Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Welcome to Pastor’sChat. One of the greatest dangers facing the church is not always oppositionfrom the outside. Sometimes the greatest danger comes from those within thechurch who begin to substitute their own ideas for the truth of God's Word. Aswe continue in 1 Timothy chapter 6, Paul returns to a subject that he hasaddressed repeatedly throughout this letter: the danger of false teaching.  In verse 3, Paul describes those who teach something contrary to the sound words ofour Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine that produces godliness. Notice thatexpression: the doctrine that accords with godliness. Paul is reminding Timothythat sound doctrine and godly living belong together. The purpose of biblicalteaching is not simply to increase our knowledge. It is to transform our lives.A person may know a great deal about theology, understand biblical languages,and be able to debate difficult passages of Scripture. But if that knowledgedoes not produce humility, holiness, and love, something is terribly wrong. TheBible was never intended merely to make us smarter. God gave us His Word tomake us more like His Son. Then Paul identifiesthe attitude that often accompanies false teaching. In verse 4, he says that such a person is proud, yet knowsnothing. What a striking contrast! Here is someone who thinks he knowseverything, but in reality he has missed the most important truth. Pride has away of blinding us to our own spiritual condition. Proverbs 16:18 reminds usthat pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Paulcontinues by describing an unhealthy obsession with disputes and arguments overwords. Now, there iscertainly a proper place for defending biblical truth. In fact, Paul hasinstructed Timothy to do exactly that. But there is a tremendous differencebetween defending the faith and simply enjoying an argument. Some people seemmore interested in winning a debate than winning a soul. Others become soconsumed with minor controversies that they neglect the great truths ofScripture. And notice the results Paul identifies: envy, strife, reviling, evilsuspicions, and constant friction. Instead of producing spiritual maturity,this kind of teaching produces division and confusion. That should remind usof something important. We must not judge a ministry merely by how impressiveits teacher appears or how many people are attracted to it. We must ask whetherits teaching is faithful to Scripture and whether it encourages genuinegodliness. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 that we would recognize false prophets bytheir fruits.  Then in verse 5, Paul describes people whose minds have become corrupted and who aredestitute of the truth. And he identifies another troubling characteristic. Theysuppose that godliness is a means of financial gain. In other words, they viewreligion as an opportunity for personal profit. How tragic when someone takesthe sacred truths of God's Word and uses them primarily as a means of enrichinghimself! Now, Scripture certainly teaches that those who labor faithfully inministry may receive financial support. Paul has already addressed that inchapter 5. But there is a vastdifference between receiving legitimate support for ministry and exploitingspiritual things for personal gain. The ministry must never become a businessin which the Gospel is treated as merchandise. And here is a question every oneof us should consider. Am I more concerned about being recognized as right, orabout actually walking in the truth? We should study the Scriptures diligently.We should be willing to defend sound doctrine. And we should never compromisethe truth of God's Word. But we must always do so with humility, love, and asincere desire to honor the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Have you ever considered that the way we conduct ourselves at work caneither strengthen or weaken our testimony for Jesus Christ? Sometimes we thinkof our Christian testimony primarily in terms of what we say about the Lord.But the Bible reminds us that our actions often speak just as loudly as ourwords. As we begin the final chapter of 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul addresses asubject that might seem unusual at first. He speaks about servants and masters.But behind these instructions is a timeless principle concerning ourresponsibilities, our attitudes, and our testimony before a watching world. In verse 1, Paul addresses those who are under the yoke of slavery and instructsthem to regard their masters as worthy of honor. Then he explains why: so thatGod's name and His doctrine would not be dishonored. We need to remember thehistorical setting. Slavery was widespread throughout the Roman Empire. Someslaves performed household duties, while others worked in agriculture,business, education, and various professions. The slavery of the ancient worldwas not identical in every respect to the race-based slavery that later existedin America. Nevertheless, Roman slavery involved human beings being owned byothers, often without basic freedoms or legal protections. Paul was writing toChristians living within that social system. His instructions concerning theirconduct were not an endorsement of slavery. Rather, he was teaching believershow to honor Christ even in difficult circumstances. And notice his primaryconcern: the reputation of God's name and the truth of His Word. That is apowerful thought! Our behavior can influence how others view the God we professto worship. A Christian employee who is dishonest, disrespectful, lazy, orconstantly complaining can damage his testimony. On the other hand, a believerwho demonstrates integrity, diligence, kindness, and respect can bring honor