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

Remember the Warnings

April 10, 2011

Background Scripture: Jude 17 – 25
Lesson Passage: Jude 17 – 25

Watch out for counterfeits! This message is conveyed wherever and whenever there exist something worthwhile that is being replicated by less than honorable people. Many means have been developed to thwart would-be deceivers who seek to take advantage of unsuspecting people by counterfeiting a commodity that is valuable to them. These commodities may include a country’s currency, a manufacturer’s product, an owner’s trademark, a fashion designer’s brand, and many more. Special markings or materials are used to aid in identifying the fakes from the real ones. In spite of these efforts, counterfeiting continues to grow on a global level. Counterfeiting is not a new threat brought on by the rise in the use of technology in our everyday lives. Counterfeiting has been around much longer than today’s technology. Today’s lesson takes a look at counterfeiting on a different level. What happens when there is an attempt to counterfeit a religion? This has been a problem throughout recorded history. Where we find religion, we also find counterfeiters and cults. This existed long before Christianity’s birth in the first century A.D. Christianity, however, was not exempt from it either. Early in the history of the New Testament church, false teachers arose to lead believers astray. Jude’s letter is a stern warning to the church to watch out for counterfeits. Although Jude’s letter is short, it is powerful in its message of warnings against apostasy. Apostasy, or backsliding, was beginning to be a problem for the infant church in the first century. Today’s apostasy seems to revolve around personal convenience or inconvenience while the first century Christian faced physical harm and even death simply because of their professed belief. Although the reasons for backsliding may be quite different, the warnings that Jude delivered in the epistle are just as relevant for all. Jude places the blame squarely where it belongs; that is in the lap of false teachers. False teachers entered the church early in its beginning and have continued throughout its history. They are effective because they tell people what they want to hear and they say it the way people want to hear it. They teach and preach pleasure as the natural outcome of God’s grace. They lead people back down the roads they have already traveled and found unfruitful by promising them that they can have the things that they desire because of who they are. What they offer is appealing to our flesh. But Jude issues a stern warning that God will not look the other way as people indulge in sensuous activities in the name of grace. False teachers follow the bad examples that were set by Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Like Cain, they seek to place their will above God’s will. They offer “take it or leave it” worship rather than seeking to please God. Like Balaam, they offer their service or ministry for hire. Their greed controls their behavior and therefore they cannot make decent decisions. Like Korah, they rebel against authority and seek to put themselves in positions of authority above those God has ordained. Jude warns that God will judge all who do such things. But all these were preordained to be as they are. Their presence in the church is not unexpected by God but those in the body of Christ are warned to avoid such. It is easy to know the truth and assent to such truth but the real challenge comes when truth must be applied to life. Christians are admonished to know those who are false teachers, avoid them, and to depend on God to keep you from stumbling. If we are to appear before God spotless and without fault, it will be because He has made us that way because we heeded the warnings and trusted in Him.

Robert C. Hudson
April 2, 2011