Tuesday, August 11, 2015
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
A FAITHFUL SAYING (2)
Paul's second faithful saying deals with the office of the pubic ministry. He wanted Timothy to know without a doubt that pursuing a position of preaching and teaching God's Word was a good thing. These were very appropriate thoughts for Timothy because he was a young pastor in the church.
To many of us this statement may seem like a no-brainer. Of course public teaching, preaching, and leading in God's church is a good work. Would a Christian really say otherwise? That is certainly true, but often the ones in those positions can feel like it's different. Many pastors and teachers feel inadequate for the tasks and responsibilities to which they are called, therefore they question whether or not they are really doing a "good work." Others are slighted, ridiculed, and rejected so much that they become despondent (see Elijah in 1 Kings 19 as a reminder). There are many in the world who certainly do not think of the public ministry as a good thing, and faithful ministers and teachers will always hear about it.
When you get down to it, it really is important that Paul would take the time to encourage Timothy in the ministry. Timothy, and all faithful servants, are assured of performing a "good work" because they speak for God Himself. When pastors and teachers proclaim the Word they have confidence that God is really the one who is speaking. Paul reminded Timothy and us of this by using a special word which comes across as "bishop" in our English translation. Literally, this word means a "divine visitation." When applied to human pastors and teachers, it means those who deliver God's divine message through words. At times, there are hiccups in that line of communication and sometimes people even twist or change God's verbal visitation. But when the Word is preached and taught in its truthful simplicity, the full authority of our Maker and Redeemer comes with it, no matter who does the talking.
