If I were Timothy #8: Respect, roles and responsibility
Who Was Timothy?
Timothy is a Greek name which means ‘honouring God’ or ‘honoured by God’.
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. Acts 16:1
After Paul had visited Lystra, Timothy became his companion and co-worker along with Silas. Timothy then travelled around with Paul, who became his mentor. Paul trusted him to carry out important work.
But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. Philippians 2:22
If I were Timothy, I would be blown away to receive this letter from Paul. After all, I’d been at his side as he’d written the letters to Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. But these letters were addressed to groups of believers and not an individual like myself. I’d be even more amazed to discover that two letters addressed to me would end up in this collection of books people would come to know as the Bible!
Yes, Paul and I were close. He was like a father to me. But I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t do. I served God in the best way I could. That’s it. It wasn’t easy at times, but I looked to Paul for guidance and support – and what a man Paul is!
Passage From The Letter
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgement on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, 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 favouritism.
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 judgement 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.
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. 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2
If I were Timothy, this is how I would reply to this section of the the letter…
Well, Paul, you certainly have a way with words. I guess you’ve been around a long time and have plenty of experience of what can go wrong. You’ve see the freeloaders and the groups of believers where there really is not enough resource to go round.
All this sounds pretty tough at first reading, so I’m going to go through it again and see what stands out for me to start implementing here.
Treating everyone with the respect I would show a member of my own family is a good idea. I can see that could work. It’s a good reminder of how to show the appropriate level of respect to each individual.
The widows…yes, that’s a tricky issue. When people come to us for help, it’s hard to turn anyone away. Discerning who actually needs help requires a lot of wisdom. If we provide everything, then you’re right, they can just sit around and end up gossiping…I’ll pass all these extended instructions on to the overseers. And of course, yes, it is first the responsibility of a family to care for their relatives. I think some of the members here have forgotten that.
Then the elders…we have to acknowledge that they have a special role to play in our community. They must all be treated the same with no favouritism. If there is something that needs dealing, then no one is exempt from that. We all have to be accountable for how we live our lives and how we carry out our roles.
Then me! I hear you, Paul. It is tough at times to stay on the right path. And as for wine, I’ll think about it. I feel like it’s not for me, but I get where you’re coming from.
And finally…the slaves. This all comes down to respect, doesn’t it? Anyone who has a master, in fact, is called to show them respect, even when they don’t agree with them! And even if, as part of the company of believers, they meet together as equals, that should not affect how they carry our their role.
So…respect….roles….responsibility. Those are my three ‘R’s to remember today!
