“No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Timothy had maladies.  We each have our issues and the Lord provides.  More important than that, this is a principle which the church developed into the idea of temperance.  It is to develop balance in this life and in this age.  We fight against puritanical temptations because on the one hand we know sin is all around us and on the other, we would rather be where there is none.  Be balanced and do what is needed to have the best temperament.

Lord, You know the temptations of this world.  You know how we are tempted in one direction and then the next.  Guide me, O Lord, to see that I too need to do what is needed to have an even temperament and stay the course You have set before me.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life and teach me to hold fast to the course You have set me upon so that I may grow in this gift of faith and know You that are true as You know the truth of me.

Lord, You have given the promise in Scripture that the day will come, when we shall stand before You, and we shall know even as we have always been known.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth in order that I would forever hold fast to You and do what needs to be done, not letting other things  get in the way.  Let me be neither compulsive, nor exclusive, but balanced in all things.  Amen.

“Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin” (1 Timothy 5:22).

We live in a time when the expectation is that we will help all people in whatever way they want to be helped.  Listen!  True help comes in loving your neighbor, not in just giving them what they want, but seeking for what they need.  In a culture that does not want to invest time, energy, or true money in another, we who follow Jesus are called to a different place.  Be willing to invest in others, but also be wary to invest wisely.

Lord, teach me to listen to You so that I will be wary when I need to be wary and willing where I need to be willing.  Guide me to see that these things are important.  Many have fallen away from their upbringing and do not look to You.  Let me not be one who causes another to stumble, but instead, one who invests rightly in the lives of others.  Lord, You showed how to be merciful, so guide me in the right way.  

Lord Jesus, You did not do everything for everyone.  Those who hate You use this as an excuse to continue hating.  You have called us to love, but to love responsibly.  Guide me, Lord, to know that only You understand the outcome of these things.  Teach me to listen so that, in obedience to You, I may be guided to do what is right always.  Lead me, O Lord, and give me faith to follow where You lead.  Amen.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality” (1 Timothy 5:21).

Without bias is the instruction.  That is a hard thing to do which is why an elder needs to be all of the things we have heard in this Epistle.  All for the sake of the church and the one with whom these things are true.  Temperance is needed and an eye for what is right and true.  These are not trivial or even temporal matters, but are a matter of eternal life for the ones for whom these things apply.

Sometimes Lord I trivialize what is important and make important what is trivial.  Help me understand that You are dealing with forever.  I cannot even understand this fully, but help me prioritize these matters such that I do not let the trivial things have more weight than the matters that impact Your bride, the church, and the sheep that are influenced by all that I say or do.

Lord Jesus, You have come to guide me into all righteousness.  Lead me this day in the way of truth so that I would do what is right and apply the principles You have been teaching me.  Let me do these things without partiality or bias.  Help me look to You in all circumstances so that I would do what is right according to You and the Word that You have given.  Lead me day by day to become more like You.  Amen.

“Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning” (1 Timothy 5:20).

Jesus gives us the principle of confrontation in Matthew 18.  The church has understood these things with the overarching principle of getting the one in trouble to repent and get back on track.  If they will not, then, so that others do not think that blatant sinning is okay, rebuke the flagrant one publicly.  Many will not do that in our day and so the church slides into ineffectiveness.

Lord, teach me that it is loving to discipline one who needs it.  Guide me, Lord, to be temperate in such things, but also to realize that such things are necessary.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may practice what You would have me practice.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth that I would accept rebuke when it is mine to receive and be willing to love my neighbor as I would want to be loved.

Lord, You rebuked Peter in love.  He received it and continued on.  Help me to receive rebuke when it comes.  Help me to rebuke when it is needed.  In and through all things, lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go so that I may walk in humble obedience to You.  Through all things Lord, continue to teach me what I need to know.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life that I may dwell with You forever.  Amen.

“Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses” (1 Timothy 5:19).

The principle here has been violated in our modern culture.  In the name of those who abuse, there is another abuse where an elder only need be accused by one.  Look at the rule and not the exception.  The point of all matters of discipline is for the sake of faithfulness.  The elder may be accused by the one being held accountable, so be discerning.  The elder is there because of a call by the Lord and hopefully in maturity.

Lord, things are upside down in this age.  Help me learn, apply, accept, and understand the principles You have given that are good for all times and places.  Lead me in truth to see that in You alone can truth be understood.  You have not given these principles for privilege, but for the sake of all that we may grow in stature and wisdom.  Help me to learn how to apply these things.

Lord Jesus, You cared for all whom You met.  Those who accused You did so publically until Your trial when scheming took over.  Teach me to move away from the way the world does things that I may learn how to do them the way You would have me do them.  In all things, no matter my position, teach me to apply these principles in my own life and be an example to those who do not follow them.  Amen.

