1tim5v13

FREE PRESBYTERIAN ISSUES -- GOSPEL ISSUES -- PROTESTANT ISSUES -- EVANGELISM ISSUES -- CALVINISM ISSUES -- C.H. SPURGEON INDEX -- SERMON NOTES -- MAIN

Read: 1 Timothy 5:1-16 Text: v13-14 The weed of idleness [Series 17]

The named culprits in this matter of idleness are first/all some of the younger widows who were causing trouble/the NT church
They were in serious trouble themselves - very serious:
They had brought upon themselves damnation, having begun to wax wanton and to cast off their first faith (v11-12)
If that was not bad enough, they became idle and wandered about from house/house and became tittle-tattlers etc.,

Of course, (and this is why we are focusing in here) – this matter of idleness and its attending evils is not confined to younger widows and their abandoned faith
It is not even confined to women in the church
It is the product of a wicked heart and therefore each and every son/daughter of Adam is liable to it
Bearing/mind that the culprits here were once in good standing within the church – it means that we could be guilty of it
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2Peter 3:17)

We need to pray therefore that the Lord would keep us from this sin of idleness and indeed from every other sin named/Book
So it will greatly profit us if we studied this sin/idleness, especially seeing that Paul enlarged a little upon it/passage
Although there is a deceitful side to sin (Hebrews 3:13) yet it often follows a well known path also
Such is its power over the sinner and even over the Christian who has failed to put on the whole armour/God that it can parade itself openly as well and still expect to gain ground
Sin is like the mighty Goliath/Gath who came twice a day/40 days and roared out its challenge and sneer at the very weak
response of God’s people to it

But to be forewarned is (at least in part) to be forearmed and if we heed the warning/Scripture then we can avoid it to glory/God
The widows here learned to be idle – surely we can learn not to be idle but rather serve the Lord with a fervent spirit
4 main thoughts/considered:

1) THE ROOT OF THE TROUBLE: LEARNING TO BE IDLE

A/ As we study Scripture, we often observe that the virtues we are enjoined to perform need to be learned
We saw it negatively in the case of those two men who were delivered/Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme (1:20)
Godliness is something towards which we must be exercised (4:7)
Certainly doesn’t come floating down to us out/heaven as we loll around or flit carelessly from one novelty to another
No! it is something to be learned and acquired

Therefore surprising then that idleness (vice) can be learned
One would think that the wicked heart would naturally adapt it
Very definition presupposes that nothing need be done to gain it
ANSWER: In context, these women: hardworking wives and mothers who had given best/years of their life to honest toil
But now, they were going in an opposite direction and so great was their fall, that they were learning new ways, so much opposite to that which was good/wholesome
Furthermore, it could well denote that they were learning some of the arts/idleness
Let us not think that idlers merely lie in their beds until midday!
Here are those who were living in pleasure (v6)
They were learning new arts and crafts in their new found vice

B/ Consider how Moses became learned in the wisdom/Egyptians
Of course, we do suspect Moses in this education
Evidently the will/God that he should do so
Equipped him to be able to deal better with Pharaoh
But consider what he learned over that period of 40 years
If he had been intent to turn this education into a means whereby he could do much evil, then how hardened he would have become – see the hardened response of the other magicians – some of whom may have been in his very class and known to him

Consider then these idlers who also become learned in their art
What a virus they prick themselves with when they studied the various ways that idleness may be enjoyed and engaged in
Once infected with it, the damage is well nigh done
Far better to learn industry from an early age and to improve upon that with much practice and patience

C/ While this is sound advice for anyone to learn, yet it is especially so for those who profess to be Christians
A lazy Christian is a contradiction in terms
I remind you that in the glimpse of the two glory’s i.e. that which is past (Eden) and that which is to come (Heaven) we have the glorified saints engaged in service/God

[i] Adam tended to the Garden/Eden
[ii] God’s servants will serve Him and see His face (22:3-4)

Some/parables deal with this very matter (Talents)
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: (Matthew 25:26)
He is contrasted with those good/faithful servants who did not sit idle but went about their Master’s business in a godly fashion
Let us avoid the root of this trouble of idleness

2) THE SOIL OF THE TROUBLE:

A/ The roots cannot go down without soil in which to do so
Here the all accommodating soil is from house to house

B/ Another reference uses these words from house to house
I refer to it just to show how fertile this soil can be:

The early Apostles knew the worth of it:
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)
The early church did not have lovely designed church in which to privately meet
It seems that they continued with the temple worship/God when possible – but that they came together to break bread
Commentators lean more towards the view that such was a social occasion (they ate together) rather than a distinctly religious occasion – 1 Corinthians 11 makes reference to their love feasts
But here is the point: They did so from house to house
There was much good done on this soil

They did not only eat/drink together and so fellowship, but Paul tells us that he made good use of this most receptive soil also:
He tells us how that in his ministry he preached repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
Where did he exercise this most blessed ministry? Acts 20:20
I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Yes, there were the public meetings – most formal setting
But there was also the less formal, although still very effective use of the house to house meetings for God’s word

