ted4leaders

Greetings,

As leaders we have a responsibility of both a heritage and an inheritance for the sake of those we lead. Leadership is not simply a skill learned and then a task we do to simply perform some role of ministry. I believe that leadership is more like taking your spot in a relay race. A leader receives the baton given them from those who have run the race thus far. Paul told Timothy to hold fast in presenting a pattern of sound words that he had received from Paul. He was to embrace those things with the faith and love given to his own life through Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:13-14 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

The role of leadership is one of being responsible for what has been given to you through the heritage of leaders before and the substance of the Holy Spirit, Who was the author in the lives of those who led before and the author of the role of leadership in the present. A leader must depend upon and seek to be intimate with the Holy Spirit in keeping to the task given to them by God in Christ. Paul commended Timothy for his faithfulness to these things and gave examples of others who had abandoned the responsibility given to them by God. When Paul named those who had failed, he was not attempting to pass a judgment upon them, but to warn, protect, and guide others to stay fast in the call of God in their lives.

2 Timothy1:15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Authority represents authority and when a leader rejects those who have been sent to them as spiritual fathers they themselves become spiritual renegades. They can hardly set an example of the faith to others since faith includes faithfulness to those that God sends and to the task that God sends them to do. I believe that the number one mark of authority is endurance. It is not just endurance for the sake of enduring, but endurance in all that God has given them to do. It is endurance in love, hope, and faith for the sake of the community of God that they have been joined to.

Paul was redemptive in his attitude towards those who had disconnected from him and were caught up in some deception of life. Paul also commended the faithful, for the sake of others who would follow in the example of the same. He understood that those who served him in love were also examples of the love of Christ for others to follow in life. Oneesiphorus was such a man, who perhaps was caught up in some of the same desception as Phygellus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 1:16-18 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

Paul’s prayer was that the Lord would grant Onesiphorus mercy, surely implying that he needed mercy for challenges that perhaps came to him through the lives of Phygellus and Hermogenes or maybe even some error in his own life. It appears that shaking in the present moment didn’t negate Paul’s recognition of this man’s love for him. Whatever the situation was, Paul was stirred in his love for him. Leaders must know that even in the difficult times of betrayal, abandonment, or some opposition inspired by deception, that an attitude of love and the substance of love was to be in the heart of those who lead. Love is the true substance of leadership and it is the bond of any expression of the community of God.

Paul presented to Timothy that many had turned away from him, but Timothy was to be strong in the grace that is Christ Jesus. Leaders cannot allow the wounding in their hears caused by others to affect their attitude towards them or towards anyone as they continue in their responsibility of leading in the community of God. No matter what human conflicts a leader faces, they must never allow the actions of others to affect their attitude and willingness to give life to others. This is a supernatural testimony of the work of God’s grace in the human heart. Enduring the challenges of others and continuing strong in the grace of Christ is a part of leadership. This is more important than the tasks of ministry. It is about maintaining the character of Christ in all things.

2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Leaders must not just lead tasks of ministry. They must lead people. They must seek to multiply the life given to them by God in the lives of others. Discipleship is not about teaching others what to do in life. It is about increasing the inheritance of life given by God in the generations that follow. The increase of God’s government and peace is a grace to be multiplied in the generations of the family of God. There should always be a multigenerational focus. God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel. God is the God of Paul, Timothy, faithful men, and others also. This is what I call a one hundred year plan.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Every leader should seek to live in this standard of inheritance in the community of Christ. Timothy was to take the things he had heard from Paul and to commit them to faithful men who would be able to teach others also.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

Paul instructed Timothy to consider his role of leadership to be an awesome responsibility before God. Leaders must understand that their role of leading others is a testimony of God in leading others to become a testimony of God’s family in the earth. This is not a matter of personal gain, but of personal sacrifice for the glory of God’s will and kingdom in the earth. It is an eternal responsibility before the highest authority in heaven and earth. Timothy was to give his life to the purpose of leading God’s people in his time. Leaders must give their lives to the purpose of leading God’s people in their time in the earth. It is an honor and a great privilege to be chosen by God for such a task.

