Principal No. 2 (verses 3-16): “Extend care to people who have real needs. But, make certain you wisely assess each individual situation to consider the genuineness of the need and the best way in which to respond to that need.”
We like to think of ourselves as people who readily care for others. But, I wonder? Do we spend more time talking about meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ than we actually spend meeting those needs?
In order to follow the nature of the instructions that Paul gives to Timothy, we must continually assess whether or not we are truly identifying the needs of our fellow believers and meeting those needs in an appropriate way. And, when I say “fellow believers” I don’t just mean our fellow believers here in our local area. I mean we need to identify and meet the needs of all believers. Those who live where we live, as well as those in our county, state, nation, and even around the world.
Once we have made certain we have met the needs of our fellow believers, we must not forget the needs outside the Household of Faith. We have a responsibility to extend God's love by reaching out to touch the lives of everyone in need. We must do so with the same care that we reach out to our fellow believers. Here too, we must do our best to identify the needs in our circle of influence and then meet those needs in the most appropriate way. That takes a real effort. It takes a "community of faith" to take on such a task. We must link arms and hearts, pool our resources, and choose wisely to maximize the effectiveness of those resources.
Oh, yeah. There is a lot of need. “How can we possibly meet all those needs?” you may ask. I’ll tell you how: one need at a time. That’s how. One need at a time.
Principle No. 3 (verses 17-20): “Give proper respect to leaders in the church. In fact, give double honor to those who lead well. But, don’t tolerate any sin among them. Rather, publicly rebuke them for their sin in order to serve as an example to others.”
Okay, then. We need to give “proper respect” to those who serve well in leadership among us. But, we also need to adopt a “zero tolerance policy” in regard to their sins.
“What? Are you kidding?” you respond. “Hold leaders accountable? Do you think I’m a nut case?”
Nut case or not, what do you suppose would happen if the people in, well, your church actually followed Paul’s instructions? Between the list of requirements for leaders that Paul offers in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and in Titus chapter 1, and this concept of giving double honor to those who serve well, but holding them to a rigorous standard of righteousness, do you think the folks in your church might end up with some amazing people leading their congregation? Yeah. They would.
In the next post we will continue our journey. So, rest up.
Copyright © 2009 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.
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