1 Timothy 6:6-8

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6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ~ 1 Timothy 6:6-8

In the previous verse, the Apostle Paul addressed the fact that false teachers are very often motivated by financial gain. They use false godliness to garner material gain. When we believe this world is the ultimate, we will live for what this world has to offer us. This world will define more than God does, thus we will have false godliness. We experience false godliness because we are not willing to bow our will to the Lord and to let Him have His way in our lives. 

In v.6 we read, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 

Godliness grows not through the pursuit of a process, but through the presence of a person. The presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives is the mystery of godliness. But, His presence isn't enough, we must practice His presence which is to treat Him like we do our best friend. 

Twice in this passage the Apostle uses the word content which is true wealth. We are taught in this world that contentment is the product of the comfort of this world. When we are being defined by God and what He says, our love for money will diminish because we will increasingly be defined by His pursuit of us. Loving money ignores the true gain which is the discovery of what is really real. 

The word used for godliness is the Greek word which means sacred awe or awe of God. This is the secret to contentment, the awe of God. In Colossians 1:27 we discover that it is Christ in us that is the hope of glory or the presence of God in our lives. So, it is not just His presence, it is when we practice His presence that we develop this sense of awe of Him. And, this awe is the product of getting to know Him on a personal level. And, if all we pursue is money, we will never have this awe of God, because we will never be made content by money. Only God renders contentment in the soul that He has created. Genuine gain comes from true godliness which is inseparably linked to His presence in our lives and the contentment that only He can give. 

The Greek word for contentment means unflappable, not moved by circumstance, the ability to live immune to external distraction, oblivious to outside troubles. Being content with what we have is one of the greatest things in life. Our contentment is based on the sufficiency of Christ. It is the product of knowing Him and discovering that He is our provider and He is enough. True contentment comes from God in our heart, not wealth in our hand. A person who depends on material things for peace and assurance will never be satisfied, for material things have a way of being lost. 

True riches is not related to how much we have, it is related to whether we are content with what we have. The root of all sin is that last of the Ten Commandments: do not covet. The person who is rich is the person who doesn’t need anything else. The Greek philosopher Epicurus said “The secret of contentment is not to add to a man’s possessions but to take away from his desires.”

The only thing that makes us truly rich is God who uses contentment to enable us to see and hear Him more clearly. And, the practice of His presence yields a greater expression of Him in and through our lives. This is godliness. So, great gain comes through godliness linked to contentment. To pursue riches out of discontent is an illusion and is to ignore the true gain.

In v.7 we read, "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." The Greek word translated nothing is the first word of the verse. It literally reads: “Nothing we brought into the world.” Someone once said, “Money is like sea water, the more you drink the thirstier you get.” God has promised that our basic needs will be met. Even millionaires do not die as millionaires because they can not take their wealth with them beyond the realm of time and space.

In v.8 we read, "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

It is clear in this passage that contentment comes from a whole and balanced life. And, wholeness is a product of His holiness which is His definition of all of life. And, wholeness produces a contented heart. Some think contentment is getting everything we want as soon as we want it. One of the best definitions of contentment is, "not having all we want but wanting only what we have been given by the Lord."

Contentment, therefore, is finding joy in what God has given to us. The opposite of contentment is greed which destroys our capacity to enjoy God and what He has given. Being content with what we have is satisfaction. This is why the Lord Jesus taught in Matthew 5, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." 

He also said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."  It is our knowledge of and our fellowship with the Lord Jesus that makes our hearts rejoice. From Him do we receive peace and a sense of worth and security. This is contentment, this is real life.

1 Timothy 6:3-5

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3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. ~ 1 Timothy 6:3-5

As the Apostle Paul brings 1 Timothy to a conclusion, he addresses some of the things most dear to his heart. In today's text, he returns to the subject of false teachers. The spiritual leaders in the local church must constantly oversee what is being taught because it is easy for false doctrines to slip in without notice.

In v.3 we read, "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching."  

