1tim5v17-25

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1 Timothy 5:17-25 THE ELDERS [Series 18]

As Paul’s quill races quickly over the page of his letter to young Timothy – writing (of course) by inspiration/God – his thoughts dart here and there almost at will

He introduces new subjects or (as here) returns to old ones again with fresh nuggets of information for our meditation
Such returning to previous subjects again prevents us from thinking that we should think that once we have covered a subject then we have done with it and that it is time to move on
Not so! – There are no past lessons in God’s Book
Each truth with its various exhortations/warnings etc., must ever be brought with freshness before our eyes and minds

Paul makes good use too of the contrasts for effect
In the previous verses, he dealt with the widows/church
Some of these women were most forlorn indeed
He uses words like desolate (v5) and speaks at length about the duty of those whose obligations were to meet the basic needs of these poor women who would otherwise starve and perish
Then in the very next sentence (we assume he took a new paragraph) he launches into another discussion on those who must be viewed as being the most powerful folk/church:
The elders – having dealt/length with them (Ch 3) returns again:

Although the widow could actually do a lot, even in her poverty, yet she could never rule in the church
The pulpit was closed to her – the place/ecclesiastical discipline was likewise closed to her
But not to the elder who was to rule well in the church/Christ
The elder then is the subject of the latter part/chapter 5
4 things we must consider about these powerful men/church:

1) THE ELDERS CHOSEN:

A/ The choice/elder in an established church set up comes from 2 distinct sources –coming together but from a different angle

[i] Ultimately there is the call of God to the office
His church which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28)
And remember: He is Head of the body i.e. the church (Colossians 1:18)
Ultimately, it is God who calls men to the office/Elder
In chapter 3 (as observed) He sets down the qualifications
No mention of money here or earthly positions/power
Men who might make good business managers need not necessarily make good elders – perhaps even the opposite
God has His own way of making His will known to those Elders whom He has appointed to the role/elder

They will be already equipped for the task e.g. apt/teach
They will have the God given desire/office in their heart

[ii] Secondly, the church itself will issue a call to these men
NT times, this done through the means of a vote:
Ordaining/elders (Acts 14:23) is literally through/raised hand
In Presbyterian Churches –by the communicant membership
Communicant membership = Saints in formal membership/church

B/ Both these parties will come together and through a process of elections etc., will arrive (providentially) at the Lord’s choice
He will have His man for the hour and the hour for His man

C/ In this passage (v22) we see that there is to be no careless reliance on what might piously be called providence
God’s sovereign choice never rules out man’s responsibility
Nothing ever just happens and we praise the Lord
In v22, we have another instruction given in the election of good men to the office/overseer in the church
Let it not be done suddenly or quickly
That men who were not fit to be elders have gained access to this sacred office cannot be denied
Even the unsaved in some churches have risen to this position
How dare they!
How can an inveterate enemy/Christ (all unsaved people) sit in spiritual judgement over others and regulate the worship/God?
How can such be apt to teach when he himself refuses to heed the most vital lesson of all?
That it is allowed to happen in the sovereignty/God does not mean that it is in line with His precepts
Sign/judgement that such should occupy the sacred office

A wise church will only move on this matter of electing/elders after a period of prayer before God for His will to be known
This is not something that ought to be rushed into

2) THE ELDERS HONOURED: v17

A/ Although [i] the elder is only really there because of God’s choice as discerned by the congregation and…
[ii] Although the elder’s work is to ensure that his church brings all glory to God alone and elevate Christ alone…
(No room/church for the exaltation/advancement of self)…
Yet the elders who rule well are entitled to honour

(B/ Note in passing – use/plural here:
Bible speaks about a plurality of elders as the norm
Not a good thing for a church to be run by one powerful man
One man running/church has too much power
He becomes accountable to none and becomes a virtual dictator
This leaves itself open to all kinds of abuse: Virtual Popes
Perhaps a small church sees an elder die and one is left
Well…do not be hasty to appoint/another to the office (v22)
But let it now become an important/immediate matter/prayer]

C/ What is it to rule well?
Rule well is to regulate the running/church according/Bible
Implement policies that ensure purity/worship of God
Implement policies: ensure purity/life by professing Christians
NT gives us examples of professing Christians who stepped over the accepted line of Christian behaviour
Extreme case/Corinth: A man had an immoral relationship with his own step mother (1:5:1)
Vileness/sin is such as it was not acceptable even to the heathen
Eyes/scandalised world would be looking towards the church
Bad enough it happened – but what will the church do about it?
Will they simply wink at it and go into denial?
Or worse: Will they play it all down or even justify it?
Think of the response of Anglican churches nowadays to sodomy
First thing we are told is not to be judgmental

Elders who rule well are to be judgmental
Not with their own judgement – Such would violate Matthew 7:1
But with righteous judgement (John 7:24)
In that case/church discipline in Corinth, Paul wrote:
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, (1 Corinthians 5:3)

Seems when elders do their job: they become the worse villains!
This is not to be – they are to be not only honoured but x2
What would be the future/church if discipline was withheld?
A fresh whiff of the Anglican Communion help refocus/minds
Rule well also involves the idea of positively looking after the sheep/flock – spent a fair while thinking about needs/widows