tothe Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:23reminds us that whatever we do, we should do it heartily, as unto the Lord andnot merely unto men. What a difference that perspective makes! When weunderstand that our ultimate Master is Jesus Christ, even ordinaryresponsibilities take on eternal significance. Then in verse 2, Paul addresses another situation.Some Christian servants had masters who were also believers. You might thinkthat would automatically make everything easier. But apparently some servantswere tempted to take advantage of their shared relationship in Christ. Paultells them not to despise their believing masters because they are brethren. Instead,they should serve them even more faithfully because those benefiting from theirservice are fellow believers. Here is anotherbeautiful principle. Our spiritual equality in Christ should increase our loveand service toward one another, not diminish our sense of responsibility. Galatians3:28 teaches that believers are one in Christ Jesus. Our standing before God isnot determined by social position, wealth, nationality, or earthly status. Andyet, being equal in Christ does not eliminate our responsibility to treat oneanother with honor. Think about how this applies in our homes, our churches,and our places of employment. Sometimes people are more courteous towardstrangers than toward those closest to them. We may take advantage offamiliarity and forget the importance of showing appreciation and respect. But Paul reminds usthat our relationship with other believers should motivate us to demonstrateeven greater kindness and faithfulness. And there is something else worthnoticing. At the end of verse 2, Paul tells Timothy to teach and exhort thesethings. In other words, these were not insignificant matters. They wereimportant enough to be included in the instruction of the church. The Christianlife is not merely about what we believe on Sunday. It is about how we liveevery day of the week.

There's an important truth I've learned over many years of ministry: Youcannot always determine a person's true character by what you see on theoutside. Some people make a wonderful first impression, but over time, theiractions reveal something very different. Others may seem quiet, unnoticed, oreven unimportant, but as you get to know them, you discover a depth ofgodliness and faithfulness that is truly remarkable. Today, as we finish 1Timothy chapter 5, Paul reminds Timothy that both sin and righteousness have away of becoming evident. In verse 24, Paul explains that some sins areobvious, others are hidden and writes that some people's sins are clearly evident,going before them to judgment, while the sins of others follow later. What doesthat mean? Some sins are obvious. A person's behavior may clearly revealdishonesty, immorality, pride, or other forms of wrongdoing. In such cases,there is little uncertainty about the person's conduct. But other sins are notimmediately apparent. Sometimes a person can maintain an outward appearance ofgodliness while concealing serious spiritual problems. Eventually, however,those hidden things may come to light. Now, remember thecontext. Paul has been instructing Timothy about appointing and evaluatingspiritual leaders. And this verse helps explain why Timothy should not be tooquick to recognize someone for ministry. Time often reveals what firstimpressions cannot. A man may appear qualified today, but his true characterbecomes clearer as others observe how he lives, treats his family, responds tocriticism, handles money, and deals with temptation. Jesus taught asimilar principle in Matthew 7:16 when He said that people would be known bytheir fruits. Character is revealed through the pattern of a person's life. Butthere's another important truth here. Even when human beings fail to recognizewrongdoing, nothing is hidden from God. Hebrews 4:13 reminds us that all thingsare exposed before the One to whom we must give an account. That should causeevery one of us to examine our own hearts. Are there attitudes, habits, orsecret sins in our lives that need to be confessed and forsaken? We maysuccessfully hide something from other people. But we can never hide it fromGod. And thankfully, when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just toforgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, as 1 John 1:9 assures us. Now, I love theencouragement found in the next verse. In verse 25, Paul says that GoodWorks Will Also Become Evident and even those that are not immediatelyapparent cannot remain hidden forever. What a wonderful thought! Just aswrongdoing eventually becomes known, faithful service also matters, even whennobody seems to notice.  Think about theChristian who quietly visits someone who is lonely. Or the church member whofaithfully prays for missionaries. Or the person who gives generously but neverseeks recognition. Or the Sunday school teacher who spends years investing inthe lives of children. Sometimes these acts of faithfulness receive very littleattention. But God sees every one of them. And there will come aday when He will reveal the true value of what was done for His glory. Jesusspoke about this in Matthew 6 when He encouraged His followers to give, pray,and serve without seeking the applause of others. Our Heavenly Father sees whatis done in secret. And He knows the motives of our hearts. Now, I want you tonotice something else. Paul is not teaching that our good works earn salvation.The Bible makes it clear in Ephesians 2:8–9 that salvation is by grace throughfaith, not by works. But the very next verse, Ephesians 2:10, reminds us thatwe are created in Christ Jesus for good works. We are not saved by good works. Weare saved unto good works! And those good works become evidence of thetransforming grace of God in our lives.

