Busy weekend! Drove to State College Friday morning; loaded up U-Haul and drove home Saturday; unloaded at our house late Saturday and into storage pace Sunday. The house is a disaster with boxes and things all over...but so much fun with Joseph. It is going to be a bus summer, and I am exhausted already!
1 Timothy 5 is a great chapter on how to treat people in general. These lessons (remember) are written for timothy, but they are all something we can learn from! Many of these lessons are lost!
Immediately, Paul talks about how to treat and respect elders. Some translations say "do not rebuke an elder". Later, we will hear Paul say sometimes elders need to be rebuked, but not harshly. The point here is to correct them gently and make corrections with compassion. These first few verses (vv 1-2) are all about respect and getting along. How is that taught to our young people? Many times we have commented about respect and the lack of it. If we look at some families- they don't even respect each other!
In the next set of lines (vv 3- 8) are about treatment of widows- women who are truly alone. There was no social assistance programs in early Rome, so it was really up to the kindness of the church and the neighbors to care for people that don't have means. If there is family around- the family should be caring for the woman. This short paragraph goes deep into family respect and care- and respect. Families today are so broken, that they don't learn respect and compassion. How can the church change that? I find V 8 quite interesting- If you don't care for your family- you have turned against God! Look around- how many families do you know that don't care for each other? Where is the love for family gone? Paul seems to put an age limit in his discussion. Any widow over 60 (v 9) regardless of family status should be taken care of by the church. The assumption was that under age 60, she could do somethings to help herself (get a job) or get remarried! What does this statement (over age 60) say to the church about caring for our elders?
Paul says some interesting comments about younger widows...let them remarry if they want. Paul wasn't against remarrying; the comment basically was they are young and they will get pulled away from the church because they want to find a husband! Paul even goes to the extent of saying that they should get married and settle down- otherwise they will turn into busy bodies- and we know from the previous chapters how Paul feels about that! Paul really does feel it is the church's function/job to care for elders (widows) that are truly destitute.
The elders that Paul speaks of (v 17) are the church leaders. It seems like he is talking about merit pay here (v 17)! Paul is in support of the church helping the destitute, and then he goes on to say that those that are the leaders should be given double that amount for the work they do! Suggest that to the church SPR committee! (jk!!) The more useful you are the more valuable you are, the more you should be rewarded.
Paul really has it our for gossip! He comments that you should always have some others present when people want to gossip (v 19). The idea is that there are others there to hear what you heard- so much for confidentiality issues! As clergy, I hear lots of stories about lots of people. It is hard to know truth and reality. One's perception of an event is their reality and I sometimes don't hear the other side. There are times I would like to have two people that tell stories about each other to come together and tell their stories to each other (does that make sense?)! Paul goes on to say that if you need to reprimand- do it in front of the church (v 20)! Partially this is for witnesses to hear what the pastor said; part of this is to make the rest of the church aware of their potential punishment of they are caught doing the same thing! How do you think the people of LM would respond if I rebuked someone in front of the congregation?!
Paul tells Timothy the seriousness of his job and the job of church leaders (v 21) "I Charge you before God and Jesus Christ..." The New Testament places a huge emphasis on equality between people, and Paul carries it through here too (v 21) to show no partiality! Is it that easy? To show no partiality? People need to prove themselves before they should be ordained or let into leadership roles (v 22). Does the church do a good job of that?
Huge fan of Paul's next suggestion to Timothy (v 23)! Water in ancient times wasn't always pure and clean, so there were many intestinal issues and illnesses due to that. The wine would act as an antiseptic. I will try harder to follow Paul's suggestion here!
The final words to Timothy in this chapter are ones that we know well. Sometimes sin and goodness is easy to see; sometimes not so much. But everything will be revealed in its time. How often do we sin thinking we can get away with it? Or do good things without wanting recognition? Sometimes what we see on the outside isn't an accurate reflection of the inside! Listen for God's discerning voice!
Some really good advice from Paul to Timothy in these lines! This may make a great sermon series!
Have a great day today. Remember the freedoms we have because of those who fought for us and let us truly recognize and think about who we are as a people. May we all be blessed today and all days.
Shalom+
Pastor Paul
I can imagine you are exhausted!!
ReplyDeleteJust a comment about my question on yesterday's reading. What I was questioning about vs. 10 of yesterday's chapter wasn't the word men or believers - as such. My question was that Paul made a distinction between all men and believers. When he said that "we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." He said all men and then added specially those men that believe. It seemed to say that God saved all men - if you believed or not ????