1 Timothy 6:13-16 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

It is an awesome thing to be entrusted with a responsibility before the One who is the Potentate, King of kings, and Lord of lords! God is the only ruler of all things and to Him all things belong. The One who is the source of all beginnings and endings, the One who made all things and sustains all things, and the One to whom all things belong has chosen to use men. To think that God trusts and entrusts people to represent Him to and for the sake of others is an honor with amazing ramifications. Leaders must realize the gravity of their role in God’s church.

Leaders must be bold for Christ and bold for the sake of leading others into places they may not desire to go. This is not merely leading them into earthly tasks, duties, or responsibilities. It is leading them into the character of the family of God upon the earth. Timothy was to command the rich to not be proud nor trust in their riches but to be generous and to be rich in good works and a willingness to share with others. This was not about their money, but about the character of their hearts.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Paul didn’t tell Timothy to ‘suggest’ that the rich give to others. He instructed Timothy to ‘command’ them to do good and to use their financial blessings as a means of revealing who they were in the character of Christ with the material things entrusted to them in this life. For a leader to do this means that they must see the character of Christ as more valuable than the riches possessed by men. In order for leaders to be bold in the matters required to lead others into the will of God, a leader must realize that the attributes of Christ’s character, nature, way, power, and authority outweigh the value of personal opinions, possessions, intentions, attitudes, and any other individual quality in life. We must never seek to control or manipulate others to the agendas of our will, but leaders must willingly accept the responsibility of leading people to respond to God’s desires in their lives. It is not that leaders decide what others should do, but they must lead others in responding to what God is requiring of them in their personal lives.

Timothy was to guard what was given to him by God and avoid entering into disputes with those who contradicted and were concerned with things that did not pertain to the faith in God.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge — by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

God’s grace is with leaders to lead. What has been entrusted to them by God is a testimony of God’s trust in them and His willingness to anoint them for the responsibility of leading others. Leaders must lead! Foolish things that are not the issues of Christ and Christ-like character should not distract them. Disputes over laws, preferences, prideful knowledge, judgmental arguments, feasts, festivals, and various opinions and superstitions are not to be the diet of leaders or of those they lead. A leader must focus on what God has given to them and they must not be distracted by the agendas of foolish people who want to make issues out of matters that do not concern the faith. Faith is towards God and it is a matter of responding to the voice of God in the human heart. It is an action inspired by God’s voice in an atmosphere of a revelation of His love. This must be the focus of leaders, and this is to be the focus of those that leaders lead. Leaders set an example in this, lead others to embrace this, and guard to protect this purpose in the community of Christ.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

Paul charged Timothy to take care of those who where under his care. Good Leadership must guard the community of God from the disputes and arguments that come over words because of envy, strife, evil speaking, evil suspicions, or useless words that hurt people because of corrupt thinking and not understanding the truth. People enter into such things for their own gain. Paul’s instructions to Timothy reveal that leadership was to separate from such people and teach the believers to do the same. This is not the way Christ-like humans act and to associate with such people is a waste of time and a blemish in the community of God. We can expect sinners to act such and we seek to reach out to them in love, but we do not condone these character attributes in a covenant community of God. The best thing to do when people seek to act in divisive ways is to avoid entering into their divisiveness with them. It is a waste of time to get into disputes that don’t lead to life. We are the community of God and we must seek the things that make us be known as people of God.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Leaders don’t lead ministry, they lead people who are the ministry of Christ in the earth. Leaders help those they lead to become a community that expresses Christ’s character, nature, way, power, and authority to the world. Leadership must set the example of being a Christ community person and they must accept the responsibility of leading those in their care to become a testimony of the same. We are not to be expressions of worldly communities doing Christian things. We must desire for and allow the Holy Spirit to make us become expressions of Christ-like communities doing the things required of us in an everyday world.