Today, Paul gives Timothy somevery practical advice about exercising patience, wisdom, and discernment. In verse 22, Paul warns of the danger of hastydecisions. He tells Timothy notto lay hands on anyone hastily and not to share in the sins of others. He alsotells him to keep himself pure. What does Paul mean by laying hands on someone?Throughout the New Testament, the laying on of hands was sometimes associatedwith prayer, blessing, commissioning, and recognizing individuals for spiritualministry. We see examples in Acts 13, when Barnabas and Saul were sent out formissionary service, and in 1 Timothy 4:14, where Paul refers to the laying onof hands in connection with Timothy's ministry. In the context of 1Timothy 5, many conservative Bible commentators believe Paul is warning Timothyagainst appointing men to spiritual leadership too quickly. Others believe thewarning may also include the premature restoration of elders who have beendisciplined. Either way, the principle is clear. Spiritual leadership shouldnever be entrusted to someone without careful examination of his character. Aperson may be talented, eloquent, personable, and enthusiastic about ministry. Butnone of those qualities can substitute for godly character. Remember what Paultold Timothy earlier in chapter 3? An overseer must be above reproach,self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, and spirituallymature. Paul even warned against appointing a novice, someone who isspiritually inexperienced. Why? Because spiritual leadership requires more thanability. It requires maturity. Now, notice the nextstatement: “Do not share in other people's sins”. If Timothy carelesslyappointed an unqualified man to leadership, he could bear responsibility forhelping place that individual in a position where his wrongdoing might harmothers. That's a sobering thought. And it reminds us that decisions involvingspiritual leadership should always be made prayerfully and carefully. Paulconcludes the verse by telling Timothy to keep himself pure. In other words,while Timothy was responsible for examining the conduct of others, he mustnever neglect his own spiritual life. What a powerful lesson for everyChristian! It's possible to become so concerned about the failures of othersthat we overlook our own need for holiness. In verse 23, Paul gives Timothy a surprisingpersonal instruction.  It appears that verse 23 seems outof place because here Paul tells Timothy to stop drinking only water and to usea little wine because of his stomach and frequent illnesses. Why would Paulsuddenly include this instruction? Apparently, Timothy suffered from recurringphysical problems, particularly involving his stomach. Some Bible scholarssuggest that drinking water in the ancient world could sometimes expose peopleto illness because of contamination. Paul's advice appears to be medicinalrather than an encouragement to indulge in alcoholic beverages. Notice that Paul saysa little wine. The emphasis is on moderation and Timothy's physical well-being.It's also interesting that Paul did not simply tell Timothy to expectmiraculous healing. Instead, he offered a practical suggestion concerning hishealth. God can certainly heal, but He also provides ordinary means throughwhich we care for our bodies. There's anotherencouraging lesson here. Timothy was a faithful servant of God, yet heexperienced frequent physical illnesses. Being devoted to Christ does not meanthat we will never experience physical weakness. Even God's most faithfulservants sometimes suffer. And the Lord can continue to use us in spite of ourlimitations. So today, remember these two important truths. Be patient anddiscerning when making decisions that affect others. And be faithful in caringfor the body and the opportunities God has entrusted to you.

