AM Bible Study Group; July 16, 2014
1 Timothy 5:21-25
Theme: Timothy is given personal advice in dealing with the people in various areas of ministry in the church.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
A pastor friend told me recently of some of the struggles he was dealing with in his church. He followed it up by saying, “You know, ministry could go so much smoother if there were no people.” He was kidding, of course. Ministry is all about people. But he was right to think that—because the relationships involved with people—church ministry can, at times be messy.
The apostle Paul had written this letter to instruct his younger co-laborer Timothy regarding the ministry of the church. And in Chapter 5, he has dealt with the whole matter of honorable care for the saints within the church. In the closing few verses of this chapter, Paul—like a wise father to his son—gives some sage advice concerning the work of ministering to the saints. It can be boiled down to four basic leadership principles:
I. BE IMPARTIAL IN MINISTRY (v. 21).
A. Paul had just given instructions to Timothy regarding the treatment of elders in the church (see verses 17-20). He spoke not only of their care and their fair remuneration for those elders who are faithful in their work, but also of the discipline of those elders who are unfaithful and who sin. And it may be that Paul was carrying on with the topic of the elders in the church when he wrote, “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” But it seems likely that he was speaking broadly of all that he was told in this chapter to do with respect to all members of the church family. One of the ways that divisions often occur within a church is through personal favoritism in church ministry—or personal biases. Someone can be given a position in ministry that someone else is better suited for because of favoritism. Or someone’s sin can be overlooked. By contrast, someone can be overlooked for ministry that they are qualified for because of personal biases against that person, or because of prejudices against them. Such ungodly prejudices and unfair biases embitter those who are the victims of them. They are out of keeping with the grace of God that should characterize His household.
B. Note how strongly Paul issues this charge. It is one of those rare cases in which an oath is used. “ I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels . . .” Not only is God the Father evoked (who gave the church to the Lord Jesus as His bride), but so is the Lord Jesus Himself (who shed His blood to purchase her to Himself). Even the elect angels (those who had fallen with Satan in his rebellion; Jude 6)—who are given as those who minister to the redeemed (Hebrews 1:14)—are evoked in this charge. They too observe the orderly activities of the church (1 Corinthians 11:10) as those who look with great interest into God’s grace toward the redeemed (1 Peter 1:12). The seriousness of this charge is very much like the one Paul issued to Timothy in 4:1 regarding the preaching of the word. It is a very serious thing to God that His people—and especially His appointed leaders—“do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality” (James 2:1).
II. DON’T BE TOO QUICK IN APPOINTING LEADERS (v. 22).
A. Just as it is harmful to the body of Christ to withhold ministry from someone for whom it is due, it is also harmful to appoint someone to ministry in a reckless manner. Paul warned, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily . . .” In 4:14, Paul spoke of the gift of ministry that was entrusted to Timothy “with the laying on of the hands of the eldership”; and reminded Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6 of how he himself was one of those who laid hands on him for ministry. And so, the warning not to lay hands on anyone hastily probably speaks of a commission to ministry. This should not be done too quickly. With regard to elders, we’re told that they should not be “novices” (1 Timothy 3:6); and with regard to deacons, we’re told that they should first be “tested” (v. 10). Titus 1:5-9 gives a detailed list of the essential qualifications that ought to characterize someone who is entrusted with leadership in the household of faith.
B. Paul goes on to explain why it is important. Timothy was not to lay hands on anyone too hastily, “nor share in other people’s sins . . .” The apostle John’s words in 2 John 9-11 may help explain this: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (John appears to have written this letter to a whole church; and ‘house’ might here mean welcoming that person as a partner in ministry.) Many pastors have become guilty of sharing in the sins of others by putting unqualified people into positions of ministry too carelessly. This seems to be why Paul warns Timothy, “keep yourself pure.” Care at the beginning can avoid painful church discipline later!
III. TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF (v. 23).
A. Paul urged Timothy to give attention to his own health. He said, “No longer drink only water . . .” The reason that people drank wine pretty regularly in those days was because it was safer to drink than water—which was highly alkaline. It may be that Timothy was even seeking to avoid anything like the attraction to too much wine that was mentioned in 3:3. But it appears that the ‘water only’ approach was leading to further illness.
B. Paul therefore urged him, “but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” Paul was urging Timothy, in this respect, to follow the broad principle of taking good care of his own health. A pastor who is only focused on the needs of others around him, but who in the process neglects his own care, will soon burn out and be unable to help anyone. Perhaps an application of this is that pastors and those who minister in church should serve God’s people by taking time to rest, get good sleep, eat properly, exercise, and enrich themselves with refreshing leisure activities and hobbies. We have been given a message to deliver and a horse on which to deliver it; and if we kill the horse, we can’t deliver the message!
IV. RECOGNIZE YOUR LIMITATIONS (vv. 24-25).
A. It could be that one of the reasons that Timothy’s stomach bothered him was—in part because he had been stressed-out by making mistakes in some of his appointments. Paul warned him, “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later” (v. 24). We can’t always tell what someone is really like—even with all the modern personality profiles and testing inventories that are available. Only Jesus Christ can know what’s truly in someone’s heart (John 2:24-25). Even the best and most seasoned minister can be fooled and deceived. Sometimes, some people’s sins go before them and give everyone warning in advance; and when such warnings are given, they should be heeded. But sadly, some people’s sins don’t show themselves until after they are deeply involved in ministry and have done great damage. A pastor should do his best; but not beat himself up too much for not knowing what only God can know perfectly.
B. The good news is that the opposite is also true. “Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.” Some people come into the places of ministry with a great backlog of clear, evident faithfulness to God. Some, however, who perform their works of faithfulness to God in hidden ways are not made so easily evident. But even then, their works are eventually made known. In all of this, a pastor or ministry leader must remember their limitations. Trusting God to lead them in the right decisions and careful appointments to ministry is essential.