Paul told Timothy to set an example of a godly and content life and to teach others to live godly and content lives. God-sent leaders teach godliness with contentment in the community of their planting. They must guard against the love of things by promoting the more important things before, to, and in the lives of those they lead.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Money or things are not the roots of evil. It is the love of money and things that reveals an evil root in our hearts. People who do not know God are looking to find love in the world. In their confusion they often turn to the things the world provides to find their contentment. The result is the manifestation of a worldly, greedy character. These things do not produce true life. The community of God is to be a life-giving community in and to the world they live in. Leaders must set an example that others can follow in the midst of everyday world realities. Timothy was to set an example that others could follow in pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

True righteousness involves a love relationship with God and with others. True godliness requires sacrificial acts of love towards others. Faith comes by hearing someone and it is made manifest through works of love towards them. Love is not merely an emotion or a personal gratification of some kind. It is a will, a mind, an emotion, an imagination, and an action towards another for their wellbeing. It is covenant in nature and it seeks to give life to others and never takes it. Patience is a willingness to endure, suffer, and wait upon another. Gentleness is a gift of love to another in a kind and tender way. None of these attributes are for personal gain, but for the benefit and life of another. Leaders must be an example in these things and lead others to live their lives in the same way.

Timothy was to set an example in fighting the fight of faith and embracing the eternal life of God. True eternal life is a knowing of God the Father and an intimate knowledge of the Jesus the Son (Jn. 17:3). Eternal life is not just the promotion to glory when we die; it is living in a personal relationship with God throughout our lives for the glory of His name. Leaders must set an example that others can follow in living their everyday lives with an intimate relationship with God in all things.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Relationship with God was to be first and foremost in all things. Leaders must know that the foundation of their leadership grace is in a personal relationship with God. This is the kind of people we are to be! This is the kind of community we are in the earth for the communities of men to see! We must inspire others to see, experience, and walk in the life that God has for all men!

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings;

The role of leadership is a gift to those they lead and it is a responsibility entrusted to a leader of great importance. Every leader must know that being a leader is not a position of hierarchy, but one of service. It is an honor to serve those you lead. For a leader to lead well, a leader must stay well. It is important for a leader to take care of his or her life – spirit, soul, and body. Paul told Timothy to take care of himself physically. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he wrote to him in regard to drinking a little wine for the sake of his stomach. I don’t believe that Paul was merely giving Timothy instructions about wine. It was not meant to be a license for drinking or a law against it. These were the words of a spiritual father to a spiritual son as a matter of love and concern for his wellbeing.

1 Timothy 5:23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

This verse of Scripture implies that Paul was aware of a digestive problem that Timothy struggled with. Paul was concerned for the health of his spiritual son Timothy. Paul was telling Timothy to be sure to take care of himself physically. Let’s consider an even greater scope of possibility here. In Scripture wine is also a metaphor for a happy and prosperous soul.

Psalms 104:15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart.

Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything.

I believe that it is important for a leader to take care of themselves. Life is not about ministry, it is about relationship and when we are not healthy in spirit, soul, or body we are often hindered in our ability to lead. Being unhealthy in any aspect does not disqualify us from leading; it merely creates a personal challenge in our ability to lead. Surely there are many times in life where the circumstance and situation causes us to have to press through hard times, but we should not seek to religiously inflict pain upon ourselves. If we seek to live godly lives we will suffer persecution, but we must not be lazy, negligent, or irresponsible in taking care of our own spirit, soul, or body in our walk in life. When we experience the consequences of not taking care of ourselves we can hardly blame the devil or some sort of tribulation when things go awry. In such cases we can only blame our own foolishness.

