So the World Can See

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Authenticity: Live true to what you know is real—that’s Paul’s instruction to men and women in the church. You are living as a testimony to the world, he says. Don’t give the enemy any reason to use your life to disgrace the name of the Lord Jesus.

In chapters 5 and 6, we are instructed on the very practical duties of officers in the church as they relate to different groups. Paul delivers a string of godly counsel:

• Don’t rebuke elders in the church publicly.
• Be careful in your relationships with the opposite sex. Nothing hurts a church more or has more frequently wrecked the church’s ministry than sin in this area.
• Care for the most vulnerable in the church. In those days, widows were the neediest group. If a church took care of its widows, its testimony would not go unnoticed by the world.
• Honor those who teach you. The early church paid their teachers, and a good teacher likely was paid a little bit more. (See Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7.) A laborer of any kind is worthy of his reward.
• When a leader in the church sins and it has hurt the church, then it needs to be known.
• If someone is new to faith in Jesus Christ, give them a chance to grow up in the Lord before putting them in a place of leadership.
• Make sure teachers are anchored in the Word of God.
• A Christian isn’t going to get by with sin; either you will judge yourself, or Jesus Christ will judge you at His Bema seat, and you might lose out on rewards as a consequence of your sin.
• The same principle applies to good works. Sometimes God blesses a believer down here for something he’s done; other times, we’ll receive our reward in His presence.
• Put in a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. Work in such a way that you reflect well on your boss, so the name of Jesus Christ is honored.
• Be content with your life. When you see Jesus in His proper place, you can then be satisfied with the life God has given you.
• Don’t be fooled into thinking money will bring you satisfaction. Run hard and fast away from this temptation and, instead, pursue righteousness.
• Fight the good fight of faith—whether it be outward or inward, physical or spiritual.
• Lay hold on to eternal life. Give a good, blameless witness for Christ in front of the world.
• If you have riches in this world, don’t put your trust in them. If you have money, put it to good use. Distribute it to those who need it. Use it to communicate the gospel. Be extravagantly generous. If you do that, you’ll build a foundation that will last for eternity, investing in the real life to come.

As a final word to Timothy, Paul calls on his young protégé to guard the treasure he was given. Keep safe the deposit of godly truth that has been entrusted to you. Avoid so-called “experts” who love the sound of their own voice. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Don’t try to be an intellectual teacher; avoid man’s philosophies and just preach the Word.

And because he knew he would need it, Paul closes his first letter to Timothy with the blessing we leave with you now, “Grace be with you. Amen.”

1. . How could a lack of authenticity affect an individual Christian and the church as a whole?

2. God takes sin in the life of His children seriously. Is there a sin in your life, or in the life of your church body, which needs to be taken more seriously?

3. If you could go back in time and ask Paul for some advice on being content, what do you think his answer might be?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on 1 Timothy 5:1-19 and 1 Timothy 5:19—6:21.

For a deeper study of 1 Timothy, download the 1 Timothy Bible Companion for free!