The first mark of the false teacher is he "teaches otherwise." The Greek word the Apostle uses here for teaches otherwise is heterodidaskalei which essentially means heresy. It is heresy because it is contrary to God's definitions of things. It is teaching that denies that the God of the Bible is the only true God. It is teaching that is error about Christ, His lineage, His virgin birth, His teaching and His salvation.

The litmus test of truth is the Scriptures. Since false teaching is contrary to the Scriptures, one who has been born again, overcomes the false by the Word of God. The believer must know the Word, so that we may be able to discern error. A believer who understands the Word will have a broken heart, but not a big head. 

The false teacher is not willing to agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated sound is the English word hygiene. The false teacher does not give himself to hygienic words, healthy words, wholesome words, beneficial words that are the definitions of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As indicated at the very end of v.3, the ultimate test of a teaching is whether it produces godliness. Truth always results in godliness when it is applied correctly. The Word of God will produce healthy spiritual behavior. The Word of God will bring truth to bear on a life that results in godliness, because God is the truth personified in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In v.4-5 we read, "4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain."

The second mark of the false teacher is he is conceited or arrogant. The Greek word used here for conceited means to be enveloped in smoke. It means false teachers are in a settled state of being engulfed in their own smoke. They’re just a big puff of hot air. 

The result of unspiritual teaching is "envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions." Godliness is the ultimate test of truth. And, so is unity. The thing that unites us is our common commitment to truth. Since we all believe the same truth, we’re all linked together.

When the false teacher teaches what is right in his own eyes, he will eventually be at odds with everyone. This is the sign that he has been robbed of the truth. Satan himself is the one who used just enough of the truth to deceive Eve in the Garden. As a result, all he teaches leads to chaos, and envy reigns. Envy is that inward discontent with the advantages enjoyed by someone else’s popularity and prosperity. 

Envy will always lead to strife because strife is the outward expression of the inward reality. Then strife gives way to malicious talk or insults. Then malicious talk gives life to evil suspicion, which means to embrace evil motives. All of this results in constant friction.

As a result, the false teacher has but a legacy of error and chaos and selfish financial gain. They produce no good effect. They exploit through false words. They entice unstable souls. They forsake the right way. They promise freedom but are the slaves of corruption. They have gone the path of the flesh and they perish in their own rebellion. 

But, the truth always wins because the truth will always remain the same and it will always endure. The truth permits us to be all that we were meant to be. The truth delivers us from self as it confronts us with its stability. The Lord Jesus says to us, "Come to me. Look at life as I see it and a wonderful thing will happen: there will be a change in you. You will be given a life that you never had before, and you will be freed from the destiny to which the false leads."  

1 Timothy 6:1-2

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"1 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. 2 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. These are the things you are to teach and insist on." ~ 1 Timothy 6:1-2

When the Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy, half the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. Many of them had been taken as prisoners of war by the Roman legions. Some were taken away out of their own countries, while others were kept captive within their own lands. Slavery, then, became an immediate problem in the early church, as both slaves and their masters were being converted to Christianity. 

Many today are troubled by the fact the New Testament does not denounce slavery. Passages like this sound as though slavery was accepted and was acceptable in Christianity. But the truth is the Scripture does not approve of slavery. There is no defense of slavery in Scripture; there is no attempt made to perpetuate it in any way. In fact, by the end of the second century slavery had widely disappeared, largely because of the impact of Christian teaching and influence of Christians throughout the Empire. 

In today's text, the Apostle Paul continues teaching on how the believer in Christ best ministers to the various groups in the church at Ephesus. While he uses the terminology of the servant-master relationship, this teaching applies to us today in the context of the employer-employee relationship. 

The Apostle uses the Greek word douloi which describes those who have chosen to be in submission to someone as a slave. This slave is willfully employed and paid to do a job for the employer. The Greek word translated masters is despotēs which refers to one who had unrestricted, unrestrained, sovereign authority over the employee.

Today's text was penned by Paul because there were some slaves who used their newfound freedom in Christ as an excuse to disobey their masters. They didn't understand that their spiritual freedom in Christ did not alter their social position, even though they were accepted graciously into the fellowship of the church. For a slave to rebel against an unsaved master would bring disgrace on the gospel.

