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"The
Other Side Of The Coin"
• 5.29.16 •
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Paul has given Timothy timeless instruction
regarding how he should view the assembled congregation at Ephesus. He's to
regard them as his spiritual family.
- As we come to the 17th verse, Paul turns the tables around and begins to speak of how
the congregation is to view those in spiritual authority.
- If Timothy, a representative leader and
Pastor, has a responsibility to consider them in a certain way, what should he
expect from them?
- The section before us speaks to four areas
that relate to every congregation's relationship to the person that they call
Pastor. This section guides our mind's attitude regarding Pastoral
I. Compensation (v.17,18)
II. Accusation (v.19-21)
III. Ordination (v.22)
IV. Preservation (v.23-25)
Text
I. Compensation (v.17,18)
• I Timothy
5:17,18 : "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while
it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer is worthy of his wages.'" : The elders, the "Presbyteros," were similar to, even
synonymous with the Bishops. Their role in this case is obviously governmental
as they are to rule.
- They are to "stand before" or to
preside. They are proverbially standing before the congregation, presiding over
and protecting the sanctity of their congregation's worship.
- It's interesting to me to note that the word
translated "rule" here does not correspond to the word translated
"manage" in verse 14, which
means to rule as a despot.
- I mention that because it seems that many in
the church believe that to be their role! This word here is much more
supervisory in nature.
- The elders in our church are to stand over
and watch. They are to watch that our practice remains orderly and biblical.
- They are to guard over what is spoken from
the pulpit, ensuring that it remains consistent with orthodox Christian belief.
- Those that performed their duty in the church
well, should be counted worthy of double honor. "Worthy" relates to
the measure used in the marketplace to determine value.
- The proper payment due to them is double
honor. "Honor" as we have seen in this passage already, reflects a
level of practical support.
- A true widow was one who was to be
"honored." An elder who ruled well was one who was worthy of
"double honor. One might translate this, "Esteem them more than you
can pay them!"
- This was especially true of the elders that
took on the responsibility of making their labor revolve around preaching and
teaching.
- Throughout the New Testament there seems to
be an understanding that the church met the needs of the Pastors who taught
them the Word. This isn't unique to the New Testament.
- The Old Testament ministers, the Priests,
lived off of the offerings that were brought to the Tabernacle and the Temple.
Why? Simply because they were engaged in a spiritual labor.
- First, note that this is their practice. They
are continually working in the word and doctrine.
- What I have found to be true is that you are
never done with a passage even when you think you have exhausted it's meaning!
- A Pastor is always to working and continuing
to grow in his knowledge of the word and the doctrines which define Christian
experience.
- Their practice is one that leads to utter
exhaustion. That is the word that Paul chooses which the NKJV translates
"labor."
- Many are surprised that Paul calls teaching
and preaching a "work." It even strains at the imagination when Paul
calls it "exhaustive!"
- Sadly, most are ignorant when it comes to the
true nature of ministry work and I, along with all true ministers, would have
most remain in that place.
- Suffice it to say, there are days of mental
grinding that is often hard to recover from by evening, and after a week of
preparation, the post-sermon evaluation can be murder!
- How should the congregation respond to a man
that clearly is working in the Word?
- John Chrysostom, a patristic writer from the
4th century, commented that this verse spoke to reverence and support,
specifically the meeting of needs.
- Paul seems to indicate this clearly as he
commends the church of Philippi.
• Philippians
4:14-16 : "Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that
in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church
shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent
aid once and again for my necessities." : At
this juncture, understand that Paul is not setting this up for he and his pals
to benefit from.
- They are following scripture, Paul taking his
opening cue from Deuteronomy 25:4.
- This again lends credence to the fact that
the elder role in question had something to do with judging disputes, for that
is the immediate Mosaic context.
- The "judges" were to judge cases
and assign the punishment, which in the most severe case, would lead to 39
corrective stripes. Right after that, Moses refers to the Ox.
- The Ox, the beast of burden was not to be
muzzled while it treaded out the grain.
- It seems quite random there, but Paul,
writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, captures the essence of the
text, applying it to the payment due an elder that works this way.
- The muzzle was that bag which constricted the
eating habits of the ox while it trampled the grain. It would be ultimately
cruel to make the ox work for your food while you stifled his enjoyment.
