Skip to content 1 Timothy 5-6: Honoring Generational Wisdom Nov 19 · 17 min ...more
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Godliness, Contentment, and Church Responsibilities 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Today, we look at the final 2 chapters of first Timothy as we look at chapters 5 and 6. Verse 6 of chapter 6, now godliness with contentment is great0:21 gain. In these final 2 chapters, Paul concludes the practical guidance for Timothy in relationships, resources, kind of give0:33 you some context here, after the war After the war for independence, just to kinda give0:45 you some context here, after the war for independence, our new nation had an 80000000 dollar debt. That was a lot, but it was paid down over the following 30 years. But then during the civil war, the0:56 national debt hit 2000000000 dollars. And then around the turn of the 20 first century, the debt hit a trillion dollars. Alright? Now 2 and a half1:08 decades later, it's 38000000000000 dollars. Now wars and, conflicts have certainly contributed to our national debt, but the lion's share of our1:20 national debt today, roughly 2 thirds of our federal budget, is on social programs. And in many, many ways, the church and the family have either surrendered1:32 their responsibilities or they've been crowded out by government, and the price has been very high. So let's look at what Paul has to say here about relationships within the church, resources,1:44 and responsibilities. Verse 1, chapter 5. Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters with all1:56 purity. Now notice what he's doing here is personalize these relationships. Right? How would you treat your father? Alright. Well, treat old older men like that. How how would you treat younger men? How would you treat2:08 your brother? How would you treat your mother, your sisters? Wouldn't you guard your sisters and protect them with all purity? Well, that's the way you should treat others. Honor widows who are really widows. But if any2:19 widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents, for this is good and acceptable before god. Now she who is really a widow2:31 and left alone trust in god and continues in supplications and prayers nigh and day. Drop down to verse 8. But if anyone does not provide for his own and2:43 especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. So by god's design, the family is the first line of provision and care,2:55 which, you know, goes beyond just money. Alright? It involves purpose and mission. It a sense of identity. Okay? Part of the breakdown in the transference of values from generation to generation3:07 is the physical and emotional distance that we have in our society today between generations. You know, grandparents, they actually have a whole lot to offer to their grandchildren. They often have time.3:19 They have wisdom to listen and then to serve as that connection point between generations. But as families have moved apart and as they're emotionally,3:31 separated, it becomes harder. You know, extended Christian families provide a much better day care system in the government for a host of reasons. Alright. Look at what Paul writes in,3:43 in verse 16. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened that it may relieve those who are really widows.3:55 The church should be the safety net when the family is absent or fails. Okay? So that's where the church is, but the family is the first line of, of support.4:08 Right? And I know we've advocated. The church has advocated. The family's advocated, and and and so now it's the government, and that's what we're paying so much for. I wanna go back to verse 9. Do not let a widow under4:19 60 years old be taken into the number and not lest she has been the wife of 1 man. Well reported for good works if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if4:31 she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse the younger widows, for they have begun to grow wanton against Christ. For4:43 when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they cast off their first face. Now I I I faith. I4:54 wanna point this out as a continuation of the discussion we had over in chapter 4 about the role on the women, the the role of women in churches. This is a reference to an5:06 ecclesiastical order of widowhood. Okay? Some of the early church fathers wrote about this as resembling the presbyters, or elders of the church in terms of the respect paid to5:18 them. So they're like women, they weren't necessarily elders, but they were treated with the same respect as the elders who were ruling over the church. These women served in the church overseeing5:30 much of the work of the widows and the orphans doing you know, having that counseling, the teaching, the instruction of of women and of the children. Alright? So,5:42 again, the the women had a a significant role, and here there's a there's guidance for them just as there is for the men serving as elders and deacons. Alright. Let's look at verse, 17. Speaking5:54 of elders, Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scripture says, you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain, and the6:06 laborer is worthy of his wage wages. Nothing wrong with paying your pastor a living wage. It's actually essential according to scripture. There are 2 kinds of elders here6:17 made reference to in terms of providing leadership. There are those who taught and preached the word. Alright? And then there were those who did not. The latter being, you know,6:29 assumed to be like executive pastors overseeing the business activities of the church. Verse 19, do not receive an accusation against an elder except from 2 or 3 witnesses. Now this is important. The6:41 environment in the early church is very similar to what we have today, with our cancel culture. Too many Christians believe what they hear from secular news sources that want to destroy the church by destroying the6:53 reputation of, of its leaders. And, you know, and and unfortunately, though but okay. Having said that, unfortunately, sometimes it's true. It is, and7:05 we've seen a lot recently. But here's here's what this is telling us to do. Yes. Sometimes it's true, but oftentimes it's not. The allegations7:17 are designed to fracture the unity of believers, and we need to be wise. We need to be discerning what we hear. But look at what Paul says next in verse 20. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence7:29 of all that the rest may also fear. So don't allow the unity of the church to be fractured in the reputation of good leaders ruined by allegations. However, by7:41 ignoring sin, you you you are facilitating these the the the receiving of lies. So if if there's confidence in the local church that there's7:53 going to be discipline when something happens in the body of Christ, that it's addressed when there's smoke and you find fire, deal with it. Address it. Now church discipline according to the scripture has8:05 pretty much been lost in in the church today, and the church and the culture have suffered as a result. And and I would I I believe it needs to be revived. Church discipline needs to be8:17 revived over the years. You know, I've been in leadership positions where I have had to confront Christian leaders for sinful conduct, abhorrent conduct in some cases.8:29 Each time I followed Matthew chapter 18. And now it it I'll be candid. It was not pleasant. It was agonizing for me because I frankly don't like confrontation, but8:41 I I I was in a position. I had to deal with it. But I did it according to scripture. Relationships were preserved. And despite the the best efforts in some cases of the media,8:53 they were unable to create a scandal that would bring reproach upon the name of the lord because we dealt with it. And what that's what Paul is telling Timothy. Don't, you know, don't don't take these things lightly,9:05 these accusations against leaders, but deal with it. If there's something there, deal with it. Verse 23. No longer drink only water, but a little wine for your stomach's9:16 sake and your frequent infirmities. After dealing with those matters, Timothy probably needed a drink. That was just a joke. Alright. In chapter 6, Paul deals with the, the very9:28 practical matters of the Christian faith. Verse 1, let as many bond servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor so that the name of of god and his doctrine may not be9:40 blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because they who are benefited are10:03 employees. We need to be mindful of these things. The truthful, god honoring conduct rests on the teaching of the truth of god. It all comes back to the word, teaching the word,10:15 and then living the word out. Verse 6, if anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with10:27 godliness, he is proud knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words from which come envy, strife, rivaling evil suspicions, useless10:38 wranglings of men, of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth who suppose that godliness is a means of gain from such draw withdraw yourself. Absolutely. Get away from them as10:50 quickly as you can. That segues into a teaching on money. Yes. He talks about money. Verse 6. Now godliness with contentment is great gain.11:01 Godliness with contentment is great gain. Walking with the lord in fellowship, obeying his word, being content with such things11:13 as you have is a great thing. That's what he's saying. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing with these,11:25 we shall be content. You have food. You have clothing. You have a house. And we we're blessed. And and and, again, cultivating a thankful heart. Remember, Paul's right. As Paul11:37 wrote this, he had just been released from prison. I'm sure he was very thankful, but he was thankful in prison even more so now that he's out of prison. We need to cultivate a heart of gratitude. But those who desire to11:49 be rich fall into temptation and a snare into and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the12:01 love of money is a root of all kinds of evil for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierce themselves through with many sorrows.12:13 Hi. We we we've heard that verse before. I'm sure. But let's pause for just a moment. Look what it's saying. Money is not evil. It is our motivation for12:26 it. It is the desiring money at all cost causing us to stray from the faith. Anything placed ahead of our pursuit of god and his righteousness12:37 will lead us astray and down a path of destruction. Verse 11. But you, oh man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight12:49 the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Alright. Paul then13:01 returns, to the issue of money. Alright? Showing that wealth is not bad. In fact, it is good if it is used appropriately. Look look at verse 17. Command those who are rich in this present age not to be13:13 haughty. Alright? Don't don't put your faith and confidence in your money. Nor to trust in it in in uncertain riches, but in the living god who gives us richly all13:25 things to enjoy. Notice that to enjoy. Those things are not not to be accumulated, but to be enjoyed. Let them do good that they may that they be rich13:37 in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come that they may hold on that13:49 they may lay hold on eternal life. Now we're not buying eternal life, but what we are doing is by give those who have been given the ability to give that have the resources by14:00 sowing into those things, by helping other people, sowing into the advancement of the kingdom. You know, we've had some people come along and and help underwrite this stand on the word, and we could do more if14:12 more people would, sow into this. We could reach more people. Maybe you could do that. And what you're doing is you're just like you go into if you've been in a in an airport, you can exchange14:24 dollars for whatever currency you're going to. If you're going to, to Israel and get shekels or whatever. Well, here, we have the ability to take this currency that we have here, this money,14:36 and we're able to exchange it for eternal value by sowing into the kingdom and giving it as god has given us the ability. In,14:47 his final words in, the last 2 verses return to a, a very fundamental message. Alright? And and this is really kind of the heart of his letter to14:59 Timothy. Oh, Timothy. Oh, Timothy. Guard what was committed to you to your trust. Avoid the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what15:11 is falsely called knowledge. By professing it, some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. Alright. Here it is. The15:23 focus on the word of god and its application to our lives as followers of Jesus. That cannot be overemphasized. That is what keeps us from being led15:34 astray and taken down the wrong path and being shipwrecked like some of the others that Paul made reference to. Stay in the word of god. Father, we15:46 thank you for your word, and we thank you father for this letter that that Paul wrote to Timothy. We thank you for the holy spirit that helps us to understand and apply to our15:58 lives into this world in which we live. Give us great wisdom. Give us great discernment. And, Lord, may we faithfully follow you, Lord, with our eyes fixed upon you and, led16:10 by the Holy Spirit working within us. For we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning. Until next time, keep standing on the word.16:21 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at frc dot org slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day,16:33 you can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Godliness, Contentment, and Church Responsibilities
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