Honor Where Honor is Due

v. 17:

“who rule well” is an important distinction.

Rule = to exercise a position of leadership.

This refers to leadership, not to be a ruler in the way that we might usually think of it.

Pastors are not to be dictators, we are to lead by example.

1 Peter 5:2-3

1 Peter 5:2–3 NKJV

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Notice that the Bible doesn’t command honor for everyone who calls themselves a pastor or elder.

Honor is reserved for those who do it well.

Not just honor, but a double dose of it.

In any type of service, those who excel should be honored accordingly.

There are many who just go through the motions, or are doing it for profit, or who preach a false gospel. There should be no honor afforded to such people.

v. 18:

Those who fulfill their calling well deserve support.

They should be compensated for their labor so that they can devote as much time as possible to it.

vv. 19-20:

Church discipline should never be carried out on the basis of rumors and hearsay.

This is, of course, in line with the prescribed requirements for church discipline.

Discipline of Elders is no different than for anyone else.

Matthew 18:15-17

Matthew 18:15–17 NKJV

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

It is sad when a church member falls and must be disciplined, but even more so when it happens to a pastor or deacon.

When leadership fails, they often end up taking others with them.

The purpose of discipline is always restoration, done with love.

Galatians 6:1-3

Galatians 6:1–3 NKJV

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

v. 21:

Personal vendettas have no place in God’s church.

All discipline was to be carried out without partiality.

There was to be no prejudice or personal preference applied.

The same is true today.

v. 22:

A man should not be ordained hastily. A proper examination should be made.

Paul has already given the requirements for church leadership.

A person should not be ordained until they’ve demonstrated that they meet the requirements.

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Spiritual maturity must be demonstrated and proven prior to being ordained.

Careful examinations would prevent many of the problems we see in the pulpit today.

v. 23:

This has nothing to do with the legality of drinking alcohol, nor is it intended to lower the high standard set for leaders.

In the first century, water was often dirty and carried diseases, and the entire context of this statement is clearly medicinal.

Timothy needed to take care of his own needs as well as the needs of others.

This should be an example to all pastors.

If we don’t take care of ourselves, we are no good to anyone else.

vv. 24-25:

Some sin will be clearly seen, while others may remain hidden for some time.

However, no matter how well hidden, your sins will eventually come to light.

Your sin will find you out.

Numbers 32:23

Numbers 32:23 NKJV

But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.

Galatians 6:7-8

Galatians 6:7–8 NKJV

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Ecclesiastes 12:14

Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV

For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Likewise, a persons good works will be evident.

An obedient christian will bear fruit.

John 15:5

John 15:5 NKJV

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Matthew 7:16-17

Matthew 7:16–17 NKJV

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

v. 1:

Today, this scripture is often applied to the workforce; however, the true context of it is slavery.

This is not condoning slavery. In fact, the Bible never condones slavery.

Slavery was part of the culture, and the Bible instructs us how to live in whatever situation we find ourselves, even if it is unjust.

Paul’s letter to Philemon is a great example of this type of relationship.

Regardless of our situation, if we fail to give honor where honor is due, then we have violated God’s word.

v. 2:

Not all Christian slaves had “believing masters.” But those who did were not “to show less respect for them.

This passage reflects the way in which the gospel was disrupting the social order of the day.

The gospel had transformed the lives of both slaves and masters, and now they were worshiping together in church.

This could make relating to one another tricky.

On the one hand, one was a slave and one was a master.

On the other hand, they were both equal in Christ.

It might be easy for a slave to think they can get away with slacking off.

They may think that a Christian master would not reprimand them since they both belonged to the church.

Instead of doing less, they were to serve them even better.

They were to realize that they were benefiting their Christian brothers.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is both life saving and life changing.