In v.1 we read, "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."

The danger here is that a Christian slave might take advantage of his master because both are saved. “My master is my brother!” a slave might argue. “Since we are equal, he has no right to tell me what to do!” he might think. This attitude would create serious problems both in the homes and in the churches.

The Apostle Paul explains why Christian employees should show respect for their believing employers and not take advantage of them. The most obvious reason is their employers are Christians and love does not rebel or look for opportunities to escape responsibility.

If we work for a non-Christian employer, we are to give him all of the honor that is due to one who is in the position of authority and who is providing our livelihood, in order that the name of God and the doctrine of the gospel might not be spoken evil against. 

How we function in an employment situation is of grave spiritual significance. We should live out our Christianity before men in such a way as to make the gospel attractive to all who look on. Our faith must be lived out in our jobs as a sacred duty which is rendered on behalf of God.

In v. 2 we read, "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. These are the things you are to teach and insist on."

If we are working for a believing boss, we are not to think less of him as our employer because he’s also our brother. But we are to serve him even more because he is a believer. 

We serve God by serving others. From this angle we begin to see our jobs as our ministry. This is a whole different approach to ministry. When we live godly lives and work with godly attitudes, others will see it and they will begin to desire what we have. And then, in eternity, we may see them because of our commitment to be defined by God in the workplace.

1 Timothy 5:22-25

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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.

1 Timothy 5:19-21

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19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 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 favoritism. ~ 1 Timothy 5:19-21

The church at Ephesus was declining due to its lack of commitment to the Word of God, and, as a result, it had fallen into immorality. Their condition was primarily related to the decline in its leadership. Our ability to reach the world with the Gospel is linked to our commitment to the Lord and His Word. This side of heaven, we will never be perfect, but we can be true to His Word, defined by Him, honest, humble and authentic.

In today's text, the Apostle Paul gives further instruction regarding those who are in leadership roles in the local church. In v.19 we read, "Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses."

When a man qualifies for spiritual leadership, at some point, he has to anticipate that certain people will falsely accuse him to try to ruin his ministry. It is the standard approach of the enemy to discredit the effective leader. Our ministries can be brought to a halt due to no fault of our own, but due to the fault of people who will listen to false accusations. 

The word accusation used in v.19 is the Greek word katēgoria which is the word from which we get our English word category. It is the combination of two words, agora which means a meeting place, and kata which means against. So, when combined, it is to say something against a person in a public meeting place or to bring a formal public accusation against a leader. And when someone comes to bring a formal public accusation against an elder, we are not to listen to it, entertain or investigate it. 

Now, the only time we ever even entertain an accusation is when it comes to us from two or three confirming witnesses. If a person comes with some kind of accusation against an elder, our first reaction should always be to deny it, unless it is confirmed by two or three trustworthy witnesses.

In v. 20 we read, "But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning."

The Apostle Paul isn't just talking about any sin. We are all sinners, we sin every day. If just any sin disqualifies us, we would all be disqualified. However, there is absolutely no immunity for spiritual leaders who fall into certain sins. 

You will remember that in 1 Timothy 3:2 we read, "Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach." 

The Apostle instructed us that an elder is qualified as a spiritual leader because he is above reproach and is a one-woman man. And, when the elder doesn’t exercise the self-control to remain faithful to his wife, he is living in sin. He must be confronted for not being faithful to his wife.

In addition, to being unfaithful to his wife, the elder can be disqualified if he becomes a drunkard or he becomes so greedy that he embezzles money from the church or his family is not walking with the Lord. When an elder is found guilty of these particular sins, he is to be "reproved before everyone." 

Of course, not all of these "sins" will disqualify him permanently from the ministry, there is a reasonable argument to be made that he should be permanently disqualified if he commits certain sexual sins, becomes an alcoholic and/or embezzles money from the church.

When an accusation has been made and it has been investigated and confirmed by two or three witnesses, he is to be publicly rebuked. The word reprove means to expose, to bring out in the open, to correct, or to rebuke. Once an elder’s guilt is established, he is to be publicly exposed, and his credibility and ministry is possibly forfeited. Of course, the rebuke of his lack of hospitality will look different from the rebuke he would receive for running around with the church secretary.

