The Church and Your Work
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:2
Read 1 Timothy 1
This week we will examine the first letter Paul wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy. Timothy joined Paul during his second missionary journey. The message Paul preached during his first missionary journey had taken root and been made fruitful in Timothy’s life. As a result, a bond developed between them. Timothy became Paul’s spiritual son in the faith. This young man began to delight in the service of the Lord.
However, this meant that Timothy would also have to experience many hardships during the missionary journeys that he made with Paul. But when something has captivated your affections, those hardships do not become too burdensome.
I suppose you are quite involved in planning your education or future work. Maybe you have already been in the work force for a few years. Whatever the case, you are confronted with two questions from the portion of God’s Word before us: First, have you already become a son or a daughter in the faith? How beautiful it is when you can associate with someone as a spiritual father or mother to whom you can speak about the life of faith. Secondly, can the church also count on you, or is your whole week filled with your own interests and your plans for the future?
Thought: Those who do not play an active role in their church may be making their work and personal interests their idols.
Psalter 369:1,3 (based on Psalm 133) How pleasant and how good it is When brethren in the Lord In one another’s joy delight And dwell in sweet accord. To those who dwell in brotherhood, The Lord His blessing sends, He crowns them with the crown of life, Of life that never ends.