In my first years of ministry I was very serious about my responsibility of leadership. I put my whole energy into ministry and leading others. I had virtually no time to do anything that was of a personal pleasure nature. I didn’t have time for such things! In truth, I was overweight, overtired, overworked, and unbalanced in my personal humanity. When I turned 50 a friend of mine encouraged me to take some personal time to bless my own soul. When I was young I used to hunt and I enjoyed it very much, but a life of ministry focus gave me no time for such personal pleasure. My friend gave me a hunting rifle and encouraged me to go hunting again. He also gave me an archery bow and encouraged me even more! When I was young I used to hunt with an archery bow and the thought of being able to easily go to the woods and use a silent weapon for practice enticed me enough to take the challenge. For the past ten years I have taken personal time to hunt and it has enriched my soul and empowered me to have a more healthy perspective on life and ministry. It has also provided some great grocery supplies of an organic nature! I have had many God experiences in the woods, but just the health that has come to my soul has enriched my abilities as a leader. About the same time in my life I began to do a morning run and do some physical exercise. In previous years I always gave the excuse of being too busy to do such a thing, but I discovered that waking a bit earlier in the morning gave me all the time I needed. At age 50 I began to become considerably healthier spiritually, emotionally, and physically than I was at age 40. At age 60 it is even better! I continue with my daily exercise, I eat to be healthy, and I enjoy some time in the woods now and then. For me, these things are the same as ‘drinking a little wine’. These are physical things I do that empower me to be a healthy leader and thus I can continue in my responsibilities of life in a healthy way for the sake of those who look to me as a leader. As a spiritual father in the lives of others, I say to them, take care of your life. A ‘little wine’ is good for the stomach!

In addition to taking care of himself, Timothy was to be aware of the condition of the lives of those in his charge. He was to even be aware of men’s sins. He was to be aware that some sins are easily seen ahead of time while others are revealed later. Leaders lead a community of people to be a testimony of the character, nature, way, power, and authority of Christ. This means they must inspire, challenge, and lead those in the care to embrace the testimony of Christ in their personal lives.

1 Timothy 5:24-25 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Timothy was to teach those in his care how to be good servants. In modern terms this would be to teach people how to be good employers and employees in the everyday world. People who are part of the community of Christ must represent the family well in the communities of the world. It is part of the responsibility of leadership to instruct those in their care in the way to live as family members in Christ. These include teaching them to be good, honest, diligent, and hard workers in their jobs and responsibilities of service in life.

1 Timothy 6:1-2 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

The role of leadership is very practical. It is not about leading others in church programs, church ministry, or church projects. It is about leading others in a way of life. It is about leading others in being a testimony of Christ’s community in the communities of the world. For a leader to be concerned about the personal lives of those they lead is part of a leader’s business! They must set an example to follow and also take charge to lead those in their care into the testimony of Christ in all things!

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings;

When Paul wrote his letters to Timothy he was dealing with Timothy’s responsibility as a leader and the responsibility of leaders that would follow in the footsteps of the sending grace for leadership in the body of Christ. The letters to Timothy are Scripture to be read by every member of the church, but they are letters written specifically to leaders. Members reading these letters receive a perspective of what the responsibility their leaders hold and what type of culture they are required to cultivate in the church. Ruling elders were to be considered worthy of both the honor of submission to who they were as authorities and also by way of provision in their lives. Leadership is not to demand these things, but a culture of honor in the church must be developed that considers honor to leaders an important and even essential element in kingdom life. This is was not to be a license for leaders to take advantage of church members in the name of honor. It was simply meant to be a guideline for the character of the family of God. Leaders honor those they lead by freely giving them the word and helping them walk a Christ led life. Members honor leaders by making sure they are provided for in practical ways.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

These words of Paul to Timothy were not meant to create laws concerning required wages by clergy, but they did set a principle, pattern, and even a value for the generations of the church of the centuries to embrace in the function of the church. Those who are called by God to give their lives to develop and lead the church in a spiritual way are worthy to be taken care of in practical ways. The ministry of the word, leadership in helping others to embrace the character and way of Christ in their path of life, and the financial care of those who give their lives to lead are all aspects of spiritual ministry in the church. A healthy Christ life community fulfills the spiritual and practical aspects of life for those in the community.

