Chapter 5 Verses 1-16
Paul gave Timothy sound advice on how to treat people in verses one and two. People, regardless of their age and gender, should be treated with respect. We need to do that today, just like Timothy and the people Timothy was leading in Ephesus needed to back then. Paul gave Timothy a lot of instructions on caring for widows in verses three through sixteen. We need to carefully read Paul’s definition of widows that needed help from the local church and those that needed their family to step up and help them. We also need to carefully read why Paul instructed Timothy to advise younger widows to remarry. Life for women has changed since back then, but some of the traps Satan sets for younger widows is still the same. Chapter 5 Verses 17-25 Paul gave Timothy advice on different topics in these verses. He addressed honoring elders that do the work of the local church well; what to do when there are accusations against an elder; do not lay hands on someone too quickly; drink some wine for his illness; sins and good deeds are obvious. How do we treat people of different ages, gender, and marital status? Do we have someone in our lives that gives us practical, spiritual advice? Chapter 6 Verses 1-2 Paul told Timothy how to address slaves in these two verses. This agreed with what Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus earlier in Ephesians 6:5-7. Chapter 6 Verses 3-10 In these verses Paul warned Timothy about people that would not agree with the teaching of Jesus Christ. There were people back then and there are people today that enjoy quarrels and look to profit from godliness. Verse seven is a clear reminder of our status: we brought nothing with us when we came here, and we will take nothing with us when we leave here. Verse ten clearly says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Money is not the problem; loving money is and always will be a problem. We are to love God first with all our being and then love others as we love ourselves. There is no time or place for children of God to love money. Chapter 6 Verses 11-21 Paul closed this letter to Timothy with a charge and instructions to the rich. He charged Timothy to fight the good fight of the faith. We also are charged with fighting the good fight of the faith. There are forces from Satan and other humans, including our own flesh, that goes against our faith in Jesus Christ. We must fight daily to build our faith and lean not on our own understanding. Faith is trusting when we cannot see it. Faith is trusting when we cannot hear it. Faith is trusting when we cannot feel it. Faith is trusting when we cannot taste it. Faith is trusting when we cannot smell it. Faith is when we trust God without our five senses confirming what we are trusting God for. Timothy was given instructions for people that are rich. They are to freely give and be generous. Rich people should store treasures in heaven by doing good deeds. What is our relationship with money? Has anyone given us instructions about our faith in Jesus Christ? Has anyone given us instructions how to use what God has given us?
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Chapter 3 Verses 1-13
In these verses Paul described qualities Timothy should look for and promote in men that look to hold two specific positions in the church. The first position is overseer or bishop. Paul described the qualities a bishop should have in verses two through seven. They are practical as well as spiritual. People that have those qualities should be considered for positions of leadership in the church today. God has shown us the qualities he desires leaders to have. It’s up to us to follow those types of leaders and be those types of leaders when God calls us to do so. Paul described the qualities a deacon and deaconess should have in verses eight through thirteen. There is some overlap with the qualities a bishop should have. These qualities for bishop and deacon/deaconess go along with what Paul told the Ephesians earlier in his letter to them (Ephesians 5). Chapter 3 Verses 14-16 In these verses Paul told Timothy why he was writing him and a little about the mystery of godliness. There is a standard that children of God must follow. It sets us apart from the world and enables us to do the acts of love that bring God glory. In verse sixteen Paul described what Jesus did, which was and is a great mystery. Are we following leaders that have the qualities Paul told Timothy about? Chapter 4 Verses 1-11 Paul warned Timothy about things we are seeing today in verses one through three. What are we supposed to do when people follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons? We point it out like Paul described in verse six, but we also live like he described in verses seven and eight. The way we live our lives should help people see the error in how they are living better than our words alone. Today we should strive to practice what Paul told Timothy in verse ten. Place our hope in the living God. Chapter 4 Verses 12-16 These verses are encouraging and challenging for those of us in leadership positions at a younger age. We have things we have to do diligently so that we can mature and become better as we age. These things Paul described aren’t just for those that are younger. Leaders of all ages should diligently practice these things so they can set a good example for those that watch and follow them. Are we following leaders that practice what Paul told Timothy to practice? Chapter 1 Verses 1-11
1 Timothy was a letter from the apostle Paul to his companion Timothy. Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus to lead the local church there. Paul told Timothy to command certain men to stop teaching the wrong things. There were men focusing on the wrong things and teaching others to focus on those things; false doctrine, myths, and genealogies. We need to focus on things that will help us do the work of God, not start mess. Too many people refuse to live by faith in God but will jump to follow false doctrine or a myth just because a certain person told them they heard it from a person that used to be married to a distant relative of theirs. People today need to be more concerned with becoming part of God’s family and less concerned with keeping up with or staying ahead of the family from across town. Paul shared with Timothy that love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. People today that care more about the law than love have missed the goal. The law is to convict people doing wrong that they are in fact wrong. The law isn’t going to convict people doing the right thing. People that love follow and conform to the gospel that God has given us. Paul listed the type of people the law convicts in verses nine and ten. Chapter 1 verses 12-20 Paul gave Timothy a great saying that we should share with others that need hope for forgiveness; “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” People that aren’t sick don’t need a doctor; sick people do. Sinners need a savior. Since all people have sinned and fell short of God’s glory, all people need Jesus as their savior. Paul testified that he was a horrible sinner, but he was shown mercy by Christ Jesus. We have the same message to share with people today. We may used to do the wrong things, but Jesus showed us mercy. If Jesus has shown Paul and us mercy, he will show others mercy. What have you been focusing on this week? How has Jesus shown you mercy this week? Chapter 2 verses 1-15 Paul instructed Timothy on how he and others should make requests, pray, intercede, and give thanks. We should include everyone in our requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings. Right now, we must follow this so we can live peaceful and quiet lives. There has been and is still a lot of noise and confusion in our country. The time is right for us to remember that God wants all people to be saved and know the truth; there is one God and one mediator between God and people, Christ Jesus. In verse eight Paul told Timothy his desire for how men would behave everywhere. In verses nine through fifteen, Paul told him his desire for how he wanted women to behave. Paul’s desires were to promote the health of the church at Ephesus. He may have written those verses to Timothy because the members of the church at Ephesus weren’t following what he wrote to them earlier in Ephesians 5:22-33. Who have you included in your requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings this week? |
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