UBF Daily Bread

DO NOTHING OUT OF FAVORITISM

Passage: 1_Timothy 5:17~6:2

Key verse: 5:21

¹⁷The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a]^(C) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b]^(D) ¹⁹Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(E) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^(F) ²⁰But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove^(G) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.^(H) ²¹I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(I) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

²²Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,^(J) and do not share in the sins of others.^(K) Keep yourself pure.^(L)

²³Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine^(M) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect,^(N) so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.^(O) ²Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers.^(P) Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare^[c] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.^(Q)

Footnotes

1 Timothy 5:18 Deut. 25:4
1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 10:7
1 Timothy 6:2 Or and benefit from the service

1. Elders worthy of honor (5:17-21)

Those who direct the church should be honored, provided they preach and teach according to Scripture. Accusations against leaders must be corroborated by two or three witnesses. But if elders sin, they should be exposed without partiality, for God does not show favoritism.

2. Keep yourself pure (5:22-25)

Paul admonished Timothy to keep himself pure. God is a holy judge. His servants need to take sin seriously, clearly discerning good and evil.

3. Slaves and masters (6:1-2)

Slaves and masters who are believers should respect each other as such, not based on worldly position, but in sight of God who does not show favoritism and who is the ruler of us all.

Prayer: Lord, you are the judge of all men. Help me not to show favoritism but treat all people based on the gospel.

One Word: Don't show favoritism