The Folly of Favoritism

Series on I Timothy

V Wisdom

C Regulation, Text: 5:17-25

Title: The Folly of Favoritism

Introduction

Here in our text, as Paul gives Timothy practical instructions for directing the church, he turns to the subject of the elders that Timothy was commanded to ordain. These men would be responsible for the work. They are to be respected and honored, but with honor comes responsibility and so the whole question of choosing the proper candidates is raised. Indeed in the most striking fashion in verse 21 Timothy is warned not to show favoritism, I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. Absolute impartiality and unimpeachable honesty are necessary in choosing leaders. This is not the way it works in the world. What we see is biased judging, political machines, investigating committees manned by job-hunters, and buddyism. If you look at some businesses you wonder how they ever succeed because so much energy is spent jockeying for position. The same thing is true of government. This happens in church denominations too, and destroys them. This is how liberalism gained the upper hand in so many denominations while the people in the pew slept and woke to find the church sold down the river. Timothy is to have nothing to do with this good old boy mentality, this rampant partiality and political maneuvering. Let us consider carefully the instructions given by Paul. Timothy is told three things we should do with respect to elders: first reward their competence, secondly, respect their calling, and thirdly recommend them with care.

I Reward Their Competence

This beginning thought is stated in verses 17 and 18, The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” The double honor of which the Apostle speaks may include remuneration but does not necessarily imply being paid. The idea of honor was introduced back in verse 3. The words, Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need, are in the original Greek the same word as used in verse 17, “honor” Honor the widows, and doubly honor the elders who rule well. As is the case with the widows so with the elders, if they have no other means of support the church is to honor them not only with respect but also with financial support. Ministers of the word are elders who are paid because they devote their lives to the Lord’s work and have no other means of support, but all elders should be honored. The idea of remuneration is supported by the illustrations from both the Old and New Testaments. (By the way, parenthetically, the second quotation is from Jesus in the gospel and is put on a par with the quote from the Old Testament. This has far reaching implications for our trust in the New Testament documents. it reminds us that the Apostle regarded the gospel tradition as possessing the same weight as the inspired word as the inspired Old Testament) The point is, elders who work hard deserve the recognition and support of the congregation. The call to a minister or teaching elder in our Book of Church Order is very specific, and it follows the pattern of verse 17. “The church being satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of an individual calls them to undertake the pastoral office, promising first of all, all proper support, encouragement and obedience in the lord and then that the pastor may be free from worldly cares and avocations the church promises to pay him…”

II Respect Their Calling

Sometimes elders turn out to be a disappointment. When this happens, on the one hand, Timothy is to be very careful about receiving any accusations. no single person may accuse an elder in verse 19, Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. In the Old Testament no individual could be indicted or tried for a crime unless there were two or three witnesses. But in the case of elders, without two or three witnesses the accusation must not even be taken up or entertained. On the other hand if the elder is deserving of judgment, verse 20 says it must be public, Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. This reminds us that the authority of Christ is being expressed through the eldership, Hebrews 13:17 says, Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. they keep watch over you as men who must give an account. obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. The public exposure of a leader comes with the territory. The greater the authority, the greater the sin when it is undermined by misconduct. This is a calling which must be treated with respect because the respect we show to those who are over us whether parents or elders or magistrates is respect for God.

III Recommend Them with Care

The final section of our text has to do with the selection of elders. Paul begins by placing Timothy under oath in verse 21, I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. That’s what is meant by charge, I solemnly adjure you and admonish you. He calls to witness God, Jesus Christ and the holy or elect angels. This means the angels who did not fall into sin or follow satan’s rebellion and all of this refers to the final judgment. Paul is saying that the one who breaks the oath will be judged, and the oath is to not show partiality or favoritism in the selection of elders. We noted at the beginning that this is the way of the world. People are selected, chosen, elected for all the wrong reasons in the world, but in the Church they must be spiritually qualified according to Chapter 3. This effects us as a congregation. We also must have the right perspective in choosing church officers. You remember that one of those qualifications was to be temperate and not given to much wine. Paul reminds Timothy here that he should not share in the sins of others and should keep himself pure in verses 22 and 23, Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. Apparently Timothy was abstaining from wine and Paul says he should drink a little instead of water because of his ailments, but the implication is that he will continue to avoid much wine. This reinforces for us the importance of the spiritual qualifications of Chapter 3 in making a choice of elders. Paul makes two further observations about the process of choosing men. First it should be slow as in verse 22, Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands. In this way one may avoid making mistakes. Secondly, the process should be thorough as in verses 24 and 25, The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden. Paul is reminding Timothy that a close and careful examination of the candidates is appropriate because in this way one may discover well disguised sins that disqualify them or hidden good works that make them excellent candidates.

Conclusion

The office of elder is an office to be entered into with care by all concerned, and it is to be respected and rewarded in what ever fashion is appropriate. All of this is true because the elder is the representative of Christ. They are under-shepherds. Listen to what Peter says in I Peter 5:1-4, To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the end it is Jesus we all honor whether it is by respecting the elders, or by the elders serving us. It is not just the under-shepherds who receive the crown of glory, for remember Paul says in ii Timothy 4:8 that the crown is for all those who long for Jesus’ appearing.