C/ But the Devil is not so slow to make use of fertile ground
If Paul can get in with the good seed, the devil can get in as well
This is what he does when the idle people wander from house to house and start sowing their wicked seeds

D/ Not insignificant that we read of such people wandering about
This, in turn, reminds us of words/Jude 13
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
They are out of course
Jesus Christ said; “I am the way” but this lot are out of the way
Original word suggests that they are like vagabonds and again, it is not insignificant that Jude also refers to those who have:
Gone in the way of Cain (v11)

E/ They do their damage from house to house
Picture them sitting in someone’s front room:
This is more than one mere individual being infected
The immediate family are there – the children – in richer homes there might well be the menservants and maid servants too
One mouth – but many listening ears

E/ Before we move on, is it any wonder that Apostle John gives us good advice re: false teachers
OK – these folk might not be false teachers per se
At least not in the sense of doctrinal heretics like the JW’s etc.,
But they are guilty here in the sense of infecting households
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 2:10-11)
Keep them out from the house (hold) – away from listening and impressionable ears that could be poisoned
To let them in (or let them remain unhindered) is seen as joining them and aiding/abetting them in their sin against God

3) THE FRUIT/TROUBLE: SPEAKING THINGS/OUGHT NOT

A/ You might have discerned here a subtle shift/emphasis
We started off lamenting the sin of idleness
This suggests those who could hardly motivate themselves to get up in the morning and do something telling
Might have continued upbraiding them for being a bad example
People watch what we do and some act accordingly
This is why earlier Paul told Timothy to be an example /saints in his conversation i.e. his manner/living

B/ But, surprising for those who are idlers, we read (same breath) that they soon become busybodies!
Problem is not energy – but where they spend that energy
They spend their energy going from house/house and tattling
Word means “to bubble”
Verb appears in 3 John 10 where Diotrephes prated against John
Words that are blatantly untrue – just like bubbles
These folk are getting into homes and taking the floor and spreading great untruths to listening ears
Speaking things which they ought not…

C/ It might even be that they are saying nothing that isn’t true!
We mentioned before that they were probably weren’t false teachers spreading doctrinal heresy
They might not even have been spreading untruths
But they were very indiscreet in what they said
Even truth can be used to create much mischief
Pro 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. (Proverbs 16:28)
This is done by simply passing on information that would be better held back because of no profit if told
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. (Proverbs 17:9)

D/ Remember the length/time James 3 give to the evils/tongue
Remember the great overpowering metaphors he attached to its poisoned use – including the use of the word poison
It was not only set on fire – but the very fire was the fire/hell

So it is here – the passage tells us that it is so
Those who engage in such service – serve Satan
They have turned aside after him (v15)
Seem that they had done so in a very explicit manner (v12)
We need not do so in such a blatant manner
But we could still be doing the Devil’s work to a lesser extent
We could have our colours for Christ very firmly nailed/mast
Our doctrine is of the purest kind and heretics would get the good short shrift if they ever started their nonsense
But we could be doing the Devil’s work by speaking things that we ought not to speak
Be careful little lips what you say!

4) THE WEEDING OUT OF THIS TROUBLE:

A/ In regards to the specific problem here in Paul’s day, the wise Apostle would have the younger widows to marry again
Bearing children/guiding the house doesn’t leave much room for aught else!

B/ In regards to the general problem of idleness leading to the spreading of unneeded and unhelpful talk, then we must go to Titus 1:11 where we read of a similar problem causing trouble
Here is the answer to the problem here:

It cannot be allowed to continue
If it does – whole houses (family/servants) etc., will be lost
People will be out of fellowship with God and that is not good

C/ It is true to observe that two people are at fault if a gossip gets going and does their hellish work

[i] The gossip themselves – the chief culprit
[ii] The listener – the aide/abettor in the sin

Do you think a gossip would hurry to a house where he/she would meet with a stinging rebuke?
Imagine such a one warming to the contentious subject that ought not to be the subject of conversation and they are immediately cut off with wise Scripture words
Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Proverbs 27:6)
The friend/the gossip is not the one who lends the ready ear
The friend is the one who shuts/ears and cuts off the occasion

D/ If idleness then is the root of the problem and it leads to busyness in that which ought not to be, then a good antidote to it is to be busy in the things that profit i.e. God’s work
What is God saying to every Christian at this time?
The words of Matthew 21:28
Son, Go work today in my vineyard
If properly done, then this will keep us out of trouble
It will teach us to have our speech seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6)
It will also teach us to use:
Sound speech that cannot be condemned (Titus 2:8)

With such, any influence that we have when speaking in entire houses will be for the best and above all else:
Will bring glory to God

THE END

FREE PRESBYTERIAN ISSUES -- GOSPEL ISSUES -- PROTESTANT ISSUES -- EVANGELISM ISSUES -- CALVINISM ISSUES -- C.H. SPURGEON INDEX -- SERMON NOTES -- MAIN PAGE