Kent

As humans, we tend to be envious of others who seem to have more of the "flashy things" of life. We tend to forget that we should learn to be content with those things we have, and especially the love of God and our families. We see too many commercials on TV that lead many to believe that they simply can't be happy without a newer, bigger car, house, lots of "toys" to play with on the weekends. To escape the traps we need to remember the teachings of Jesus and Paul and Timothy, and many others. While we can strive to become better at the work we do, we should also strive to be content with our family and with the love we know God wraps around us every day.

While we can strive to improve our lot by continuing education or training for better work positions, we should also learn to accept our lives as they are, allowing ourselves to be happy in our current state too. If we are happy with ourselves, happy with our families, and happy with our friends, we can be "content" with our present condition. But we can also look for improvement in our abilities, and, perhaps, a higher salary would follow. But if it doesn't, we can still improve our work skills so that we can do a better job, or work more efficiently, etc.

I think we are tempted by some of these false expectations about wealth because we are a little too greedy, and the thoughts of easy gain appeal to that nature in us. We have gotten to the point where we are no longer satisfied to have the basic necessities. In truth, God has promised to fill our needs, and we should learn to accept His Word. But we should remember that it is our "needs" that will be fulfilled, not our greedy expactations.

At the time, slavery was legal within the Roman society. Some slaves were already Christians as were some of the masters. Paul says that the Christian slaves should serve their masters as well as they can, and not try to "slack off" by taking advantage of both being Christians. Likewise he tells the Christian slaves to serve their non-believing masters well. In both cases, he says that such good performance of their duties will display good Christian lives and values.

Members and leaders of a congregation need to really know those they are putting into positions of leadership. Waiting a little while to get to know them would serve them well.

Q3. (1 Timothy 5:19-21) Why was it necessary to make formal accusations and "try" the false teachers? Why were the temptations to compromise and not go through with it so great? Why is it so difficult to exercise church discipline today? Making a formal accusation was to involve several witnesses, not just one, so that there wouldn't be matters charged just because of one unhappy person. Also when done out in the open everyone else can see what is going on, and why. It is tempting to compromise when it may involve someone who provides substantial financial backing for the church, etc. That is also partly the reason for an unwillingness to excercise discipline today. We are afraid to hurt others' feelings, or afraid of confronting someone, or something, that is wrong.

Paul points out that elders who are teaching and preaching in the church are worthy of being paid for their services. He explains by comparing their duties to those of the priests in the Old Testament who were to be supported by their members.

Paul reminds Timothy that we have an obligation to care for our elders according to their needs. We should be happy to care for them as they had earlier cared for us when we were younger, and likely sacrificed many things to provide for us. Those who refuse to care for such as these is compared to "unbelievers."

If all one does is strive to obey a strict set of rules and laws, one loses sight of the bogger picture, that of caring for others, and helping others in their daily walk. Strict adherence to a rigid doctrine won't allow time for the little kindnesses we should also be sharing with those around us.

For me, "godliness" is striving to emulate the life of Christ. We should strive to serve others, to help those less fortunate, to comfort those in need of it. We can try to achieve some measure of godliness by taking the teachings of Jesus into our heart and minds, and letting our hearts and hands do His work. Those who try to achieve "godliness" by a strict morality are really just trying to prove to others that they are better. If we live in a godly manner, we don't need to make a big show of it. Our lives and actions will be apparent to others.

It made some people think they were better than others.

Paul wants Timothy to be aware and prepared for what he will (or may) find at Ephesus when he gets there. Paul reminds him that it was prophesied, and that there will be those who are leading others away from the true message of Christ.

I think deacons were more involved in administrative matters of the church, and the elders more towards the instructive, teaching, pastoring the congregation.

Church leaders need to be temperate, and able to remain calm and caring so that they can care for their members. People will come to them with a wide variety of problems and questions. A good leader must be able to view such problems from both sides of an issue to better understand how to help.

Someone who is going to be in a leadership role should first be active in the church for some time, practicing the good attributes of a true Christian leader.

I think he is thinking of two things when he uses the pharse "husband of one wife." The first is the most obvious in that he reminds them, and us, that the husband should set a good example by being a good family man, loyal to his family. The second is (to me) that he is also perhaps reminding the church, and church leaders, that they should be loyal to the true Gospel, and loyal to the true teachings of Christ, rather than going off in many other directions, chasing the false teachers and false doctrine.

Paul reminds Timothy and the church that God wants us to come to him in prayer with an open mind and without anger. Our thoughts should be directed toward pleasing Him and worshiping Him.

Paul is reminding Timothy that Christ came to save all believers whether they were Jews or Gentiles. He also reminds him that the church at Ephesus has become self-serving in that they are directing their efforts inwards to their own friends and members. Paul's reminder is that the church should also be serving the community at large too.

Paul reminds Timothy that he has been given this mission by God, and that God has also given him the knowledge and abilities to carry it out. When he is told to "fight the good fight," I believe it means Paul is telling him to remain steadfast in his mission, and his his message. Paul also is reminding Timothy that he should not let himself be tempted to "take the easier way out" by conforming to the incorrect teachings others are providing.

We should learn to praise and honor God without feeling self-conscious about it. God is eternal, and his love for us is also eternal. He is there for us today, and will be there for us tomorrow.

When Paul reminds Timothy and the members of the various churches of his past, he can contrast that with the change that Jesus has made in his life. He has changed from a persecutor of the church and Christians to one of the most active of Jesus' apostles. This would surely have given hope to many of those, like many of us, who have fallen away from the lives we should be living. If a man like Paul can be changed so radically, there is hope for us as well.

It appears that some of the church's leaders and teachers had gotten "off message," and were teaching matters that they really had no knowledge of. To me, it seems like the Gospel as proclaimed by Christ and his Apostles was just too simple for some of the leaders, so they had to complicate it.