In v.21 we read, "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 favoritism."

Church discipline usually goes to one of two extremes. Either there is no discipline at all and the church languishes because of its lack of commitment to the truth, or the church becomes legalistic and suffers the lack of spiritual depth because they have violated so many healthy biblical principles.

It is sad when a church member fails and must be disciplined, but it is even more sad when a spiritual leader fails and must be disciplined, for when leaders fall, there is a much greater impact on others in the community.

Having said that, the ultimate biblical purpose of discipline is restoration. Our purpose must be to restore the offender. Our attitude must be one of love and gentleness as seen in Galatians 6. In fact the verb restore that Paul used in Galatians 6:1 means “to reset a broken bone.” Think of the patience and gentleness involved in that procedure!

The Apostle Paul cautions us to to be sure of the facts, and the way to do that is to have two or three credible witnesses. The accused always must have the right to face his accusers in the presence of witnesses. But, when the accused is found guilty, God's goal is the restoration of that brother to Him and the church community. 

This does not necessarily mean he will return to the same ministry that he had before. It does mean the church takes God's instructions in this area seriously. It also means this will aid in the restored brother's deepening understanding of His Father's unflinching faithfulness to him as the church is used of God to restore such a one back to Him.

1 Timothy 5:17-18

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17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” ~ 1 Timothy 5:17-18

The effectiveness of advancing the causes of the Lord Jesus in this world is largely dependent upon the believer's ability to remain true to God's word and authentic with our fellow man. And so there’s a premium, as there always has been, on authentic leadership among God's people. 

Leadership will always parallel how valued the people feel by those who are leading them. John Maxwell once said, "To add value to others, one must first value others." And, the context of today's text is right in the middle of teaching which tells us to do just that. 

In v.17 we read, "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching."

In our text for today, the Apostle Paul begins with honoring elders. The word the Apostle uses here translated elder is the Greek word presbuteros which means one who is of a plurality of biblically qualified men who jointly shepherd and oversee a local body of believers. Our text emphasizes the teaching responsibility of those who are being used of God to lead the local church. 

Now, in the Scripture we are presented a shared leadership model with a team approach concept. The Bible emphasizes a plurality of leadership who equally share the responsibilities of leadership, though our functions in specifics may be somewhat different. This shared leadership is the design of God. It wasn’t any different in Timothy’s day as it is today. There is wisdom in many counselors.

The Greek word used here for honor is timē which means respect or regard. This means we are supposed to show respect to the elder. This word, timē, also used in 1 Timothy 5:3 included the idea of remuneration for the work rendered. Today, we use the word honorarium to describe this practice.

When writing to the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Philippians, the Apostle Paul referred to money as fellowship. The sharing of money or having fellowship with an elder conveys a heart attitude, a motive, a sense of love and intimacy and spiritual significance. The bottom line here is that the one who has dedicated his life to the leadership of the sheep is to be honored in terms of respect and remuneration. The phrase double honor means generous respect and generous remuneration.

In v.18 we read, "For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages." 

Here the Apostle quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7. The picture here is that if we have an ox grinding out grain and that ox is providing food for us, then we should allow the ox to eat. Paul is saying, "Don’t muzzle his mouth while he’s doing that, let him eat as he works."

The picture is that of a threshing floor where bundles of grain were thrown out on the threshing floor for the grain to be crushed under the feet of the ox and the grain would be released from the chaff. The threshing floors were built on a flat rock, high on a hill, so that the wind would blow the chaff away from the grain. And when the oxen had done his job, he would have separated the kernels from the chaff which would have been blown away from the wind. And, if an ox performed this work to produce food, then he was allowed to eat some of the grain. 

God’s desire is that the full time worker is provided for and He moves the hearts of the people to have fellowship with the teacher. The Greek word misthos, “his wages” is used here in v.18. This is not a reward, it is a wage. The worker is due to pay for his work is the idea.