Accusations against leadership were to be at the mouth of two or three witnesses. These would not be false accusations but ones proven in regard legitimate issues of sin. It is common for people to misunderstand authority and to even bring false accusations against them when they choose to be offended in some way towards leaders. Any accusations against a leader must prove to be valid if they are to be accepted. If there is a valid cause of accusation against a leader the responsibility for that flaw must be accepted for the sake of setting an example in the true character of leadership. A leader in sin was to accept the responsibility of their failures before others so the character and responsibly of godly leadership can be maintained in the generations of the church. A team of leaders must never seek to cover up issues of sin, but they must also protect one another from false accusations that simply serve to falsely legitimize a resistance to the authority given by God to leadership for the sake of leading in the church. The accusation against an elder was not to be an accusation spoken about them as a malicious act of gossip to other members of the church, but an accusation that was believed to be a legitimate one and brought to the other leaders in the church. The issue, even in accusation, is a culture of honor and love for the sake of Christ’s name.

1 Timothy 5:19-20 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

Timothy was to lead without prejudice. He was to accept his responsibility of leadership, not merely for those he liked, but for every person given to his charge. All leaders must understand that their role of leading is not something they have chosen, but a role assigned to them by God for the sake of those they lead. Their responsibilities of leadership must be carried out in a manner that shows God’s love and care for each and every person in the community under their care.

1 Timothy 5:21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

Timothy was to give authority to others in a careful manner. Authority is not something taken lightly or given away quickly. Leaders must understand that the authority they walk in is a substance given to them by God. To give that substance to another is a decision led by God and it must be given to those who qualify for such responsibility. It is a serious thing to represent God in some way before others. When a leader lays hands upon someone for leadership the authority given to that person authorizes them to be a representation of the authorizing leader. If they are found to be lacking in character that testimony becomes one that affects the delegating authority as well. A leader must be aware of the gravity of giving authority to others. They must never shy away from giving authority to others, but they must also not be hasty in giving authority to them. The need for gifts of ministry can never out weigh the need for properly discerning who is qualified to receive authority and who is not.

1 Timothy 5:22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

Church elders are not leaders because of skills they have learned in regard to leading. They are leaders because God has granted them a grace to lead for His purposes in His family in the earth. They have been called, appointed, and anointed for the responsibility of leading in the body of Christ. There is a substance of heaven deposited in a God-appointed leader that is a part of a grace given to them by God to lead in the way that He has ordained each leader to lead. It is not a matter hierarchy or position of control. It is a matter of heaven’s grace and heavenly responsibility for a heavenly purpose in the earth. When Paul wrote his letters to Timothy he charged Timothy to pay attention to the gifts given him through the prophetic word of God and the impartation of the Spirit. He was to meditate on the things spoken and given to him by God. He was to give his life entirely to them.

1 Timothy 4:14-16 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

A leader in the church must recognize that the gift of leadership does not belong to them because of their personal knowledge, skill, or performance. It has been entrusted to them because of God’s doing. It is an authority given to bring the life of God to a purpose of God in the earth. It is not given to simply maintain an operation of ministry or to teach a group of people to adhere to a written code of life. It is a gift from God to lead God’s people forward in His plan and purpose in all things. It is about a change of life, a way of life, and a purpose of life in all things.

Again, the instructions of Paul to Timothy were very practical. They involved everyday life, in an everyday world, with everyday responsibilities. The main issue was not to do works of ministry, but to become transformed by God to become a testimony of His divine nature in the earth.

The responsibility of leadership is a responsibility of family relationships. It involves a culture of connection and honor. Timothy was to set an example in treating older men as fathers, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers and younger women as sisters. This is a responsibility of all of the members of God’s family, but leaders set an example that others can follow.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Practical things, like the care of widows, were part of his responsibility as a leader. Paul did not give Timothy an instruction of law concerning taking care of widows. He wrote to him in regard to a practical responsibility in the family of God and how children of God should take care of one another according to their own responsibilities. Timothy was to teach those who are responsible to be responsible for others, but to see to it that everyone is cared for. He was not to rob anyone of his or her own family responsibilities. No one was to become an irresponsible burden upon others.

