MONDAY, 9 JANUARY 2023
TEXT:
1 Timothy 5:17, 6:2a
1 Timothy 5:17
– The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double
honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 6:2a
– Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because
they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because
their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the
welfare of their slaves.
(New International Version-NIV Holy
Bible)
TOPIC:
MORE ADVICE FROM PAUL
Paul
went on to give more advice on several other matters. Elders should be well
taken care of, especially those who have served well and have been faithful.
Accusations
against elders should be investigated only when there are concrete prima facie
evidence of two or three witnesses. This, if followed today, would help prevent
unnecessarily distracting Church leaders from what God called them to do.
There
is also a provision for publicly rebuking or disciplining those who have sinned
and brought the Lord and the Church to public disrepute. Unfortunately, this
practice has since been jettisoned by many churches as outdated.
Timothy
was advised to impartially apply all of these and lay hands only on people he
was very sure of their integrity before God so that he does not unwittingly
promote someone who would turn out to be engaged in ungodly activities. Wine was
to be taken purely for medicinal purposes and not for the purpose of getting
drunk.
Finally,
Paul urged all believers, no matter their status in life, even as slaves, to
make being witnesses for the Lord Jesus their priority. Indeed, the empowerment
of the Holy spirit is for the primary purpose of making every believer a
witness for the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. NIV)
QUESTION:
How useful is Paul’s advice to you, your family and church?
PRAYER:
Oh God, help me to make use of Paul’s godly advice in my life, family and
church, in Jesus name, Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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