One of the most difficult responsibilities in the life of a church isknowing how to respond when someone in spiritual leadership is accused ofwrongdoing. Over the years, I've learned that accusations are not always true.Sometimes people misunderstand circumstances, sometimes rumors spread, andsometimes individuals make accusations because of personal disagreements. ButI've also learned that spiritual leaders are not above accountability. Andthat's exactly what Paul addresses in our Scripture today. In verse 19, Paul writes about the importanceof reliable evidence, and he tellsTimothy not to receive an accusation against an elder except on the testimonyof two or three witnesses. This principle comes directly from Deuteronomy19:15, where God established the importance of multiple witnesses whendetermining guilt. Why is this so important? Because a person's reputation canbe damaged very quickly, sometimes by a single accusation that has never beenestablished as true. And when that person is a pastor or spiritual leader, theconsequences can affect an entire congregation. Paul is not saying that pastorsshould be protected from legitimate investigation. He's saying that accusationsmust be handled carefully, fairly, and according to reliable evidence. Thechurch must never become a place where gossip is accepted as truth. At the same time,this verse must never be used to silence someone reporting abuse or seriousmisconduct. A report can be taken seriously and investigated even when there isonly one person initially willing to speak. Crimes should be reported to theproper authorities. Paul's instruction is about establishing guilt fairly, notignoring potential wrongdoing. In verse 20, Paul deals with when sin must beconfronted, and he continuesby saying that those who are sinning should be rebuked in the presence of allso that others may fear. Now, this is a serious statement. The contextindicates that Paul is particularly addressing elders whose sin has beenestablished and who continue in wrongdoing. Why would public rebuke sometimesbe necessary? Because public sin, especially among spiritual leaders, candamage the testimony of the church and undermine confidence in God's Word. Whenleaders are held accountable, it reminds the entire congregation that no one isabove God's standards. But we must rememberthat biblical correction is never intended simply to humiliate someone. Itspurpose is to uphold holiness, protect the church, and, whenever possible,bring the offending person to repentance. Galatians 6:1 reminds us that thosewho are spiritual should seek to restore someone overtaken in a fault, doing soin a spirit of gentleness. Truth and grace must always work together. In Verse 21 Paul tells us that there should be nofavoritism in God's church.  Here gives Timothy a solemn chargebefore God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels. He commands him toobserve these instructions without prejudice or partiality. Think about that! Timothywas not to treat one elder differently because he was wealthy, influential,popular, or a close personal friend. The same biblical standards must apply toeveryone. And that includes pastors. I've often thought about how importantthis principle is in the church. Sometimes people are willing to overlookwrongdoing because they admire a particular leader. But our loyalty must alwaysbe to Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word, rather than to any individualpersonality. The church belongs to Christ. He purchased it with His own blood. Andthose who serve in leadership are accountable to Him. So what can we learnfrom these verses? First, we must refuse to spread unverified accusations. Second,we must take credible concerns seriously. Third, we must insist uponaccountability and fairness. And fourth, we must remember that spiritualleadership is a sacred trust. A pastor is not called to be a celebrity but to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

Have you ever stopped to consider how much responsibility God places uponthose He calls to shepherd His people? Over the years, I've discovered thatmost people see only a small portion of what a pastor actually does. They seehim standing behind the pulpit on Sunday morning, preaching God's Word. Theymay occasionally see him visiting the hospital, conducting a funeral, orperforming a wedding. You don’t know how many times I heard someone say to me, “Boy,I wish I had your job, you only have to work a few hours on Sunday.” But much of apastor's ministry takes place where nobody sees it. There are the hours ofstudying God's Word, the burdens carried in prayer, the counseling sessions,the difficult decisions, and sometimes the tears shed over people who arestruggling spiritually. Today, as we continue through 1 Timothy 5, Pauladdresses how the church should treat those whom God has called to spiritualleadership. In Verse 17, Paul addresses Honoring Faithful Elders and begins by sayingthat elders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor,particularly those who labor in preaching and teaching. The word"elder" here refers to spiritual leadership in the local church. Inthe New Testament, the terms elder, overseer, and pastor describe closelyrelated aspects of the shepherding ministry. Notice that Paul emphasizes elderswho rule well. Spiritual leadership is not merely holding a position orcarrying a title. It involves faithfully caring for God's people, protectingthe flock, and setting an example of godliness. But what does Paulmean by "double honor"? Some have suggested that this meansexceptional respect. And certainly faithful pastors deserve the love andrespect of their congregations. However, the context of the next verse makes itclear that Paul is also speaking about financial support. The church should notonly respect those who faithfully minister God's Word but should also recognizetheir material needs. Notice something else. Paul particularly mentions thosewho labor in the Word and doctrine. The word translated "labor"carries the idea of working diligently, even to the point of weariness. Preparing to preachand teach the Scriptures faithfully requires much more than simply findingsomething interesting to say. It involves prayer, study, carefulinterpretation, and a sincere desire to communicate what God has actually said.After more than fifty years in pastoral ministry, I can tell you that theresponsibility of preaching God's Word is both a tremendous privilege and asacred obligation. And by the way, I personally never considered my calling asa pastor as a job or vocation. And I never discussed a salary or benefitpackage with a pulpit committee, and I always felt I was very blessed andhonored by the Lord to have the privilege and opportunity to teach and preachGod’s Word and minister to God’s people. I never considered speaking on Sundayas work, because it was the greatest joy and satisfaction I could experience inobeying the Lord and doing His will! I would hope and pray that most pastorsfeel the same!  In Verse 18, Paulgives us the Biblical basis for supporting God's servants and supports his teaching with two importantstatements from Scripture. First, he refers to Deuteronomy 25:4, where Godcommanded that an ox should not be muzzled while treading grain. In ancienttimes, an ox would walk over harvested grain to separate the kernels from thestalks. God commanded that the animal be permitted to eat while it worked. Theprinciple is simple: Those who labor should be allowed to benefit from theirlabor. Paul then refers to the principle that a worker deserves his wages, astatement also found in Jesus' teaching in Luke 10:7. What aninteresting combination! Paul places a passage from the Law of Moses alongsidethe teaching of Jesus to establish the responsibility of supporting faithfulspiritual workers.

