Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 12
Friday


LIFEWORK

READ:
1 Timothy 5:1-8
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If anyone does not
provide for his own,
and especially for those
of his household, he has
denied the faith and is
worse than an
unbeliever.
__1 Timothy 5:8
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Some of our friends have chosen to curtail or leave their ministries this year. They did so in order to care for family members__for aging parents, ill spouses, siblings, or children with special needs. All were involved in fruitful works for which they were uniquely gifted. All believed that there was much to be done.

Some have chosen to reduce the time and energy they spend on those ministries; others have left their work completely. These adjustments have been difficult because ministry has been their lifework__a work for which they spent years in preparation and had many years yet to serve.

It occurs to me, however, that they have not given up their lifework but rather have assumed another. Loving and caring for others is our life's work, and caring for those of our "own house" is the highest and holiest work of all. To deny love is to align ourselves with a cold, uncaring world.

Not everyone can leave a career or calling to care for others. Financial realities and obligations may dictate otherwise. But is not such love the mark of one who does the work of God? Did not Jesus promise that one who gives a cup of cold water to one of His children "shall by no means lose his reward"? (Matt. 10:42). __David Roper
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`````````````````````THINKING IT THROUGH````````````````````
`````````Paul says we are to help those who "are really widows"``````
````````(1 Tim. 5:3-5). What does he mean by this? (vv.9-10).```````
```````````Who should help before the church does? (v.16).`````````
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True love is doing, not just feeling. 

***************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Timothy 5:1-8***********

1 Do not rebuke an older
man, but exhort him as a
father, younger men as
brothers, 2 older women as
mothers, younger women as
sisters, with all purity.

3 Honor widows who are
really widows. 4 But if any
widow has children or
grandchildren, let them first
learn to show piety at home
and to repay thier parents;
for this is good and
acceptable before God.

5 Now she who is really a
widow, and left alone, trusts
in God and continues in
supplications and prayers
night and day. 6 But she
who lives in pleasure is
dead while she lives. 7 And
these things command,
that they may be blameless.

8 But if anyone does not
provide for his own, and
especially for those of his
household, he has denied
the faith and is worse than
an unbeliever.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

During his fourth missionary journey, Paul had left Timothy in
Ephesus to help deal with various problems in the church (1 Tim.
1:3-4)__false teachers and teachings (1:3-7; 4:1-8; 6:3-5), disorderly
worship (2:1-15), the need for spiritual leadership (3:1-13; 5:17-25),
and the dangers of materialism and greed (6:6-19). Paul wrote this
letter to encourage and instruct Timothy on his assigned tasks. In
this passage, he advised Timothy on how to relate effectively to the
various age groups in the church (1 Tim. 5:1-8). __Sim Kay Tee