PROCLAMATION
“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as
if he were your father. Treat younger
men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute
purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words were written by the apostle
Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to Timothy, his son in the
ministry, to provide him with directions and instructions. (1 Timothy 1:2) In the fifth chapter of this pastoral epistle,
Paul begins by telling Timothy how to treat older men and women, and those who
are younger than he is. (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
Then he goes into a lengthy discussion regarding the treatment of
widows. (1 Timothy 5:3-16) He follows
this with instructions regarding the treatment of the elders of the church. (1
Timothy 5:17-21)
APPLICATION
The advice which the apostle Paul gives Timothy, the
young preacher, regarding rebuking, or reprimanding, or correcting people is
appropriate for all of us. We are taught
to let all of our conversation be full of grace and seasoned with salt.
(Colossians 4:6) Salt adds a certain
flavor to food, but salt has a purifying influence; it was used to preserve
meat before refrigeration. Our words,
like salt, should add something and be helpful to the hearer, including our
words of correction or reprimand. A soft
word turns away wrath, while a harsh word can stir up anger. (Proverbs
15:1) We should speak to our elders
respectfully and differently than we speak to those our own age and
younger. However, all of our conversation
should be done out of love, brotherly love.
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