Welcome to Pastor'sChat! One of the greatest blessings Godhas given us is the family. And yet, one of the greatest challenges we face islearning how to fulfill our responsibilities within that family. Marriage,raising children, caring for aging parents, helping relatives who arestruggling, and maintaining a godly testimony in our homes all require wisdom,patience, sacrifice, and love. Today, as we conclude the first sixteen versesof 1 Timothy chapter 5, the Apostle Paul reminds us that our responsibilitiesto our families are an important part of our service to God. Let's begin withverse 14. Paul encourages younger widows to marry, bear children, manage theirhouseholds, and give the adversary no opportunity for reproach. Now, rememberthe context. Paul has been discussing the church's responsibility to care forwidows who are genuinely without family support. He has also warned about thedifficulties that could arise when younger widows are placed on a particularlist of continuing church support, especially if they later abandon commitmentsassociated with that arrangement. So here Paulencourages a constructive and honorable course of life. He speaks of marriage,children, and managing the home. We should be careful not to interpret this asa command that every widow must remarry or that every woman must have children.Paul himself, in 1 Corinthians 7, recognizes the value of remaining unmarriedin certain circumstances. Here, he is giving pastoral direction appropriate tothe situation Timothy was facing in Ephesus. And notice the emphasis onmanaging the household. In the first-centuryworld, managing a household involved substantial responsibility. It includedcaring for children, organizing the family's daily affairs, exercising wisestewardship, and contributing to the stability of the home. Paul recognizedthat these responsibilities were meaningful and honorable. Sometimes oursociety tends to minimize the importance of ordinary family responsibilities. ButScripture reminds us that the home is one of the most important places whereChristian character is developed and demonstrated.  He wants theseyounger widows to give the adversary no opportunity for reproach. In otherwords, their conduct should not provide legitimate grounds for criticismagainst the Christian faith. And that principle applies to all of us. Whetherwe're married or single, young or old, pastors or church members, our conductshould strengthen rather than undermine our Christian testimony. In verse 15,Paul makes a sobering observation. He says that some have already turned asideafter Satan. Now, Paul is speaking about a particular problem that haddeveloped in the church at Ephesus. He doesn't explain every detail, but thewarning is unmistakable. It is possible for believers to become distracted,spiritually careless, and vulnerable to the enemy's influence. That's why wemust continually guard our hearts and remain faithful to the Lord. Then we come to verse16. Paul returns to the practical matter of caring for widows. He instructsbelievers who have widows dependent upon them to provide appropriate assistanceso that the church will not be unnecessarily burdened and can care for thosewho are truly alone. Now, here's something important. Paul is not trying toexcuse the church from helping people in need. Quite the opposite! He's makingsure the church's resources will be available for those who genuinely have noother means of support. Family members who are able to help should fulfilltheir responsibilities. And the church should be prepared to assist those whohave no family support. That is both compassionate and wise stewardship. I believe there's avaluable lesson here for our churches today. We need to be generous, but wealso need to be responsible. We should never turn away from someone who isgenuinely hurting simply because helping them might be inconvenient.   