- The Ox should expect to eat from his labor. Interestingly
enough, most Pastors who take their cues from the scripture, are much like
oxen.
- They are slow plodders, happy with just a few
steps of progress at a time and happy with the food that they have to eat! The
second scripture that Paul quotes comes from Luke 10:7.
- Consider that for a moment! Luke was a friend
and fellow travel companion of the Apostle's. He equates his gospel as scripture
alongside Moses' writing and how fitting to hear the Lord's word!
- The greater Moses, Jesus Christ, whose words
are found in the equally authoritative scripture of Luke, tells us that the
laborer is worthy of his wages. Can anyone add any more to that? I think not!
II. Accusation (v.19-21)
• I Timothy
5:19, 20 : "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or
three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the
rest also may fear." : A natural consequence of
authority is the potential targeting of the ones making decisions. You cannot
please all of the people all of the time.
- Certain decisions would be unpopular and
certain people would become disgruntled as a result. Those people might come to
Timothy in order to unseat an elder.
- Paul emphatically and authoritatively
commands Timothy not to accept an accusation, a formal charge against an elder.
It's not a question of believing. He's not even to receive it!
- He's not even to entertain or give room for
it air out! Timothy was not to give place to gossip or suspicion. He was not to
allow his office to be the place of complaint management.
- That being said, neither was he to ignore
charges and let a man off simply because he was an elder! That is never to be
the case.
- Too often, especially today, men hide their
crimes behind church walls and behind the protection of self appointed
counsels.
- Timothy wasn't to be afraid to call a person
out, though he was to do so only when there was a legal precedent to do so.
- His obedience to call for witnesses only
underscores that he puts a premium on protecting the church from those that
would seek it's harm, from without or within!
- The sense of this text might better be served
if we consider how this would play out. A person comes to Timothy and is ready
to air a complaint.
- Before they utter their first word, Timothy
remarks, "Are your two witnesses nearby? I'll need them here with
you."
- The necessity of having two witnesses is the
Biblical standard of justice given to Moses in Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15.
- Accompanying this legal action would be the
consequence of not telling the truth. Two witnesses conspiring against a person
would suffer the punishment that they sought for the accused.
• Deuteronomy
19:18,19 : "And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the
witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he
thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among
you" : With this as the backdrop, it's a
given that truth would prevail. When or if witnesses were assembled and a
charge justified, Timothy would act.
- Those that were found to be in sin were to
receive a public rebuke. Timothy was to severely chide this person in front of
everyone so that the rest would fear similar consequences for sin.
- What "sins" would Paul be referring
to? Certainly, any deviation from scriptural integrity would be in play. Has he
contradicted scripture in his teaching?
- Any hint of sexual impropriety or wrongful
use of funds would be included. Any loss of character, in terms of that which
was expected from the office he held, would be sufficient for rebuke.
- When or if this happened, Paul tells him to
be severe and public in this to communicate that the same rule of scripture
that is applied to the congregation, applies to the leadership!
• I Timothy
5:21 : "I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect
angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with
partiality." : Paul cannot call enough witnesses
to his side for this command! He is calling all of heaven to witness this!
- He solemnly calls Timothy to observe and do
these things and the audience that he chooses for the occasion cannot be more
dignified.
- He calls him to act before God, His Lord
Jesus and the elect angels. Who are they?
- Whoever they are, they are incredibly
important. They are high, holy and chosen angels!
- I don't believe that I can stress highly
enough that a Christian's life is first lived out before a holy audience. Can
you seriously believe that it matters how other Christians view you?
- God is our audience! How will that affect
your worship? How will that affect your service to Him? How much more then is
that responsiblity transferred to one gifted to serve His people!
- Paul is shaking his young protege by the arms
and making him look into the heavenly realm.
- "Look at that audience! Look at their
number! Act according to that vision!"
- In this case, he was to keep guard over
himself, to be sure that he handled the judgment of the elders without holding
onto an opinion before the facts are known.
- He has to remain neutral. He cannot look upon
his fellow elder and give him the benefit of believing him to be above any
action.
- Neither can he get carried away and
completely trust the words of those that are initially bringing charges. His
position requires that he not lean toward one party over the other.
- Timothy has the responsiblity of guarding the
truth and being an agent of God in discovering the right biblical course of
action.
