Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 20

 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith..  1Timothy 6:11,12

           As a man, and this passage starts out "man of God" so I'm safe in making it gender specific, I find my worth in making a living or pursuing money. When it gets really out of hand, I'm pursuing wealth which is the abundance of money. This passage straightens me out and tells me what I should be pursuing, or it could be titled "What defines success for the Christian man?"

     First off I would say personal holiness that pleases God (vertically) and the world notices (horizontally). At my new job in Memphis, I was amazed that before people even knew me, they would cuss in front of me and then apologize. One nurse made friendship bracelets and she gave me one that said WWJD. My only explanation is that somehow they saw Jesus in me and I count that as success.

      After righteousness (vertical) and Godliness(horizontal) comes faith. A successful man doesn't always have everything going his way, but he doesn't let it depress or discourage him because he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a God over it all, above it all, sovereign over it all, and that God loves him and is using it in his life for good.

     Third mark of a successful man is there is love in his life. He has a great marriage with a loving wife and kids who love him and vice versa. Not only that but he is known for his love for mankind specifically the downtrodden. Since I'm writing this around Christmas, the opposite of this was Ebeneezer scrooge who had everything this world had to offer but no love, making him anything but a success.

     Fourth is endurance. A successful man is disciplined. He doesn't get tired out and stop doing quiet times, have a mid-life crisis, suffer burn out, or defect from the faith. He doesn't give up on marriage, the church, etc. but endures and perseveres till the very end. As an old man, the younger ones can look to him as a stalwart of the faith and be encouraged.

     Lastly a successful man is gentle and kind. He should be approachable and have time for anybody. He should not be known as a grouchy keep off my grass kind of guy but rather one that realizes that he is in need of grace as much as the next person. Everything he owns and has accumulated, he is actually managing it for the Master.

      Are you a success. Could people say to you, "George Bailey, the richest man in town"?

Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 19

 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  1Timothy 6:6-10

          I recently read that the reason so many people are unhappy at work is because they chose a vocation based on how much money they would make rather than what their passion is. Many times your passion will meet your financial needs but not a whole lot of excess. This is particularly true in the case of going into the ministry like Paul and Timothy. Is our passion bringing as many people as we can to saving knowledge of Christ? If it is, then once we have our basic needs met, the remainder of our resources should go into ministries that are advancing the kingdom.

     Why do we put all our effort into accumulating wealth rather than giving it away? The older I get, the more inheritance fights I see. Better to leave nothing. As I work part time in semi retirement, 10 days a month, 6 hours from home when my financial planner says we have enough saved to meet our needs the rest of our lives, I've got to make sure that the main reason I am here is to represent Christ to a whole new audience. If my primary focus is to make money to spend on pleasure, Paul would say, like the widow in chapter 5, I'm dead while I'm living. I'm like the dead vine or tree that stopped bearing fruit. I might as well be done here on Earth. And this is the danger of money - it gets you living for the wrong kingdom.

        Isn't it interesting this common theme in 1 Timothy - What kingdom are you living for? Are you storing up treasure on Earth or treasure in Heaven?

Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 18

 These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 1Tim. 6:3-5

     In our current environment of "likes" or "followers" or subscriptions = success or popularity or even value, it's not surprising that this has made it into pastoral ministry. Since I spend a good deal of time on Twitter, I get pretty good glimpses of this passage in 1Timothy 6 being played out.

     First of all there is the reformed group. I block every one of them. All they want to do is argue and show how intelligent they are and every system of theology other than theirs is wrong. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words.

      Then there are the prosperity name it claim it teachers who this passage is literally talking about. They think that Godliness is a means to financial gain.

       Then there are the politically right Christian activists who think Trump is God's right hand man. They also have a group of prophets that they listen to. They have conspiracy theories of Deep State and if there is anyone that stirs up strife, malicious talk and evil suspicions and constant friction, this is the group.

       Just ignore these people. Don't give them a platform or even waste your time arguing. Remember, God's servant doesn't quarrel. When you are looking for a pastor, try to find a humble one. It all starts there.

Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 17

 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 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. 1Tim. 6:1-3

        I try to put myself in the servant mindset of the first century and here are the issues or emotions that I think I would have.

   1. Inferiority - Being a servant would be very humbling. Often it was saying, "I'm broke; I'm bankrupt and need help." I would have to place myself under someone saying that they are empirically better than me. As a doctor that would be tough for me because society elevates our value. As a Christian, though, where is our inherent value found? Is it not in our adoption into children of the King? In the kingdom of God, we have as much value as the slave owner and can't be gaslit into thinking we are lesser but in order to maintain dignity we must remember that this world is the "matrix", and reality exists in the Kingdom of God.

      If you have a menial job and you feel inferior and it's affecting your self- worth, your eyes are fixed on the wrong kingdom.

   2. Lack of freedom - As a servant you cannot come and go as you please. Your decisions are not autonomous but made for you. Your only answer is "Yes sir." We live in a country, USA, that was founded on rebellion against authority and it's ingrained in all of us. This would be hard for me. I often spiritualize my decision not to be absorbed by a medical conglomerate but to remain independent, as, "I can't have anyone telling me that I can't pray with patients or share Jesus with them. I must be independent!" Actually though, how much of it deep down is that I don't want people telling me what to do; I want to be free.

        Christians are actually slaves to Christ. We have voluntarily given up our rights and freedom. In exchange He has given us immense freedom to love because He loved us first. If you find yourself in a job where you feel like you have no freedom, just remember that your real boss says that the only freedom that really matters if freedom to love.

    3. Dependent - This point intermingles with 1 and 2 but as a servant you become dependent on someone else for your next meal, your clothes, your shelter - basically all your needs. Any self-sufficiency is gone. We take pride in making it on our own and not needing help from anyone. "I'm too proud to beg!", we say. Actually in the Kingdom of God mindset we realize that we are dependent on God for our next breath and heartbeat. Our salvation depends entirely on His grace and mercy for it. If there is any spiritual mindset of self-sufficiency, then we aren't saved.

     If you feel totally helpless and dependent on your paycheck for your very next meal, just remember that your Father is taking care of you and He has "never forsaken the righteous or their seed begging for bread". "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory."

     Bottom line - if life has you feeling inferior, enslaved, totally dependent, you are focusing on the wrong world , the wrong kingdom, and the wrong boss.

Thoughts From 1 Timothy - Day 16

  The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”[Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.  1Tim.5:18-25

       A lot of people like to look back on their life and reminisce. Not me. Sure, I miss the years of our kids growing up, etc. but any part of it that looks back on me, I would just as soon not. Why? Frankly because it is embarrassing.  I thought I knew so much yet I knew so little. I thought I was wise but I was a fool. I thought I was humble yet I was so proud. There are incidents after incidents if I had to do over, I would and I look back and all I can say to myself is, "What an idiot you were."

      And yet, there I was at the formation of a fledgling church plant that in order to exist independently, had to have its quota of elders and deacons and I was ordained as an elder. This is what Paul is warning Timothy about - don't be hasty in making people elders and deacons just to fill a quota or because you need help; it's a mistake. Is a 30 year old mature enough to make decisions on hiring a pastor, building a church, settling disputes among members, dealing with alcoholic husbands, depression and burnout of pastor, budgets, hiring and firing of staff, church discipline along with talking to parents about their kids, and more? And it's not just being unprepared at that age that's the problem, it's the arrogance of youth that thinks you are or the naivety of youth not knowing that you aren't ready. I would comfort myself with the Morgan Freeman to Kevin Costner quote in Robin Hood, "there's no such thing as perfect people but there is such a thing as perfect motives."  Unfortunately, over the years I have learned that I can't even trust my motives.

       So what is Paul's teachings to pastors? 

1. You are worth every cent they are paying you because it's a tough job

2. It's better to be physically stressed than emotionally and inter-personally

3. People will come against you but God will protect you and your innocence or guilt will be clear

4. You will be held to a higher standard than anyone else. Make sure this is God's calling for your life