Welcome to Pastor'sChat! Someone once said that one of themost dangerous things we can do is allow our tongues to get ahead of our heartsand minds! Have you ever said something and immediately wished you could takeit back? Perhaps it was an unkind remark, a piece of information that shouldhave remained confidential, or something you repeated without knowing whetherit was true. Today, as we continue in 1 Timothy chapter 5, the Apostle Paulgives us some important warnings about our commitments, the use of our time,and especially the words we speak. Our passage begins inverse 11, where Paul instructs Timothy not to enroll younger widows on thechurch's particular list of widows receiving continuing support. Now, theseverses require careful interpretation. Paul is not condemning young widows, noris he teaching that remarriage is sinful. In fact, as we'll discover intomorrow's passage, Paul actually encourages younger widows to marry whenappropriate. The concern here involves the responsibilities and commitmentsapparently associated with this special enrollment. Paul warns thatcircumstances and desires may change, creating a conflict with earliercommitments. In verse 12, herefers to those who have cast off their first faith or pledge. ConservativeBible scholars have offered different explanations of that expression. Someunderstand it as a reference to a special promise of devotion or serviceassociated with the widow's enrollment. Others emphasize a broader departurefrom their original Christian faithfulness. Since Paul later encourages youngerwidows to marry, I believe the immediate concern is not marriage itself, butabandoning a prior commitment or responsibility. And that leads us to animportant principle. We should never makecommitments lightly, especially commitments involving our service to the Lord. Ecclesiastes5 reminds us of the seriousness of making vows before God. Now, I realize thatcircumstances sometimes change, and there are legitimate reasons why we may beunable to fulfill certain responsibilities. But as Christians, our word shouldmean something. If we promise to do something, we should make every reasonableeffort to follow through. Then, in verse 13,Paul identifies another danger. He describes some who have become idle,wandering from house to house, becoming gossips and busybodies, speaking thingsthey ought not to speak. Now, that's a rather vivid description, isn't it? Butbefore we apply this only to the women Paul is addressing, let's remember thatthe dangers of idleness, gossip, and meddling are certainly not limited to anyparticular age or gender! Men can gossip just as easily as women. And sometimeswe can even disguise gossip as a prayer request! Have you ever heard someonebegin a conversation by saying, "Now, I probably shouldn't tell you this,but I want you to know so you can pray about it"? Well, perhaps the bestthing to do would be to pray without repeating the information! Paul identifies threerelated problems.  First, idleness. Whenpeople neglect meaningful responsibilities, they can become vulnerable tounproductive habits. That doesn't mean every moment must be filled withactivity. Rest is a gift from God. But there is a difference between necessaryrest and a pattern of irresponsible idleness. Second, gossip. Gossipinvolves spreading information about others in ways that are unnecessary,harmful, or inappropriate. And even if the information happens to be true, thatdoesn't automatically mean we should repeat it. Proverbs 11:13 reminds us thata faithful person knows how to keep a confidence. Third, Paul mentionsbusybodies. A busybody is someone who becomes unnecessarily involved in otherpeople's personal affairs. There is a tremendous difference between showinggenuine concern for someone and attempting to control or interfere in theirlife. Christian love seeks to help.

Today, in 1 Timothy chapter 5, the Apostle Paulreminds us that a faithful Christian life leaves a testimony that can continueinfluencing others long after we're gone. Beginning in verse 9,Paul gives Timothy some very specific instructions about the widows who were tobe enrolled for the church's continuing care. He says that a widow should notbe placed on this particular list unless she is at least sixty years old andhas been faithful in her marriage. Now, we need to understand that Paul isn'tsaying a widow younger than sixty is unworthy of compassion or assistance. He'sestablishing qualifications for a particular category of widows who apparentlyreceived ongoing support and may also have performed recognized service withinthe church. The exact organization of that ministry isn't fully explained, butthe qualifications show that Paul wanted the church to recognize women whoselives demonstrated maturity and faithfulness. Notice first theemphasis on faithfulness in marriage. The expression Paul uses points to awoman who has demonstrated marital fidelity. And then, in verse 10, hedescribes the kind of reputation that should characterize her life. He beginswith the importance of good works. Now, we know that good works don't save us. Ephesians2:8–9 reminds us that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. Butthe very next verse, Ephesians 2:10, tells us that we were created in ChristJesus for good works. Good works are not the root of our salvation; they arethe fruit of our salvation. Paul then mentionsseveral examples of those good works. First, he speaks of raising children. Whatan important ministry! In a world that often measures success by publicrecognition and professional achievement, we sometimes forget the tremendousspiritual influence of a godly mother. The countless hours spent teachingchildren, praying with them, correcting them, encouraging them, anddemonstrating