Devotionals: 1 Timothy Archives

Wealthy Christians

By Andrew YoungJune 22, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“As for the rich in this present age…” (1 Timothy 6:17) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:17-21 Paul’s final words on the subject of money are directed to wealthy Christians. Such people face a unique set of challenges in serving their Lord and Master in a needy world. Timothy is both to warn and encourage “rich” Christians. He is to warn them of two perils associated with material wealth. There is the peril of being arrogant (1 Timothy 6:17). John Stott puts it well when he says, “wealth often gives birth to vanity. It tends to make people feel self-important, and […]

Covetous Christians

By Andrew YoungJune 21, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation…” (1 Timothy 6:9) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6: 9-10 From contented Christians, we turn to covetous Christians. Ideally, of course, there shouldn’t be any such thing as a “covetous Christian”. The two words are inherently contradictory and should never be used together. That, at least, is the theory. In practice, however, we all know how easy it is to fall under the alluring spell of money and possessions. Sadly, Christians – both rich and poor – can become covetous. That’s what makes it so important to heed Paul’s warnings against […]

Christian Contentment

By Andrew YoungJune 20, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3-10 A craving for money, we saw in our last devotional, is a mark of false religion. The Spirit of Jesus living in genuine Christians produces a different attitude toward wealth. Yet we still need teaching on this issue. Paul certainly thought so. In countering the wrong ideals of false teachers regarding wealth, he gives Timothy instructions for the poor, for the rich, and for himself as a “man of God.” His words are as much needed now as when he wrote them. First, what does […]

Christians and Wealth

By Andrew YoungJune 19, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“For the love of money is the root of is a root of all kinds of evils.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:1-10 There is one more significant theme to consider in 1 Timothy before bringing our studies in this book to a close. It is the theme of Christians and material possessions – a subject that we all need to consider carefully. Paul introduces this topic in connection with a final warning against false teachers in 1 Timothy 6:3-5. He notes that one of the symptoms of false teachers is that they think “godliness is a means […]

Choosing Leaders

By Andrew YoungJune 18, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…” (1 Timothy 5:22) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 5:22-25 In our recent devotionals we have noted that good leaders are to be honoured and bad ones corrected. Before leaving the subject of leadership for a final time it is worth reflecting on what Paul says to Timothy about appointing leaders. Care taken in this step can save a church from a heap of heartache. What advice does Paul have to offer his young associate about appointing leaders? The first thing he says is that Timothy is “not be hasty in the […]

Correcting Leaders

By Andrew YoungJune 17, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them before all…” (1 Timothy5:20) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 5:19-21 From the appreciation due to good leaders (1 Timothy 5:17), Paul turns to the correction of those who are bad (vv. 19-21). Sadly, the latter class does exist. Not all Christian leaders are “blameless” in the sense that elders need to be (1 Timothy 3:2). Consequently, there is cause for both commending leaders and for correcting them. Paul here provides Timothy with three important instructions for treating erring elders. The first is about receiving charges or complaints against them (v. 19). Paul […]

Honouring Leaders

By Andrew YoungJune 16, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour.” (1 Timothy 5:17) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 5:17-22 From the care of widows, Paul next turns his attention to elders (1 Timothy 5:17-22). He raises three matters concerning them – their treatment by the congregation, their discipline, and their appointment. All three aspects are worth discussing in some depth. Paul wants Timothy to ensure that the elders “who direct the affairs of the church well” receive “double honour”, especially those “whose work is preaching and teaching” (v. 17). For our purposes we can leave aside questions of the […]

Caring for Widows

By Andrew YoungJune 11, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first lean to show godliness to their own household…” (1 Timothy 5:4) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 5:3-8 John Stott points out that the Bible not only has much to say about widows, but that it honours them in ways that most cultures do not. “Too often,” he writes, “a married woman is defined only in relation to her husband. Then, if he dies, she loses not only her spouse but her social significance as well” (p. 128). She is left, in other words, a social nobody. While this is not always […]

Social Responsibilities

By Andrew YoungJune 10, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“Honour widows who are truly widows…” (1 Timothy 5:3) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 5:3-8 In this part of his letter to Timothy, Paul turns to the subject of social responsibilities. Both Timothy himself and the churches he oversees are to fulfil practical and social responsibilities to different groups of people. This applies particularly to dependent widows. The church’s social responsibility has not always held a high place on its list of concerns. More often than not it is the “spiritual interests” of the church and its evangelistic obligations to the world that have dominated the attention of its leaders and […]

Adjusting Relationships

By Andrew YoungJune 9, 2017Devotionals: 1 Timothy

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly…” (1 Timothy 5:1) Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Paul has a last word of personal advice for Timothy as a leader among the churches in Asia Minor. It relates to the way he is to treat the different age and sex groups within the congregations he is responsible for. He is not to treat each group in the precisely the same way, but to adjust his attitudes and actions to each as is appropriate. In the first place, he is to treat older members of the congregation with the respect and affection that […]