the Holy Spirit will give you the exact, perfect gifts you need to accomplish that work. Whether your gifts are accompanied by prophetic utterance and laying on of hands or not is not important. It is God who gives the gifts, not man.

Whatever your ministry, you need to look out for yourself. Paul said;

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [Philippians 2:12 NASB]

It is God who saves by grace, through faith. But He wants to partner with you to preserve your salvation through godliness and devotion.

Lord, I thank you for Your salvation, for Your calling, and for Your gifts. Please give me the grace to walk in my calling, and to use my gifts according to Your will.

1 Timothy 4:11-12 Bridging Divisions

Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. [1 Timothy 4:11-12 NASB]

Referencing the preceding verses, Paul is telling Timothy to command and teach the things that lead to godliness. He sees a potential obstacle to Timothy's successful mission, which is his age.

Youth, in the ancient Greek language referred to anyone up to the age of 40. Timothy was, at this time, about 30 years old. He was, of course, a fully grown and mature man, and not what we would call a "youth" today. Compared to Paul, however, who was in his 70's, Timothy was quite young. Youth is relative.

Timothy was tasked with teaching and correcting much older men. There is a tendency among older people to dismiss younger people due to their inexperience. At the same time younger people tend to dismiss their elders, considering them to be out of touch or irrelevant.

Timothy had to win over the older believers in order to effectively minister to them. Before he could teach them, he had to bridge the division between them. This wasn't going to happen by persuasive arguments, or displays of intellect or knowledge, but by being a living example of godliness.

Today, the United States is more divided than it has been in many years. Besides the still active division between the old and young, there are racial divisions, gender divisions, political divisions, and religious divisions.

Black Americans are demonstrating to let the world know that they will not be discriminated against. This is a good message and a worthy goal. However, the message is getting lost to the violence, the fear of rioting and looting, and politics.

White Americans, overall, don't want to see the blacks discriminated against. But they are afraid of losing their rights in favor of the minority. The fear is that the pendulum will swing too far the other way. Add to that the fact that many are turned off by scenes of rioting, vandalism, arson and looting which is associated with Black Lives movement.

It is hard for many to see that most blacks are not rioters and looters, just as most whites are not racist bigots. The actions of a few distort the picture. Ignorant people don't understand that it is only a few and not all. It's like seeing a red spot on a blank canvass, and concluding that the whole canvass is red.

Whatever the conflict, whether it be about racial equality, gender equality, immigration, politics, or whatever else, the issues will not be resolved by arguing or fighting. No matter how influential a person is with his words, that will not be enough to win over most people. The need to see actions. The influence of words is short-lived. In the end, people will be judged by what they do.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to be an example of godliness. Whatever our sphere of influence, no matter how limited or how great, we display God's love, not just with words, but by actively loving others. Jesus said;

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [Matthew 5:9 NASB]

You may not have the influence to change an entire nation. But by modeling Christ in this world, you may have the opportunity to be used by God to heal one relationship, or one neighborhood, or one city.

If every Christian modeled Jesus instead of fighting over politics, or selfishly demanding their own rights over another, then we could bridge the gap between us. God said;

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. [2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB]

Lord, please search my heart and reveal any prejudice that may still reside there, that I may fully repent. Please give me the grace to love the world as You love the world. I pray also for my country, that You will heal the wounds and divisions that are caused by and illuminated by the recent unrest. Please heal our land.

1 Timothy 4:6-10 The Paradox of Spiritual Discipline

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. [1 Timothy 4:6-10 NASB]

Paul is encouraging Timothy to point out the errors of legalism and asceticism in trying to earn godliness or spirituality. He compares such things to "old wives' tales".

There is a difference between asceticism and godly discipline. At first glance, that may seem like an obvious statement. After all, beating your own back with a whip in an act of self-flagellation is an extreme act with no spiritual benefit. But people still try to be holy by legalistic self-discipline.

Physical discipline differs from asceticism primarily in motive. I have seen people in the gym push themselves to the extreme of exhaustion and pain in an effort to discipline their bodies. There is nothing wrong with disciplining the body to keep yourself fit and healthy. Just understand that it is not the way to godliness. When the Bible says that your body is a temple of God, it means that you should keep it holy by refraining from sin. It is not an invitation to achieve holiness through physical fitness.

Paul said, "for bodily discipline is only of little profit." In other words, there is some value in it, but it is limited to this life only. He goes on to say, "but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Paul distinguishes between physical discipline and godly discipline.

The first thing to understand about godly discipline is that no amount of discipline can make you holy. It is a free gift from God, along with your salvation. We discipline our minds in response to God's gift, so that we may live more completely for Him, and draw closer into our relationship with Him. Paul tells us;

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. [Romans 12:2 NASB]

Transformation comes through mental discipline. I don't mean that you have the power to transform your own mind, but rather, that by submitting your mind to the Spirit of God, you allow Him to transform you.

At its core, godly discipline means setting your mind on the Spirit of God. Paul said;

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, [Romans 8:5-6 NASB]

Setting your mind on the Spirit simply means to think about God. It is simple in concept, but difficult in practice. It is natural for the human mind to wander; to worry about the past and future; to focus solely on the task at hand.

With discipline, you can train your mind to be aware of God's presence all day long, even while you perform other tasks or carry on conversations with other people. It doesn't happen through intense concentration, and it can't be forced. It is a matter of relaxing and being aware of God's presence just as you are aware of your surroundings. 

If you put great effort into it, and tell yourself that you must be aware of God, then you are making it a legalistic effort of the flesh. It doesn't take effort on your part, only awareness.