1 Timothy 5:3-16 Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless. 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. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some have already turned aside after Satan. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Paul’s instruction concerning the care of widows was not meant to be a legalistic rule for widows in the doctrine of the church. It was not about ridged rules of religious discipline or some magic age for qualification of entitlements. It was merely an example of relational and practical responsibilities in the family of God. Timothy was to teach families to be responsible for their own family members, but that everyone in the community of God should be cared for. No one should put their burden upon those who are not legitimately responsible for them. Anyone who is able to care for him or her should do everything to care for him or herself. Anyone who has a needy family member should accept the responsibility of the needs in their own family. The community of God must also accept its responsibility as a community so that everyone is cared for, but no one is taking undue advantage of another. Everyone has been given a life to live, with a ‘cup to drink’ and everyone must accept their own life, including its family responsibilities. Everyone must drink the cup that is set before him or her. This is part of being a responsible and healthy family in God. Leaders must lead for a culture of responsible, loving, caring, and diligent community of life. The objective is not to recognize the entitlements of the community but to equip the community and its members to seek the fullest potential of empowerment in their lives.

When we look at the instructions of Paul to Timothy we see an example in principle, pattern, and value in regard to the responsibility of leaders in the church. These things are about life! They are about living as the community of God in the earth to reveal the goodness of God to the world!

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

I have been addressing the instructions given by Paul as an apostle, to Timothy as a pastor in the church. I believe that the principals, patterns, and values found in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus are kingdom realities for leaders in the church today. It is not the legalism of Paul’s words, but the substance of his words that reveals key elements in the responsibility of leaders in any church in any time.

Paul instructed Timothy to be aware that people would depart from the faith and would give heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons. They would speak lies in hypocrisy, have hardened consciences, forbid to marry, and command legalistic rules concerning what to eat, what not to eat, what to do, and not to do as a matter of religious rules or superstitions. These were realities at the time of Timothy and church history reveals that these things continued as patterns of heresy in the church in successive generations. These were real deceptions at the birthing of the end of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New Covenant. These things are dangers in every church and they are often the default mode of people in their efforts to do works to justify their faith rather than works as expressions of faith as a testimony of an intimate relationship with God in Christ. Leaders must give sound teaching and set a good example in being free from religious, demonic heresy.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Paul’s instructions to Timothy reveal that leaders are not to just warn those they lead concerning things that lead to demonic deception. Leaders must set an example of the proper use of all things. Their example is one of receiving all things from God with thanksgiving as long as its use or function is true to God’s word and a testimony of a relationship with God. The written word of God is the grounds for legitimacy of all things and an intimate conversation with God is what confirms that word to be true and interpreted correctly. The word of God and prayer are the ingredients for proper use of all things. For something to be a true word from God it must be true to the principles, patterns, and values of Scripture as well as true to the Spirit ­– the character of God. Some things are meant to be left alone, not because of some religious law but because their use does not fulfill a life-giving purpose.

1 Timothy 4:6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

Again, leaders have a role of assisting those they lead in the practical areas of life. Good doctrine is simply a good way of life. It is not about what we believe, but how we live our lives. Jesus came to give us life and believers must seek to live in the liberty of the Spirit with a testimony of the life and peace that is found in Christ.

1 Timothy 4:7-11 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.

Leadership must instruct believers in regards to living a godly lifestyle. They are to reject useless things that do not pertain to true godliness. Leaders must teach believers, by word and example, to trust God, labor, and endure in all things. As Paul instructed Timothy, leaders are to both command and teach these things.

Timothy was not to let anyone despise him because of his youth. He was not to allow anyone to accuse him of being unqualified or inexperienced. Leaders must accept their God-given responsibility to lead and they must be confident in who God has declared them to be. They cannot allow people to intimidate them in their God-ordained responsibility as a leader.

1 Timothy 4:12-13 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Timothy was to be an example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity. Timothy was to give his attention to speaking the word of God, exhorting the believers, and to both live and charge others to live godly lives. Leaders set an example in continually growing and becoming what God is making them all become for His glory. This is not merely memorizing what the word says so we can tell others what to do. This is becoming what the word says we are to be. Leaders must be an example to those they lead so they can follow with God’s transforming grace at work in their own lives. Leadership responsibility is about helping people in their everyday lives become examples of Christ and His family in all things.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson