1 Timothy 6:11-16
Instead of pursuing riches, Paul tells Timothy to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Timothy is to fight to attain these things until the appearing of Jesus Christ. I could easily spend my whole life pursuing one of these things. Actually, I'm sure I could spend my whole life studying what just one of these things means exactly. The sense that I get from this passage is that this fight is supposed to be a long, steady one - more of a long, steady climb rather than interval training. This is not good news for me - I get really bored on long, steady climbs; they are the type of execercise that I hate the most!!
It amazes me that money and the pursuit of riches has had such a hold on humanity from ancient times until the present. This passage (and the one preceding it) could have been written directly to us today.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Taking a shot at the prosperity gospel
1 Timothy 6:3-10
Paul draws a direct connection between false doctrines and the thought that godliness is a means to financial gain. Maybe my understanding of the prosperity gospel is faulty but I would think that this a direct shot at the heart of their teaching. Paul doesn't allow for any sort of "sow a seed" type talk here. This is somewhat timely since one of our "esteemed" media institutions here in town has recently had a complaint against it sent to the CRTC because they have been promising spiritual or financial reward if people would send them cash. The funny thing is that the complaint is coming from a pastor in Saskatchewan who sent them money basically as an investment strategy (sow a seed and you will reap the harvest) and when he didn't make a windfall off of God he complained to the CRTC. "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."
I have been challenged recently to take a look at my life, especially in the area of financial waste and to try to simplify. Paul's statement in v. 8 is the heart of simplification: "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." This is a matter of justice and stewardship. I can use my money to bring even a small measure of justice and equality to the world rather than just using it for selfish comforts. I think that's a better use of what God has given me. I wonder if it grieves the heart of God when he sees the wealthy church of North America not motivated to action on behalf of the "least of these" in their own backyards and around the world. I wonder what would happen if the wealthy church of North America would learn to be content with food and clothing (and I don't think Paul is saying to be content because they are designer labels or super cool clothes - I think he is saying to be content that you have something to wear) and used their excess to restore justice. I wonder what would happen if I had this heart...
Paul draws a direct connection between false doctrines and the thought that godliness is a means to financial gain. Maybe my understanding of the prosperity gospel is faulty but I would think that this a direct shot at the heart of their teaching. Paul doesn't allow for any sort of "sow a seed" type talk here. This is somewhat timely since one of our "esteemed" media institutions here in town has recently had a complaint against it sent to the CRTC because they have been promising spiritual or financial reward if people would send them cash. The funny thing is that the complaint is coming from a pastor in Saskatchewan who sent them money basically as an investment strategy (sow a seed and you will reap the harvest) and when he didn't make a windfall off of God he complained to the CRTC. "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."
I have been challenged recently to take a look at my life, especially in the area of financial waste and to try to simplify. Paul's statement in v. 8 is the heart of simplification: "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." This is a matter of justice and stewardship. I can use my money to bring even a small measure of justice and equality to the world rather than just using it for selfish comforts. I think that's a better use of what God has given me. I wonder if it grieves the heart of God when he sees the wealthy church of North America not motivated to action on behalf of the "least of these" in their own backyards and around the world. I wonder what would happen if the wealthy church of North America would learn to be content with food and clothing (and I don't think Paul is saying to be content because they are designer labels or super cool clothes - I think he is saying to be content that you have something to wear) and used their excess to restore justice. I wonder what would happen if I had this heart...
Monday, February 26, 2007
Pulling splinters
1 Timothy 6:1-2
When I read a passage like this, I almost always say something like: "Yeah, but what about the other guy?" This passage is telling slaves (in our context it can be applied to employees) to treat their masters (managers) with full respect so that God's name and the apostle's teaching would not be slandered. It's funny to me how often we apply other people's lives to God's Word when he wants me to apply my own life to it. If I get too close to being convicted about how I treat or respect those in authority over me I immediately start blaming the boss: "if he treated me better", "I thought he was supposed to be a Christian", etc. Rather than letting God's Word speak to me I start to defend and deflect.
This is probably what Jesus was talking about when he said not to pull splinters out of somebody's eye until you've gotten rid of the plank in your own. God, speak to me through your Word and help me to pull the planks out of my own eye before I start gouging at splinters in others' eyes.
When I read a passage like this, I almost always say something like: "Yeah, but what about the other guy?" This passage is telling slaves (in our context it can be applied to employees) to treat their masters (managers) with full respect so that God's name and the apostle's teaching would not be slandered. It's funny to me how often we apply other people's lives to God's Word when he wants me to apply my own life to it. If I get too close to being convicted about how I treat or respect those in authority over me I immediately start blaming the boss: "if he treated me better", "I thought he was supposed to be a Christian", etc. Rather than letting God's Word speak to me I start to defend and deflect.
This is probably what Jesus was talking about when he said not to pull splinters out of somebody's eye until you've gotten rid of the plank in your own. God, speak to me through your Word and help me to pull the planks out of my own eye before I start gouging at splinters in others' eyes.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Random Wine Use
1 Timothy 5:22-25
Paul is talking about ordaining elders and tells Timothy not to be hasty in that task but to do his homework: interview the candidate, interview the people who know the candidate (family, friends, co-workers) and make sure that they are worthy. The reason is that by laying hands on that person and giving authourity to that person, he (or she?) now acts on behalf of the church. Of course, we all act on behalf of Christ as his disciples and ambassadors and everything we do reflects on him and his body. However, by ordaining a person we are basically condoning them, holding them up as an example and authourity on behalf of the church.
Not only are we giving but we're taking on their identity - if they are crooked, we share in their sin and become identified with their sin. This gives the nominating committtee in our church a huge load to bear.
This was obviously an arduous task that caused Timothy stomach trouble (ok, maybe I'm over-reaching the passage) so Paul prescribed some wine for him. Maybe we should prescribe the same for our nominating committee... (Who picked 1 Timothy anyway?)
Paul is talking about ordaining elders and tells Timothy not to be hasty in that task but to do his homework: interview the candidate, interview the people who know the candidate (family, friends, co-workers) and make sure that they are worthy. The reason is that by laying hands on that person and giving authourity to that person, he (or she?) now acts on behalf of the church. Of course, we all act on behalf of Christ as his disciples and ambassadors and everything we do reflects on him and his body. However, by ordaining a person we are basically condoning them, holding them up as an example and authourity on behalf of the church.
Not only are we giving but we're taking on their identity - if they are crooked, we share in their sin and become identified with their sin. This gives the nominating committtee in our church a huge load to bear.
This was obviously an arduous task that caused Timothy stomach trouble (ok, maybe I'm over-reaching the passage) so Paul prescribed some wine for him. Maybe we should prescribe the same for our nominating committee... (Who picked 1 Timothy anyway?)
Un-muzzled oxen
This was done on Feb. 21 but I had no internet access.
1 Timothy 5:17-20
I am very humbled by the charge that Paul gives to Timothy regarding elders – especially those who preach and teach. First, I have no complaints about what I am being paid by the church. In fact, I want to make sure that the church is getting full value for their money. They have invested in me in incredible ways – both through salary and also by paying for learning opportunities. My job is to be a good steward of the church’s resources by making sure that I take full advantage of those opportunities. For me, this means that, if the church sends me to a conference, I attend fully and participate completely – that I try to learn as much as I possibly can for my own benefit and for the benefit of the church that sent me.
I also feel a huge responsibility to not abuse the second part of this teaching: to not entertain a charge against an elder unless it is brought by 2 or 3 witnesses. This means that the church has placed a lot of trust in me and I have a huge responsibility to live up to that trust. I haven’t always seen this practiced but for the most part this church is very good about protecting its elders, pastors and teachers.
The last part of this passage scares me to pieces. Because my reputation is so important to me (sometimes that’s a good thing in that it keeps me from doing things that are sinful; sometimes it’s a bad thing because it keeps me from taking risks) I would be very ashamed to have my sin brought before the whole church and to be rebuked publicly. However, this again speaks to the huge responsibility that I have to be faithful and righteous because of the position that this church has entrusted to me.
1 Timothy 5:17-20
I am very humbled by the charge that Paul gives to Timothy regarding elders – especially those who preach and teach. First, I have no complaints about what I am being paid by the church. In fact, I want to make sure that the church is getting full value for their money. They have invested in me in incredible ways – both through salary and also by paying for learning opportunities. My job is to be a good steward of the church’s resources by making sure that I take full advantage of those opportunities. For me, this means that, if the church sends me to a conference, I attend fully and participate completely – that I try to learn as much as I possibly can for my own benefit and for the benefit of the church that sent me.
I also feel a huge responsibility to not abuse the second part of this teaching: to not entertain a charge against an elder unless it is brought by 2 or 3 witnesses. This means that the church has placed a lot of trust in me and I have a huge responsibility to live up to that trust. I haven’t always seen this practiced but for the most part this church is very good about protecting its elders, pastors and teachers.
The last part of this passage scares me to pieces. Because my reputation is so important to me (sometimes that’s a good thing in that it keeps me from doing things that are sinful; sometimes it’s a bad thing because it keeps me from taking risks) I would be very ashamed to have my sin brought before the whole church and to be rebuked publicly. However, this again speaks to the huge responsibility that I have to be faithful and righteous because of the position that this church has entrusted to me.
Making the list
1 Timothy 5:1-21
First, did widows take some kind of pledge to be faithful to Christ alone after the death of their husband (sort of like being a nun)? Basically, Paul tells Timothy to not put young widows on a list of people needing support from the church because they will eventually get married (their sensual desires will overcome their dedication to Christ). It seems like widows had some sort of special status in the ancient church or ancient culture. Today, I don’t think we would base aid on age but on to what extent they needed it. I can think of several “widows” (made so by death of or abandonment by a husband) who need assistance. The church needs to do a better job of helping those people. I don’t think we should hire a pastor (or director if it is a woman – note the sarcasm!) of helping widows. I think that the church (the community of saints, the body of Christ, not the institution) should take on the responsibility of helping widows (isn't that part of the religion that God approves of - James 2). I think that it should be a function of small groups and of people. Maybe, in a church our size, we need to keep a list like Paul told Timothy to do but I am resistant to institutionalizing this.
Whatever the case, we (the church) need to be better at looking out for the marginalized in our church and our community because a) we need to learn from them. As we seek to be Jesus to them we will find them to become Jesus to us (see Matthew 25) and b) that is where Jesus would be and as his body or ambassadors we should have the same concerns, priorities and ministry as Jesus would if he were here in our community in this time.
In all of this, we must not play favourites. We must not minister to the attractive, the smart, the cool to the exclusion of the others. We must not minister to the others to the exclusion of the attractive, the smart and the cool. We must not minister just in Africa but also in Brocket.
First, did widows take some kind of pledge to be faithful to Christ alone after the death of their husband (sort of like being a nun)? Basically, Paul tells Timothy to not put young widows on a list of people needing support from the church because they will eventually get married (their sensual desires will overcome their dedication to Christ). It seems like widows had some sort of special status in the ancient church or ancient culture. Today, I don’t think we would base aid on age but on to what extent they needed it. I can think of several “widows” (made so by death of or abandonment by a husband) who need assistance. The church needs to do a better job of helping those people. I don’t think we should hire a pastor (or director if it is a woman – note the sarcasm!) of helping widows. I think that the church (the community of saints, the body of Christ, not the institution) should take on the responsibility of helping widows (isn't that part of the religion that God approves of - James 2). I think that it should be a function of small groups and of people. Maybe, in a church our size, we need to keep a list like Paul told Timothy to do but I am resistant to institutionalizing this.
Whatever the case, we (the church) need to be better at looking out for the marginalized in our church and our community because a) we need to learn from them. As we seek to be Jesus to them we will find them to become Jesus to us (see Matthew 25) and b) that is where Jesus would be and as his body or ambassadors we should have the same concerns, priorities and ministry as Jesus would if he were here in our community in this time.
In all of this, we must not play favourites. We must not minister to the attractive, the smart, the cool to the exclusion of the others. We must not minister to the others to the exclusion of the attractive, the smart and the cool. We must not minister just in Africa but also in Brocket.
Consumed
This was done Feb. 19 but I didn't have access to the internet
1 Timothy 4:15-16
Paul told Timothy to give himself wholly to setting an example for the believers, to reading Scripture publicly, to teaching and preaching and to using his gift. This was what was to consume Timothy’s life. As I look at the list, it seems pretty broad and overwhelming to me. I am the type of person that needs one thing to focus on. This, especially when I look at all the things that Timothy was supposed to set an example in, is a very long list of things. Far be it from me to disagree with Paul (there’s no sense in arguing with an inspired writer of Scripture) but I think I prefer Jesus’ priority: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All of these things that Paul tells Timothy to devote his life to fall into the category of the kingdom of God and His righteousness but I like the single minded focus of Jesus’ teaching. This gives me something to measure my life against: does this promote the kingdom of God or God’s righteousness in my life? I really want that to consume my life!
1 Timothy 4:15-16
Paul told Timothy to give himself wholly to setting an example for the believers, to reading Scripture publicly, to teaching and preaching and to using his gift. This was what was to consume Timothy’s life. As I look at the list, it seems pretty broad and overwhelming to me. I am the type of person that needs one thing to focus on. This, especially when I look at all the things that Timothy was supposed to set an example in, is a very long list of things. Far be it from me to disagree with Paul (there’s no sense in arguing with an inspired writer of Scripture) but I think I prefer Jesus’ priority: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All of these things that Paul tells Timothy to devote his life to fall into the category of the kingdom of God and His righteousness but I like the single minded focus of Jesus’ teaching. This gives me something to measure my life against: does this promote the kingdom of God or God’s righteousness in my life? I really want that to consume my life!
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