Sometimes youth do not respect the KNOWLEDGE of the elders - but still respect the elders. I think all young people go through a period of time in their lives where they know everything and their parents or other older people in their lives know nothing. They still love and respect, just don't believe they know anything. You know that old saying - The older my children get, the smarter I become? But as far as respect for elders in general, or people in general, I don't think we can ever correct that - except to always show others respect - live by example?
I like that Paul mentions women (vs 2) and how they are to be treated as well as men (vs 1). It sortof debunks the thought that Paul did not care much for women. Between that statement and his instructions on how to care for widows it shows that Paul does honor women. I do wonder, however, how are men who are widowers to be treated? It is automatically assumed they can always take care of themselves, no matter their age or health? Or that their daughters will take care of them? And is it just women who are to spend their days praying and doing God's work?
I agree with Paul = gossip is such a malicious thing to do! It is one thing to reveal a story to someone because you feel you were mistreated or hurt by another's actions and you are relaying it as you see it. But it is another to intentionally tell something that is either untrue or maligns another's character.
I have always (as you WELL know - smile) felt that Methodists should preach on the damnation of sin - so I highly doubt sinners would be rebuked in public by UMC. Not that I would agree with that, I wouldn't. However, for a pastor to gently speak to someone about something they know to be true and a sin - that, to me, would be different.
But, this Chapter, as you said, holds a lot of good instruction as to how we are to live!
Thank you, men and women, who gave their all for us, for me. And Bless the families who are living with that sacrifice.
The sun is out!!!!!
Hmmm...Oh Donna...does God save all people or just believers?! Good question...I sometimes wonder about that question too. And I think in Paul's mind here, he is looking at all people- not just believers. But then, people may say- then why try? Good question! I struggle with the idea that God doesn't save all- my God doesn't do that!
DeleteRe: your comment on widowers- I think you are right- they are assumed to be able to take care of themselves! But can they? I think the church should also be including them! I think there is also the idea that you bring up- the daughters can be taking care of dad!
Us UM people and sin! We are not fans of it- but don't often preach about it do we?!
Respect your elders, that was something my parents taught me as a child and I think it has always stayed with me. I even think it carried through into my nursing career as i always loved taking care of the elderly even though at times they could get a little hard to care for with their stubborn ways etc. I loved caring for them. they had so many stories it was great to hear.
ReplyDeleteCaring for widows i gues is something i never realized was in the Bible My aunt's church had a group that sponsered caring for the widows of the church and they planned events to take them out into different areas and events. I know she always looked forward to these events. I never understood this until I read this chapter in Timothy. Paul's advise to Timothy was to care for the elders as they were family. Only if they backslide too much was he to scold or punish them first privately and if that didn't work then publicly. I'm not sure if publicly punishing someone if good because it can embarrass someone and maybe to the extent we don't want.
Grandkids are so great I said I didn't know why I couldn't have been a grandma first as it was so much better than being a parent ( I guess even tho we have a responsibility to our grandkids it's much more fun as we are not the only ones responsible for them as we are our childr0en) So enjoy Pastor Paul your time with Joseph as all us grandparents have enjoyed our time with our Josephs.
Reflecting On this Memorial Day for all who gave their all for this great nation and for all who have served also. Also remembering our family and loved ones who are no longer with us.
Respect is something that needs to be taught. People do
Deletenot automatically pick it up! I wish that all elders were cared for as family, but unfortunately many are not. How can the church help that situation?
I am loving the time- just need to revise my schedule and negotiate time!
Thanks CLara!
Caring for and respecting people in general seems to be the theme of this chapter. We probably all agree with most of this chapter; respect for elders, younger people, widows, church leaders, and others. I didn't see respect for yourself, unless I missed it. Sometimes it seems like people that don't have much respect for themselves don't have a lot of respect for others either.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Covid has taken a big turn. Now vaccinated people don't have to wear masks and unvaccinated people- including anyone under age 12 do. All over the place now we see disagreements between people because private businesses can make their own rules. Those that want to be cautious can ask people to wear masks. Others can take a more liberal approach. It seems to me that if people just respected the rules where ever they are things would be OK.
One thing that I and friends have been discussing is what the new normal is. We have had a giant "time out" from family, friends, jobs, and just about everything that we "normally" do. Should we go back to life as it was or has some of this quarantine time made us think about things. I know that I am not going back to life as it was. It's interesting to think about. Maybe part of it is about respecting yourself enough to make changes even though it's hard. I hope I stick with it :)
It sure was a beautiful day.
Good point Cathy- there doesn't seem to be respect for self! That's an interesting comment. How do we teach respect for self? Respect for self also comes from how people treat and respect you as an individual! It is hard to see kids treated badly- and they then don't know they are worthy and then don't have that self respect that you mention. How can we help that?
ReplyDeleteThe new normal will be different that's for sure!
Good points Cathy= thanks!