Favoritism

1 Timothy 5-Part 4
I solomnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.  1 Timothy 5:21 NAS


LET IT GLOW

As a parent, I didn't want my child treated more special than his or her classmates because I was a teacher. As a school teacher, I tried not to show partiality or favoritism to my students, treating them  the same. However, often times that philosophy caused problems for me. There were always mothers who wanted their little Johnnny to be the best, in the limelight, have the most recognition, top dog, highest grades. I'm sure it frustrated these mothers when it didn't mean anything to me that a parent was on the school board, president of the PTO, rich, donated money to the school, or was a fellow teacher. I didn't make decisions based upon who the child's parent was, but on a child's capabilites. I didn't play the favoritism game.
Paul had some similar attitudes about partiality.

Partiality in the Greek means favoritism, according to Thayer's Lexicon.

Paul tells Timothy to do nothing by partiality. How often are decisions made based upon our favoritism of people? It occurs daily in families, churches, schools, businesses, and society. One person is given special privileges or not repromanded because of who they are.
This makes me stop and think. Am I showing favoritism in a given situation?


LET IT GROW

In the last part of chaper 5, Paul is giving the church's obligations in regard to honoring, protecting, rebuking, and selecting pastors (elders). Let's dig a little deeper into what he says.
1. Honoring Pastors
    Those which rule well are worthy of double honor (honor for their work's sake, paid for their labor).
    See 1 Cor. 9:9-11, Deut. 25:4.
    Double honor can be translated "generous pay."
    "It is God's plan that the needs of His servants be met by their local churches, and He will bless churches
    that are faithful to His servants. If a church is not faithful, and its pastor's needs are not met, it is a poor
    testimony; and God has ways of dealing with the situation. He can provide through other means, but then
    the church misses the blessing; or He may move His servant elsewhere," states Warren Wiersbe.

    They are teachers and preachers, expositioning Scriptures publicly.

    "If a church values excellent teaching, strong preaching, and spiritual leadership, the congregation should
    give its leaders sufficient financial provision to devote a normal work week to the church's ministries,"
    stated from Swindoll's New Testament Insights On 1&2 Timothy, Titus.


LET IT GROW

2. Protecting Pastors
    Those who make an accusation against a pastor must bae able to support it with witnesses. Rumor and
    suspicion are not adequate grounds for discipline.

3. Rebuking Pastors
   When an accusation is made, witnesses ought to be present. (Matt. 18:15-17) The same process for the
    whole church applies to pastors. It protects them from frivolous, evil accusers.

   Liberty Bible Commentary had this to say:  

   Accusation, kategoria in the Greek, is a word used of formal charges before a court. A minister has one
    solemn possession, his character. An accusation against him, therefore, is serious and must be witnessed
    before two or three persons or not at all. This would stop many rumors and save many of God's servants,
    if heeded. It must be done decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40).

4. Selecting Pastors
    Paul is telling Timothy that the ceremony of laying on of hands (blessing), which affirms his calling into
    public ministry, should not be done hastily. Hastily refers to proceeding with this ceremony without a
    thorough investigation and preparation period to be certain of the man's qualifications. (MacArthur)
    To me, this should be a time of prayer and fasting as the church seeks their spiritual leaders, getting clear
    direction from God as to His will concerning the matter.

    " Paul wanted Timothy to use wine which, because of fermentation, acted as a disinfectant to protect his
    health problems due to the harmful effects of impure water. With this advice, however, Paul was not
    advocating that timothy lower the high standard of behavior for leaders," quoted from MacArthur Bible
    Commentary. 

    "With highly effective, prescribed medicines today there is no justification for believers to hide behind this
    verse to imbibe!" quoted from Liberty Bible Commentary.

    In verses 24 and 25, Paul is talking about the sins of some men are evident for all to see, which may
    disqualify them to serve as a pastor. On the other hand, their good works are evident, which qualifies them
    to serve as pastor. Choosing a pastor should be done patiently, fairly, impartially, and purely. Then the
    right choices will be made. So, time will tell what's inside the man as his works reveal his character. Given
    time, poor character qualities will surface, as well as good ones.

Shouldn't all Christians have honorable character qualities as the pastor?


LET IT GO

Be impartial, not showing favoritism.

Follow Paul's guidelines for honoring, protecting, rebuking, and selecting pastors.

Strive to have these same character qualities for the Lord's glory.