the love of Christ are never wasted. And even for women who havenot had children of their own, there are wonderful opportunities to nurture andencourage the next generation. Paul next mentionshospitality. In the early church, hospitality was especially important. Travelingbelievers and missionaries often depended upon the generosity of Christians whoopened their homes to them. Hospitality isn't necessarily about having anexpensive house or preparing an elaborate meal. It's about having a heart thatwelcomes others. Sometimes a simple meal, a cup of coffee, or a few moments ofconversation can become a tremendous blessing. Then Paul mentionswashing the saints' feet. In the first-century world, people commonly traveledon dusty roads wearing sandals. Washing someone's feet was an act of humbleservice. And immediately we're reminded of Jesus in John 13. On the nightbefore His crucifixion, our Lord took a towel, washed His disciples' feet, anddemonstrated what true servant leadership looks like. Paul is describing womenwho followed that same spirit of humility. They weren't too important to serveothers. They didn't need recognition or applause. They simply saw a need andresponded with love. Next, Paul speaks ofrelieving the afflicted. That includes helping people who are suffering,struggling, or experiencing difficult circumstances. Sometimes the mostmeaningful ministry we can perform is simply being present with someone duringa time of sorrow. And finally, Paul describes a woman who has diligentlyfollowed every good work. What a testimony! Not someone who occasionallyperformed a kind deed when it was convenient, but someone whose entire lifedemonstrated a consistent pattern of Christian service.  My friend, there'ssomething I want you to think about today. We don't get to choose how long wewill live, but we can choose how we will live the days God gives us.

Paul has been instructingyoung Timothy about the church's responsibility to care for widows. Now hedescribes the spiritual character of a widow who is truly alone. He says thatshe trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. Whata beautiful description! This woman may have lost her husband. She may havevery little financial security. Perhaps her children have died or she has nofamily members to care for her. But Paul tells us something wonderful abouther. She has not lost her faith in God! Her circumstances mayhave changed dramatically, but her confidence in the Lord remains steadfast. Noticethat Paul says she continues in supplications and prayers. Supplicationemphasizes bringing our particular needs and requests before God. Prayer speaksmore broadly of our fellowship and communication with Him. And Paul says shecontinues in these things night and day. That doesn't necessarily mean shespends every waking moment on her knees. It means prayer has become a regularand essential part of her life. Over my years inministry, I've known some wonderful elderly saints who possessed very little ofthis world's wealth but were spiritually rich beyond measure. Some of thegreatest prayer warriors I've ever known were elderly widows who faithfullyprayed for their pastors, missionaries, children, grandchildren, and churches. Theymay not have been able to teach a class, sing in the choir, or participate inall the activities of the church. But they were carrying on a powerful ministrythrough prayer. And I believe we'll be amazed when we reach heaven and discoverhow much God accomplished through the prayers of faithful believers whose nameswere never widely known. Then, in verse 6,Paul presents a contrast. He describes the widow who lives for pleasure asbeing dead even while she lives. That's a strong statement! Paul isn'tcondemning legitimate enjoyment or suggesting that Christians should neverexperience happiness. The idea is someone who makes self-indulgence andpersonal pleasure the controlling purpose of life. A person can be physicallyalive and yet spiritually empty. Jesus expressed a similar truth in Mark 8:36when He asked what it would profit a person to gain the whole world and losehis own soul. The world often measures life by possessions, entertainment,comfort, and personal satisfaction. But God measures life by our relationshipwith Him and the spiritual fruit produced through that relationship. Then Paul tellsTimothy in verse 7 to teach these things so that the believers may beblameless. In other words, these instructions weren't merely suggestions. Theywere biblical responsibilities that Timothy was to communicate clearly to thecongregation. And that brings us to verse 8, one of the strongest statements inthis entire chapter. Paul says that if someone refuses to provide for his ownhousehold, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Now, weneed to understand this carefully. Paul is not condemning someone who isunemployed, disabled, financially struggling, or genuinely unable to providefor his family. He's addressing the person who has the ability andresponsibility to care for his family but deliberately refuses to do so. And notice howseriously Paul views that neglect. He says such a person has denied the faith. Why?Because Christianity isn't simply a collection of doctrines we believe. It is alife transformed by the grace of God. And that transformation should beespecially evident in our closest relationships. A man may be respected in hiscommunity, successful in business, and active in church, but if he deliberatelyneglects his wife, children, or dependent parents, something is terribly wrongwith his Christian testimony. Paul says even unbelievers often recognize theirresponsibility to care for their families. How much more should those of us whoknow Jesus Christ demonstrate that kind of love!