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Monday, August 16, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Part II of the one about widows and pastors. And yet, it does apply to you. Read on.
This is part II of a section at which we've already looked. The passage in question is about how Timothy, a pastor, is supposed to take care of widows in the church.
Now before you tune out, there are basic principles at play that apply to all of us.
First, the church is formed by the gospel. In Christ, God has adopted us into his family and made us heirs with Christ of his Kingdom.
The church exists in this world to proclaim the excellencies of Christ to the world.
It is from these realities that these commands flow. We're to love people as individuals, based on their needs, to draw them close to Christ, and to show Christ to the world.
In the previous post, we dealt with the first criterion that Paul gave regarding whether widows were to be taken care of by the church's budget or not.
The second criterion is this - has the widow in question lived a life that shows that she treasures the Kingdom of Heaven above the things of this world?
Scripture says that Timothy is to 'command and teach' things, including this:
She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day - but she who is self indulgent is dead even while she lives (1 Timothy 5:5-6).
See the contrast? A widow who expects God himself as her reward prays. She dedicates herself to constant prayer. She is characterized by prayer. She is not self-indulgent - not looking for her own pleasure now on earth. Someone living for pleasure is spiritually dead! But a true widow loves God and is characterized by prayer.
The Apostle Paul says more about this woman: "having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work"(vv. 9b-10).
The overarching principles that Timothy is supposed to understand are these:
1) Deal with people according to their own spiritual needs -
2) Deal with people in such a way that the Gospel is accompanied by righteousness in life - so that the Gospel looks good.
So we are to learn how to deal with each other from those principles.
However, there are some principles applied to widows in particular that can apply to us as well.
1) There is a contrast between prayer and self-indulgence.
2) Thus, there is a contrast in what one treasures - heaven or earth.
3) Another way to state that is the contrast between enjoying God's glory in opposition to living for my own pleasure in his creation.
4) This treasuring of God's glorious kingdom leads one to purity in life and self-sacrifice for the sake of his people.
I think, then, that we can ask several questions of ourselves -
1) Do I consider what others need from Jesus?
2) Do I take the time to seek out what others need from Jesus?
3) How can I do a better job of doing that?
4) Do I consider how I can honor the Gospel in my relationships - in terms of how we look to the world?
5) How can I do a better job of making the mission of the Church - announcing the Gospel to a dying world - a key in how I relate even to Christians?
6) How dedicated to prayer am I? How does that reflect where my treasure lies?
7) How can I deepen my treasuring of the Kingdom of God?
8) How can I dedicate myself to prayer better? What can I do practically do ensure a deeper prayer life?
9) What are some action steps I can take to serve Christ's Church better? What needs exist that I can help meet?
Prayer, thank you for loving us individually and adopting us into your family through your true Son, Jesus. Thank you for bringing us into a community - a family - to show how great your love is to us! Cause us to consider how others need you - and to even ask them. Cause us to consider the mission of your glorious grace in the world as we relate to each other! Purify us - cause us to treasure and enjoy you rather than settling for the world, passing away as it is. Thank you for seating us in Christ in heaven - so that we will be with you forever one day! Grant us joy in you, Father. Because of Jesus we pray, amen.
Now before you tune out, there are basic principles at play that apply to all of us.
First, the church is formed by the gospel. In Christ, God has adopted us into his family and made us heirs with Christ of his Kingdom.
The church exists in this world to proclaim the excellencies of Christ to the world.
It is from these realities that these commands flow. We're to love people as individuals, based on their needs, to draw them close to Christ, and to show Christ to the world.
In the previous post, we dealt with the first criterion that Paul gave regarding whether widows were to be taken care of by the church's budget or not.
The second criterion is this - has the widow in question lived a life that shows that she treasures the Kingdom of Heaven above the things of this world?
Scripture says that Timothy is to 'command and teach' things, including this:
She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day - but she who is self indulgent is dead even while she lives (1 Timothy 5:5-6).
See the contrast? A widow who expects God himself as her reward prays. She dedicates herself to constant prayer. She is characterized by prayer. She is not self-indulgent - not looking for her own pleasure now on earth. Someone living for pleasure is spiritually dead! But a true widow loves God and is characterized by prayer.
The Apostle Paul says more about this woman: "having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work"(vv. 9b-10).
The overarching principles that Timothy is supposed to understand are these:
1) Deal with people according to their own spiritual needs -
2) Deal with people in such a way that the Gospel is accompanied by righteousness in life - so that the Gospel looks good.
So we are to learn how to deal with each other from those principles.
However, there are some principles applied to widows in particular that can apply to us as well.
1) There is a contrast between prayer and self-indulgence.
2) Thus, there is a contrast in what one treasures - heaven or earth.
3) Another way to state that is the contrast between enjoying God's glory in opposition to living for my own pleasure in his creation.
4) This treasuring of God's glorious kingdom leads one to purity in life and self-sacrifice for the sake of his people.
I think, then, that we can ask several questions of ourselves -
1) Do I consider what others need from Jesus?
2) Do I take the time to seek out what others need from Jesus?
3) How can I do a better job of doing that?
4) Do I consider how I can honor the Gospel in my relationships - in terms of how we look to the world?
5) How can I do a better job of making the mission of the Church - announcing the Gospel to a dying world - a key in how I relate even to Christians?
6) How dedicated to prayer am I? How does that reflect where my treasure lies?
7) How can I deepen my treasuring of the Kingdom of God?
8) How can I dedicate myself to prayer better? What can I do practically do ensure a deeper prayer life?
9) What are some action steps I can take to serve Christ's Church better? What needs exist that I can help meet?
Prayer, thank you for loving us individually and adopting us into your family through your true Son, Jesus. Thank you for bringing us into a community - a family - to show how great your love is to us! Cause us to consider how others need you - and to even ask them. Cause us to consider the mission of your glorious grace in the world as we relate to each other! Purify us - cause us to treasure and enjoy you rather than settling for the world, passing away as it is. Thank you for seating us in Christ in heaven - so that we will be with you forever one day! Grant us joy in you, Father. Because of Jesus we pray, amen.
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