The paradox of godly discipline is that it requires less effort, and not more. It requires a commitment to not strive, but to surrender. You can't force yourself into God's presence, but you can allow His presence to wash over you. It is only in this way that we can overcome the legalistic efforts of the flesh. Paul said;

the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [Romans 8:4 NASB]

It is the surrender of spiritual discipline that overcomes sin in our lives. Again Paul said;

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [Galatians 5:16 NASB]

There are those who say, "I am a sinner, and can't help but sin, but I ask forgiveness and repent every day." That is not holiness. It is an indulgence of the flesh, and denies God's power to overcome sin in your life.

There are others who try to be holy by great efforts of self-discipline. They expend great effort to deny the desires and temptations that plague them. This too, is an indulgence of the flesh. It also denies God's power to overcome sin. It says, in essence, "God can't do it for me, so I will."

But if you accept God's grace, surrender your will to Him, and simply, effortlessly, turn your mind toward Him, He will show His power to overcome sin in your life. You will live a holy life - not because you have overcome sin, but because you are living in His presence.

Father, I thank You that You have placed Your Spirit within me to guide and teach me, and to empower me to overcome the flesh. I pray for the grace to keep my mind fixed on You through Your Spirit at all times and in everything I do.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 Superstitious Christians

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. [1 Timothy 4:1-5 NASB]

Christians are a superstitious lot. Throughout the history of the Christian church, we have been seduced away from the truth by false teachings, which we seem all too eager to follow.

A perusal of Christian book titles will reveal such things as "7 steps to greater spirituality" or "How to pray more effectively". These are good goals, but you have to understand that spirituality can't be reduced to a series of steps, and the most effective prayer is the one that is prayed sincerely from your heart to God. There are no formulas, and there are no shortcuts.

One of the first major heresies in the early Christian church was the Gnostic movement. It was a mish-mash of Jewish legalism, pagan mysticism, and Christian doctrine. The result was a perversion of Christianity.

For example, the Bible teaches;

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. [Galatians 5:17 NASB]

The Gnostics took this concept to the extreme of asceticism. They thought that by punishing their flesh, they would "earn" God's favor, and increased spirituality. They would do things like walk out into the desert without water, until they were near death. They would spend days at a time leaning against a sharp rock so that they could not fall asleep. They thought that by "crucifying" the flesh in this way, they would be more holy. They didn't understand that our holiness is a gift from God, and cannot be earned. 

The irony is that by looking for a shortcut to holiness or spirituality, people achieve the opposite of what they want. Following "7 steps" is an act of the flesh. Praying according to a certain formula is an act of the flesh.

Among the Gnostic teachings were the forbidding of marriage, and abstaining from certain foods. Gnosticism is mostly extinct today, but we can still see remnants of it in the teaching that priests should not marry, and that people should abstain from eating meat on certain days, and in certain seasons.

We are told that "everything that God created is good". Everything is to be received with gratitude. Everything is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

This doesn't mean that you have to speak the word of God over your food, or pray the word of God over your food. It means that God has told us that it is good. As Peter told us;

“I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ “But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’ [Acts 11:7-9 NASB]

And "prayer" doesn't refer to a rote "blessing" before a meal, or a legalistic ritual in which you "must" pray before each meal. You will not become "unclean" if you fail to say the blessing. It simply means that a sincere Christian will want to come to God in prayer and thanksgiving.

Lord, I thank You that You have set me free from legalism, and the requirements of religion. I come to you with thanksgiving that You have created all things, and have made provision for me.

1 Timothy 3:14-16 The Common Confession

I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory. [1 Timothy 3:14-16 NASB]

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy after his release from Roman imprisonment. He sent Timothy ahead of him to Ephesus - intending to catch up with him at a later date - so that he could correct the corruption and false teaching that had arisen within the leadership. He was tasked with replacing certain leaders with godly men, as well as raising up more godly leaders.

He encourages Timothy by reminding him of the value of the church. As the pillar and foundation of truth, the church must be cared for. This should not be misconstrued to think that the church is the source of truth. We know that God alone is the source of truth. 

A pillar in the ancient world served as more than just a support for the building. Public notices were attached to the pillars of prominent buildings for all to see. In the same way, the church is the pillar upon which the truth of God is displayed. And what is that truth? Paul reminds Timothy with these verses.

The phrase, "by common confession," simply means that what follows is commonly known throughout the churches.

The lines in verse 16 are given to us in the form of a poetic verse. They were most likely the words of a hymn that circulated among the early church.

The first two lines proclaim that He who came in the flesh was fully man, and vindicated in the Spirit, He is fully God.

"Seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations," He is glorified in both heaven and earth.

"Believed on in the world, taken up in glory," we trust in Him in the world, and He is waiting for us in heaven.

This is an example of Paul's admonition;

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [Colossians 3:16 NASB]

The book of Psalms, which is the largest book of the Bible, is a collection of songs. It was given to us because God knows that music has a profound influence on our hearts and minds. This makes it important that we choose well what kind of music we listen to.

I am not one of those who preaches that all secular music is of the devil (although the lyrics of some music seems to be demonically inspired). We don't have a legalistic obligation to listen exclusively to Christian music. In fact, I sometimes enjoy the upbeat rhythms and positive lyrics of Creedence Clearwater Revival. But I make a habit of listening to positive Christian music.

I compare secular music to sour cream and cheddar potato chips. They make for a tasty treat, but they don't satisfy. And a diet of chips alone will lead to malnutrition. You need nourishing food.

Music has the power to influence your spirit. I think it is wise to listen to music that proclaims God's grace, that teaches you how to live the Christian life, and that encourages you to worship God. This kind of music will nourish your spirit and help you to grow.

Father, I thank You that You have put the gift of music in the heart of mankind. I pray that You will give me the wisdom to hear Your Spirit in the music. Please give us the wisdom to admonish and teach one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.