D/ Not only to rule well – but to labour in the word/doctrine
Good honourable elders ensure that the word/God is preached within the confines of their fellowship
Not only from the pulpit but also in their Sabbath schools etc.,

[i] They want all the counsel/God to be proclaimed (Acts 20:27)
[ii] They want the focus to be on Christ/Him crucified (1:1:23)
They want to be able to say in honesty/truth:
[iii] We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord (2:4:5)

Where all these things come together in the power/Holy Ghost, you have a good church along Evangelical lines

E/ These things happen in churches of different denominations
We ourselves go for the Presbyterian model because we believe it is the Scriptural NT model (Acts 15)
But there are autonomous churches with great elders preaching the whole counsel/God and exercising needful discipline
Many Presbyterian churches are sadly apostate
Have all the right apparatus, but have forsaken their principles
The glory/Lord is departed from them
Church polity is not to be disregarded as unimportant, but it is all a matter of priority
Where you have elders ruling well – you have a good church

F/ Such elders are to be honoured
As said- they are often viewed as the villains/piece
Of course, they might make mistakes (as we all do) or should have done something better
What may be obvious to us with our little bit/information just might not be so obvious to them with more information

But they are to be honoured rather than dishonoured
Every spiritual blessing that comes to us through the church is due to their commitment and work
Humanly speaking, they could just walk away from it all and let others do it – and it might never get done
The work/God is not run by 9-5 men

Let’s honour them by praying for them
By not giving them any unnecessary grief
By giving them what help we can afford to give

If we give unto Christ when we render help to the least of His brethren – then do we not at least do the same (if not more) when we help those who are not the least?

3) THE ELDERS PROTECTED:

A/ Such an important position is fraught with dangers
We may anticipate that the great enemy/church would want to make the elders a particular target
Scandal/trouble here affects the whole church
Entire churches have folded over trouble here or at least, had the work/God put back many months or even years

B/ First of all, Paul ensured that no unfounded/uncorroborated accusation was to be made against an elder (v19)
Not that the elder was above reproach/discipline himself
Not so – not even an Apostle could escape rebuke (Galatians 2:16)
But there could be no time wasting going on here
Many a mischievous plot has been stopped at this point
Some people almost want blood when they do not get their way
This policy protects the elder and by extension the church
This rule does not protect the guilty nor should it be made to
If an elder has done wrong - let him not hide under this rule
Let him confess his sin and claim 1 John 1:9
None of us are the position to judge him harshly
Something to be borne in mind if v20 needs to be brought in

B/ There is protection of another kind here (v18)
Certainly less dramatic, but altogether important/practical
Let those who are full time in the work/God be sufficiently paid!
This is taught in two OT passages: Deuteronomy 25:4/24:14-15
What is the use of having a great session/elders etc., with every other necessary thing in place and a poorly paid minister who is driven to unnecessary cares about the next meal?
No one should be in the ministry because it makes them rich
No one should be in the ministry because it keeps them poor
One thing if a church cannot support their minister
Imagine a church full of old desolate widows (v5)
What right would a minister there have to look for a full salary if they could hardly keep the lights burning?
In such a case, he could be like Paul who (when necessary) worked at his trade and supplemented his income
But where the money is there – let the man/God be freed from fiscal worries and be able to give himself wholly to God’s work

C/ Again – let us not lose it – see Paul’s caring thoughts (coming in a protective way) to Timothy over his use/wine (v23)
The minister has not only spiritual needs and financial needs
But health needs as well
How caring Paul was with this practical advice
The water in those days was not treated as today
Evidently around Ephesus, it had a long way to go
A little wine for medicinal purposes was highly recommended

4) THE ELDERS PARADED:

A/ In matter/discipline, some sins are to be judged openly (v24)
Generally those open sins that inflict a lot/damage (v24)
Sometimes it is best overall that such be judged openly (v20)
The whole idea is to keep sin out of the church
Sometimes open cure becomes at the same time open prevention
The church is very a human place
It is full of bruiséd reeds and smoking flaxes
Even the strongest Christian can fall so quickly and become so weak even faster than he can keep pace with the events
But whether we are dealing with the fallen or the vulnerable:
Let it be: The church is striving/be holy – that it is a cold house for sin (though not for sinners) – and a place where God/glorified

B/ But not only are the sins of some open beforehand and even the judgement that must be visited upon them, but (thankfully) the good works of some are manifest beforehand and they are so good, that they cannot be hid (v25)

Although such may be applicable to all Christians – yet here we will make application (in line/theme) to the elders
Of course, no one serves God to be seen of men
Worse kind of egoism is to have it wrapped in pretend piety
But the gospel is a success story
Church is not first/foremost a hospital for wounded Christians
It is where the triumph/Christ over the Devil is played out
It is where men serve God openly and without shame
Therefore their mighty deeds are also to be seen
Elders may be happy to know that their work being seen can be and generally is appreciated by all who love the Lord
We are encouraged by what we see and are keen to follow in their example and serve God ourselves

THE END

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