Examining 1 Timothy 4
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
The first three verses I see clearly in our own society. It isn’t simply an us versus them anymore. With people Like Joel Osteen and Rob Bell, the church is almost turning in on itself and masking their attack on the church with theology and feel good vibe of come as you are. It is a message of love without truth, which isn’t love at all. It is simply an acceptance of each other purely for the sake of being accepted by others, born of insecurity. The last verse makes me think of Catholicism, and the vow of celibacy that it’s priests take, which makes no sense and is not seen anywhere in scripture.
4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
This verse reminds me of Peter’s thrice repeated vision that God sent him immediately before he was to meet with the centurion and his household. I’m not entirely sure as to how I should interpret this beyond noting that it places the focus of a thing/person’s goodness on the power of God as expressed through scripture and prayer, and not as an inherent characteristic.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
This really gets me thinking of ministry, speaking truth into the lives of others, all the while seeking truth for yourself, steeping yourself in scripture and prayer and Godly counsel (as the source of your ability to speak into the lives of others.
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Seek, above all else, what is Godly. Verse 7 is fairly clear, and seems to be an encouragement to remain stable and untouched by anything that is not of God. Godless myths and old wives’ tales say “superstition” to me, and superstition is simply a worldly way to cope with fear and ignorance. If fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, then I should fear nothing but the Lord. Therefore any sort of “knowledge” that is not of God, or does not honor/acknowledge God, is worthless.
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
I really value physical training, and have often put that before godliness. And I can see how my life has suffered because of it. Physical training applies only to this life, and even then not as completely as godliness. But godliness has roots not only in what is, but also in what is to come. That connection is worth far more than a well toned physique. It’s a question of what is our goal. Do we long only to seek physical perfection? (Impossible to achieve). Or do we seek after the perfection of Christ? That labor and striving we do not put our hope in the flesh, but in the Lord. The end of verse 10 is very interesting… (The living God, who is the Savior of all people and ESPECIALLY of those who believe). I think I understand it, but it will interesting to discuss.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
11-14 seem to be a charge, a challenge. How do you “not let anyone look down on you because you are young?” It is not enough to whine and cry and say “why do you treat me like a child?” You cannot demand respect and equality. It is a lifestyle, not a social right. If you want others to respect and listen to you, then you must live as one worthy of that respect and attention. Especially when it comes to our faith, we must be an example to one another. For wisdom comes from the breath of God, not a larger or smaller proportion of time alive. So we need to live on more than bread alone, steeping ourselves in scripture and prayer and fellowship. We need to be an example, above reproach, not for the benefit of ourselves alone, but more so that through our example, we might be better able to speak truth into each other’s lives. That our ministry will be one built on godliness a stable, unshakeable witness.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Living for God, and dedicating your life to him is not simply about you. Our decisions affect those around us. And this is very clear in ministry. Someone who has the position and the opportunity, but is not living for Christ, will not last. They will not be able to remain in a truly godly community as they are without having to either leave or change.
There is here an admonition to watch ourselves closely, to be diligent in policing ourselves. If we don’t keep an eye on ourselves, then we risk deluding ourselves as we slip further and further away from the truth. I used to be like this. I wasn’t coachable or teachable, but now that I actively seek to correct myself, to love correction from others and make it an active part of my life, my whole attitude towards life has changed and I find my witness and ministry to others actually has the sort of impact that it went without for a long time. It just brings me back to clarity. I want to be able to see and leave clearly and without confusion, and the life that God calls me to live gives me to absolutely best and only shot at doing that. I don’t want to be deluded into thinking that I am anyone other than who I am, in Christ.
The first three verses I see clearly in our own society. It isn’t simply an us versus them anymore. With people Like Joel Osteen and Rob Bell, the church is almost turning in on itself and masking their attack on the church with theology and feel good vibe of come as you are. It is a message of love without truth, which isn’t love at all. It is simply an acceptance of each other purely for the sake of being accepted by others, born of insecurity. The last verse makes me think of Catholicism, and the vow of celibacy that it’s priests take, which makes no sense and is not seen anywhere in scripture.
4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
This verse reminds me of Peter’s thrice repeated vision that God sent him immediately before he was to meet with the centurion and his household. I’m not entirely sure as to how I should interpret this beyond noting that it places the focus of a thing/person’s goodness on the power of God as expressed through scripture and prayer, and not as an inherent characteristic.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
This really gets me thinking of ministry, speaking truth into the lives of others, all the while seeking truth for yourself, steeping yourself in scripture and prayer and Godly counsel (as the source of your ability to speak into the lives of others.
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Seek, above all else, what is Godly. Verse 7 is fairly clear, and seems to be an encouragement to remain stable and untouched by anything that is not of God. Godless myths and old wives’ tales say “superstition” to me, and superstition is simply a worldly way to cope with fear and ignorance. If fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, then I should fear nothing but the Lord. Therefore any sort of “knowledge” that is not of God, or does not honor/acknowledge God, is worthless.
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
I really value physical training, and have often put that before godliness. And I can see how my life has suffered because of it. Physical training applies only to this life, and even then not as completely as godliness. But godliness has roots not only in what is, but also in what is to come. That connection is worth far more than a well toned physique. It’s a question of what is our goal. Do we long only to seek physical perfection? (Impossible to achieve). Or do we seek after the perfection of Christ? That labor and striving we do not put our hope in the flesh, but in the Lord. The end of verse 10 is very interesting… (The living God, who is the Savior of all people and ESPECIALLY of those who believe). I think I understand it, but it will interesting to discuss.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
11-14 seem to be a charge, a challenge. How do you “not let anyone look down on you because you are young?” It is not enough to whine and cry and say “why do you treat me like a child?” You cannot demand respect and equality. It is a lifestyle, not a social right. If you want others to respect and listen to you, then you must live as one worthy of that respect and attention. Especially when it comes to our faith, we must be an example to one another. For wisdom comes from the breath of God, not a larger or smaller proportion of time alive. So we need to live on more than bread alone, steeping ourselves in scripture and prayer and fellowship. We need to be an example, above reproach, not for the benefit of ourselves alone, but more so that through our example, we might be better able to speak truth into each other’s lives. That our ministry will be one built on godliness a stable, unshakeable witness.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Living for God, and dedicating your life to him is not simply about you. Our decisions affect those around us. And this is very clear in ministry. Someone who has the position and the opportunity, but is not living for Christ, will not last. They will not be able to remain in a truly godly community as they are without having to either leave or change.
There is here an admonition to watch ourselves closely, to be diligent in policing ourselves. If we don’t keep an eye on ourselves, then we risk deluding ourselves as we slip further and further away from the truth. I used to be like this. I wasn’t coachable or teachable, but now that I actively seek to correct myself, to love correction from others and make it an active part of my life, my whole attitude towards life has changed and I find my witness and ministry to others actually has the sort of impact that it went without for a long time. It just brings me back to clarity. I want to be able to see and leave clearly and without confusion, and the life that God calls me to live gives me to absolutely best and only shot at doing that. I don’t want to be deluded into thinking that I am anyone other than who I am, in Christ.
Comments
Post a Comment