Click here for the 1 Timothy 5:22-25 PODCAST
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. ~ 1 Timothy 5:22-25
In our text today, the Apostle Paul continues his instructions for a more biblical eldership in the local church. In view of the tremendous honor that should be given to an elder, and in view of the great potential for dishonor, shame and public disgrace, the last point that Paul makes on the subject is here in 1 Timothy 5:22-25.
In v.22 we read, "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure."
As we see in 1 Timothy 4:14, the laying of hands has to do with commending a brother into the work of the Lord. With it came the recognition that this man was chosen of the Lord to do the work that he was already doing. The laying on of the hands of the elders is a symbol of God's affirmation of His call on this man's life and ministry.
In the Old Testament sacrificial system, God instructed the Jews to put their hands on the sacrifice that was put on the altar. And in that symbolic act he was saying I identify with this sacrifice made for the forgiveness of my sin. This is the point of laying hands on a brother: it symbolized agreement, unity, identification and affirmation of someone as being set apart by God to do a certain work of ministry.
The Apostle is saying here, "Do not be so quick to agree to the setting apart of a man into the work of the Lord until you know this is true, because you could be sharing in something that is not of God."
And, in context here, the subject is restoring a man who has fallen in one way or another. Paul is saying, "Do not be too quick to put that man back into a position of leadership. Give it time." And, if we hurry a man into commendation and he is unsuited and unfitted, and he has sinned, you literally, koinonos, fellowship in that sin. There is culpability. The implications of the union are very deep and very profound.
In v.23 we read, "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." Right on the heels of saying, "Keep yourself pure" The Apostle Paul reminds Timothy that it is not wrong to drink some wine for medicinal purposes. All of the ruckus in the church in Ephesus gave Timothy some stomach issues, so the Apostle addresses it in a practical way. God gave us wine partly to be a medicine for settling our stomach.
In v.24 we read, "The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them." The Apostle Paul reminds us that it isn't too difficult to recognize the things in a man's life that disqualify him from being a recognized leader in the church, because there are some people whose sins are plain, open, and obvious. Their sin leads and follows them. And, their sin disqualifies them to be recognized as a leader.
In v.25 we read, "In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever."
If there is a man who is doing the work of an elder and fits the qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3, his good work will be known by all. The principle here is whether the man is qualified by his character and is he naturally doing the work among the people. All too often, churches choose men to be elders who have not and will not do the work of an elder. This is not to be the case. If that man has a heart for the people and the work therein, it will be obvious to recognize him and his work. He should be doing the work before being recognized as such.
Finally, no leader is perfect, but that should not hinder any of us from striving for perfection. The ministry of the Lord Jesus on this earth rises and falls with people who have God-given leadership skills. God has gifted and talented us all to do the work that He has designed us to do. And, godly leadership means God’s blessing, and that is what we want and that is what we need.