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:18)

The Lord has called us into a life that is growing into a better self.  In order to grow, we must learn, and this, in fact, is what the Greek word for disciple literally means.  We are called to be people who learn.  Therefore, do not stop one from learning.  In the learning comes the wages, the reward received as one comes to understand these things that the Lord has given us.  Do not hinder another no matter where they are in the learning process.

Lord, You know that this world is set up in competition – one seeking to be on top of another.  Guide me, Lord, to see that it is You and me.  Not that I am any different from all the others whom You have created, but that You measure me against me.  Help me to not compete but learn how to be faithful.  Guide me in Your goodness to see through the games of this world and to live in the truth of the ages.

Lord Jesus, You were an encouragement to all who were seeking truth.  You are truth and those who see You by the eyes of faith need what only You can give.  Help me to not be blinded in this age by all the noise and obfuscation, but instead to be led gently by Your Spirit.  Guide me, O Lord, to see that in You alone is all hope and the only future worth living.  Help me know that everyone who works is worthy of their wage.  Amen.

“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).

Listen to these words and hear them as they are spoken.  How many times have you heard someone rip into a preacher?  Pets at home are often better treated than the leaders of the church.  Yet, Scripture says “worthy of double honor.”  So, is the problem that they don’t make preachers the way they used to, or that sinners are sinning without repentance?  The principle is to learn from the Lord what He would teach.

Lord, the culture is constantly pushing against the goad.  I am polluted by the culture.  Guide me, Lord, to listen to You and not to the world.  Help me understand that only in You is there hope.  You have given the Word of truth and in You is all hope.  Help me to give honor where I should but have not.  Lead me to do what is right in Your sight and not what the world tells me to do.

Lord Jesus, You are worthy of all honor and praise.  When I do not do as You direct, I am dishonoring You.  When I do not honor those whom You send, I also dishonor You.  Help me learn what I need to know so that I become obedient in all things.  Help me to curb my tongue and open my heart that I may give honor where honor is due.  Lord, You are the One who guides me, and let it be no other.  Amen.

“If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed” (1 Timothy 5:16).

These particularities are for there and then.  The principle is forever.  If one has responsibilities, the church is not to relieve or fulfill those responsibilities.  We each need to learn to be dependable and responsible.  Yet, throughout the ages, there are those who will let others do for them what they should be doing.  Whether it is a small or large task, it does not matter.  What matters is that we learn what the Lord would teach us by doing our part.

Lord, it is easy to get caught up with the way the world does things and ignore what You are saying.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would do things the way You would have me do them.  Lead me in the way of truth in order that I would be responsible as You direct.  Help me now and always to see that in You alone is there all hope, for Your word gives me the wisdom I need to live according to Your goodness.

Lord Jesus, You did what needed to be done and did not count the cost.  You helped others, even strangers, and in the end appointed John for the care of Your mother.  Lead me by Your example Lord so that I would be responsible and do the things You give me to do.  Guide me Lord and help me to willingly and consistently follow where You lead.  In all things, help me to never shirk my responsibility.  Amen.

“Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan” (1 Timothy 5:14-15)

Give the enemy no reason for reproach.  Now here is something to remember.  The reason for all  these things is not to make life difficult, but to remember that the wicked one wants you distracted so that you will not live into the promises you have been given by the grace of God.  We are appointed to the seasons of life and these appointments come with duties that need to be fulfilled.

Lord, I often think in terms of wanting to live as one who is “special.”  I am one of Your sheep.  You love each of us equally and I am whom You are making me to be.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life that You have established in order that I may humbly walk as You would have me walk.  Guide me to always look to You and never turn aside to the wicked one.  You alone are the giver of life.

Jesus, You are the way, truth and life.  You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I need to go this day and help me to not be distracted by the wicked one.  Lead me, O Lord, for You alone know the way and what is needed.  Help me to do those things You give me to do this day and live in the abundant grace and mercy You give me.  In You alone do I have an eternal hope!  Amen.

“At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention” (1 Timothy 5:13).

Is this not at the heart of the culture that seeks leisure?  Do we not have lots of people with nothing better to do than to pry into other people’s business?  There are many in our culture who say it’s good because it is social.  But what does it mean when people stare at a screen and do not look at one another?  Busybodies and gossips are an abomination to the Lord.  Do not do this for your sake.

Lord, our culture says that this is okay.  It is not.  You have made this clear in so many places.  Help me to understand that You have come to save all of us from the perpetual lies of the wicked one that tell us that good is evil and evil is good.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always walk according to what Your word says, for Your word is truth.  Teach me to speak truth and do what is right.

Lord Jesus, You have come to make us new.  It does not matter where I have been or even how fast or long I travel the road You have set before me.  What matters is that I follow you.  Help me, Lord, to live today tending to my own business, doing what You give me to do, ignoring all of the gossip around me.  Help me put into effect Your words in my life so that I would grow a little more each day to be like You.  Amen.