God’s plan for partnering for the Good News.
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TEXT: I Timothy 5:17-25
CIT: When a fallen people are led by a fallen man.
Practically speaking Paul gives a plan to Timothy for identifying and supporting church planters.
Paul’s plan for ordaining elders in every city.
There is another Pastoral epistle in the collection written to a man named Titus. Here just before recorded qualifications of a pastor which are very similar to the one’s given to Timothy we find this command to Titus.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Some have said that Paul’s elder plan was to have many elders lead in one congregation and that they would oversee the pastor. You can find this in action in some baptist churches but usually fits in community or bible churches.
Here is why I don’t think this is for the local church. This “in every city”. We know the need of having Pastor’s in every city. That means we have churches in every city.
So it is recorded for us. That the plan of elder is as I have said before… that Elder is one of the descriptions of the job of the pastor. And Timothy is recieving the instructions for how a church should handle the church planters and missionaries and pastors under their care.
Timothy the sending pastor in the this instruction is given some principles to operate under as he is guiding and caring for God’s servants.
1. The Laborer is worthy of his reward.
2. With two or three witnesses recieve an accusation.
3. Use common sense when it comes to your health.
4. Take time to observe their works.
5. Observation has its limits.
These simple principles are going to guide Timothy in his approach to working with leaders that are being established to spread the Gospel.
These kind of make sense and allow for the fact that as humans we cannot know it all but we can do our best.
1. The Laborer is worthy of his reward.
There is a reality being explored in the text here. What happens when an elder rules well? When he moves the church to a closer and closer walk with God. When he properly leads the congregation. With older men as fathers older women as mothers and younger as brother’s and sisters.
According to the passage the Bible tells us that he is worthy of double honor. The context is speaking of financial care.
We know this because of the fact that honor is used in chapter
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
We also know it because of the flattering illustration that Paul uses to describe the pastor who faithfully loves his flock.
Don’t tread the Ox that treadeth the corn.
Paul here quotes Moses’ instructions concerning the Levites…NOPE that was Moses rule about just run of the mill old Oxen. (So much the angel of Revelation 1)
2. With two or three witnesses recieve and accusation.
There is a desire to do right in a church and to imagine that the church will never go through any disagreements. This is not reality. So TImothy is warned that he should not just jump to accusing his elders as if they have done wrong.
This might be easy because he will know them and their weaknesses.
Nor is he to cover up for his leaders but rather to investigate with a heart to learn the truth regardless of the outcome and to be certain that his partiality isn’t running the show.
In the Middle Ages, the church protected its corrupt bishops against accusation by demanding that 72 witnesses be brought forth to confirm any accusation against a bishop. David Guzik
One action is to be taken.
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
If a leader has sinned he is to be rebuked so that there will be learning.
When leaders act in partiality to someone’s position or status or friendship this dishonors God.
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
To stress the importance of listening for wisdom instead of trusting our own prejudice God points to the only positions that matter in the church.
Our God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels.
3. Use common sense when it comes to your health.
Here we find ourselves in the arena of personal liberty. There is a question of the quality of the water and its effects on the body of young Timothy. Paul makes a simple and common sense request. Take a little wine for your stomach’s sake.
1. Some have said this would be mixed with the water and the alcohol would purify the water.
2. Some have said that the wine was a replacement for the water which would rule out a little wine.
3. Some have said that the wine was like a medication.
I tend to think the third is the right reason.
However there is little disagreement as to why the preacher would avoid the wine - His testimony as a leader.
So dedicated was his commitment to his role as leader that he couldn’t take the risk of loosing the trust of the people. The qualification “not given to wine” was still ringing in his ear.
4. Take time to observe their works.
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
Literally speaking of the blessing of the presbytery. (4:14)
This is in the same spirit as the warning in I Timothy 3:6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
He is warning again that a man that is a novice brings some built in dangers. One is a prideful spirit that will bring damnation. This is so that his life can be observed and sin avoided. The idea is that enough time will allow sinful inclinations will be spotted and rooted out or the candidate expelled.
5. Observation has its limits.
Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
Some Christians hide their sin well it won’t come out till later.
Some will Christians will be exposed early so that the sin can be dealt with.
So observation will have its limits. We can’t hope to know everyone perfectly and perfection isn’t the goal. But the church having a sound set of principles on how to handle conflict and sin. Is vital.
All of this reminds me of Christ’s command to the very first church in Matthew 18. Consider what is good for the church…
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.