Compassionate Service

March 27, 2011

Background Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:1 – 22
Lesson Passage: 1 Timothy 5:1 – 8, 17 – 22

Be considerate of those you serve. Christian service is never a “take it or leave it” offer. Although one may need assistance, it should never cost a person their dignity to receive it. In fact, a person of integrity would likely go without assistance if the assistance is being offered in an inconsiderate fashion and the decision to not accept it would only affect the one declining it. Christians are admonished to develop compassion for others—especially those that need assistance. It takes a very long time to experience enough situations and encounter a sufficient variety of individuals to develop the broad base compassion required of Christians. If we had to all mature to that level in order to be effective in ministry to others, then only senior citizens would be spiritually fit to serve. All too often this ends up being the case in many of our local churches. One has but to look at the average age of the “working” missionaries in local churches to appreciate this point. Rather than biding our time waiting to increase in years and wisdom prior to entering active Christian mission work, the scriptures gives us another approach. That approach is to avail ourselves of the wisdom of God found in the Holy Scriptures. Yes, God wants us to have wisdom now no matter what age we may be so that we can apply that wisdom in our daily living and Christian service to others. God’s wisdom is based on God’s compassion which all Christians have experienced. Just as God has been compassionate towards us in all things, it is His desire that we likewise be compassionate towards other with the same love that He has shown us. The wisdom from the scriptures is to see the person who is in need in the same light as we would view a close acquaintance or relative. We know how to treat those that are close to us but we must learn how to treat the stranger with the same compassion. When we consider that Paul in this passage of scripture is telling Timothy—a preacher/pastor—how to treat the members of the congregation, it speaks to the need for young people to receive instructions in compassionate service. The mere fact that Timothy had been called by God to preach and given by God to pastor did not qualify him to know how he was to serve those that he was given to pastor. Timothy had to be taught how to do what he was there to do. He was given simple and clear steps to follow to ensure that he handled situations as one who was spiritually mature and not as one who was still “wet behind the ears”. He was instructed to treat the senior church members like he would treat his parents. Even those who were wrong had to be treated with respect and honor as they were being led back to the path of righteousness. He was instructed to treat the younger members like he would treat his siblings. These were examples that Timothy could easily relate to and so can we today. The wisdom of God allows the lesson of one generation to be applicable to succeeding ones without any need to adapt to changing times. God’s wisdom is good for all times and people. Widows were to be considered based on whether they were settled and whether they had able-bodied family members to care for them or not. Timothy was charged to be fair with everyone without bias. Paul assured Timothy that he would receive double honor as a result of heeding this advice and he would do well as a leader.

Robert C. Hudson
March 17, 2011