III. Ordination (v.22)
• I Timothy
5:22 : "Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s
sins; keep yourself pure." : When it
comes to spiritual authority in the church, it's best for Timothy and every
Pastor to be very careful with who he lays his hands upon.
- He has the responsibility of conferring
authority in the church. Generally, the elders of any given church would
recognize a ministry call and lay their hands or ordain prospective Elders.
- Ordination is a recognition that God is
already working through a person's life. It also implies an endorsement and a
call for the body at large to trust this person.
- Timothy needs to do this but never hastily!
Don't do this speedily, quickly or in a hurry. Why would Paul need to tell him
this?
- Frankly, the needs of the church often
overwhelm people into a position where they are willing to have just about
anyone help! That is never to be the heart of a leader!
- It's been said many times before and it is
worth restating: It's better not to have a ministry than to have a ministry
manned by those that are not called!
- Why should Timothy or any leader be careful
with their ministry appointments? Because it is quite possible to share in other
people's sins!
- "Share" comes from the Greek word
"koinonia." By choosing a person quickly, you become a partner with
that person. Your name is linked to their success positively, and their sin
negatively!
- All Timothy or any leader can do is be careful
on the front end of their choice. Paul charges Timothy to keep himself
separate, holy.
- That is truly the goal in this world! The
ministry isn't a place to take chances or to experiment or to offer the
unqualified a place to practice. Timothy was to keep these things in mind.
IV. Preservation (v.23-25)
• I Timothy
5:23 : "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your
stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities." : This verse is one of those little gems for those that have a
great love for wine.
- First, let's understand that Timothy had set
himself apart from taking wine for a season, choosing a water only diet. This
decision, whatever the impetus, was not very health conscious.
- In the ancient world and in much of the third
world today, clean drinking water remains elusive. It's not uncommon for people
to have to walk over 3 miles to get water from a clean source.
- Those forced to drink contaminated water are
at risk for diseases like cholera, typhoid fever and dysentary. More children
in developing countries die from water borne illness than AIDS.
- Imagine what it must have been like before
there was strict monitoring and scientific analysis!
- Paul calls Timothy to take wine for the sake
of his stomach's sake. Notice the words "use" and the word
"little." Timothy was to make use of the small alcohol content as a
medicine.
- When he did make use of wine, he was to make
use of a little of it. A puny amount was in order for the frequent bouts of
sickness that related to his bowels.
- Now, the real question to me seems to revolve
around why this is placed here. Timothy was to keep himself pure and to take a
little wine.
- Was it possible that he thought that the one
kept him from the other? Perhaps he was afraid in this environment to do
anything but drink water?
- Did he feel as though the church would
unfairly judge him for this choice, even if it were simply for his physical
benefit? How could he justify himself before them? Paul answers in verse 24.
• I Timothy
5:24,25 : "Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment,
but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those
that are otherwise cannot be hidden." : When it
comes to judging a matter, which Timothy was to partake in, he needed to
understand two classes of men.
- There were those who were blatantly obvious
in their sin. It's a matter that is plain for all to see. Their sin is leading
them, or going before them to judgment.
- Sin will always lead to judgment, no matter
how skillfully you hide things. In the provident grace and love of God, they
eventually surface.
- That is Paul's meaning as he says that some
men's sins follow later. They follow closely after him. I like the NIV
rendering when it says that they "trail
behind them."
- Time will tell in the matter of judgment.
Watch and wait and you will surely see the truth manifest about a person.
- In the same way, there are some whose good
works are plain to see and in a positive sense, their good works when done
quietly eventually creep out from behind the crypt!
- It's likely that Paul was quieting Timothy's
nerves over his use of alcohol for his stomach. He's encouraging him that they
will see soon the quality of his person.
- As he continues among them, time will tell
the story of the character that he possesses. While I believe this to be the
interpretation regarding Timothy, there is also application toward you and I.
- Sadly, what negative we sow we will
eventually reap, but the truth applies in the same measure when we sow a godly
character.
- You may be a very quiet, reserved person in
the church and may wonder if anyone will ever notice you or consider you for
service in the church. Take verse 25
to heart!
- What God is doing in your heart and in your
life now will eventually issue in God's people noticing because it cannot stay
hidden!
- God wants to expose the gift that He has
given you. He wants to expose the character that He is building in you. He
wants you to stay long enough to let it be seen and known.
Conclusion
- Let's pray.
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