As you know, I taught Bible and coached at a local Christian school for thirty one years. Then, I decided the Lord would have me to begin a discipleship program for anyone who desired it. This meant that the expected and guaranteed salary from the school was going away. I have to say, it was a tough decision to step out in faith and trust the Lord. But, do you know what? The Lord has not missed a beat. I essentially receive every month the equivalent of what I received at that Christian school. And, I have discovered that just as the Lord met my needs while teacher there at the Christian school, He meets my needs now. The key? Walking in His will and being defined by His word.

1 Timothy 5:11-16

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11 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. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 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. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. 16 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. ~ 1 Timothy 5:11-16

We have been studying 1 Timothy 5 for some time now. The subject of this section is the care of widows. In today's text, the Apostle Paul provides instructions for the young widows who would be more likely to remarry given their husbands are no longer with them.

In v.11 we read, "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."

For the woman who is younger than sixty and is widowed and she finds that she has the desire to remarry, the Apostle Paul writes, "do not put her on the list of widows" who do the afore mentioned ministry." In fact, the Apostle instructs us to encourage her to remarry, to make a lifelong commitment to the man the Lord has brought into her life, even if she had committed to serve the Lord as a single person. This is normal and there is nothing wrong for her to want to spend the rest of her days with a man that she is attracted to and whom she can care for.

In v.12-13 we read, "12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 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."

If these younger widows still had the desire to marry, Paul encourages them to marry. God puts these desires in our hearts, even if she had made a pledge to serve the Lord as a widow. The judgment in v.12 would have been from those who were aware of her "first pledge" to serve the Lord as a widow and never marry again. 

In v.13, the Apostle Paul describes a woman who has the desire to get married again, yet she thinks this desire is not from God. When we do not understand God's will for our lives, it is then that we are more likely to feed the flesh. Thinking the desire is not from God, we wrestle with it more and more. Then  we struggle to know what to do with the angst that has been created. And, when we find ourselves in these places, we do what is easiest and most natural: we give in to feeding the flesh. This is what Paul is describing in v.13.

Lest any of us become judgmental, we have all experienced this when we have concluded the wrong thing about the Lord's  will for our lives and we are discouraged and distracted and we do not know what to do. It is at this point that we find ourselves giving up on walking with His Spirit and we resort to feeding the flesh. The flesh always has a greater chance to strengthen itself when we start operating off of an incorrect understanding of God and His will for our lives. And, think of it, her desire to be married is from God.

If it is God's will for the widow to remarry, she should not be involved in the ministry that those who are sixty and above are involved in. I have found, when I am out of God's will for my life, the flesh seems to be that much more stronger in its lure of getting me to go its way. The key here is to know God's will and do it. And, for a widow, remarrying is not sinful, but being a busybody is, especially if she is saying things which are the products of the flesh.

In v.14-15 we read, "14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan."

The Apostle here gives some reasons for encouraging us to encourage a widow to remarry: “to have children.” This was God’s command to our first parents in Genesis 1:28. So, the normal result of marriage is a family. Raising up children who have a heart for the Lord and others is the purpose for which God has designed the home. Having and training children to love God is God’s purpose for mankind, and, even though a woman had been married, lost her husband, and needed to be remarried again, the purpose doesn’t change.

We live in a culture which rejects the idea of the wife not working and the husband being the bread winner for the family, but this is God's design. This is one of several explanations for the disintegration of the American family. And, I know it is hard, my wife and I lived off of a Christian school salary for years, but we were determined to obey the Lord's teaching. And, He blessed us and provided even though we had some very lean years there for a while. We were convinced that someone in a Day Care would not train our children quite the way we would if their momma had stayed home with them. To ignore God's design for the family is paramount to turning away to Satan's ways of thinking and living.

In v.16 we read, "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."

Paul is careful here to not discourage those who want to do this ministry to those who are widows. God has always had a heart for the helpless, the weak, the lonely, and the discouraged. This is a major reason why you and I have been included in His family, that we might have a heart for the neglected, lonely, and despairing. And, even if we are not ministering to widows today, the principle is yet for us all: Look for someone to encourage today. Lord knows we need it in our sin ravaged world!