For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Tim. 6
Jesus told us in Matthew 7 that we would recognize false prophets by their fruits. Paul gives us a good idea of what that looks like here in 1 Timothy 6. False teachers do not promote unity in the body of Christ. We should be unified, because Jesus commanded us to love one another. This is one thing that sets us apart as followers of Christ. False teachers, however, produce different fruit. “They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction…” (1 Tim. 6:4b-5a). No unity there!!
If someone is truly teaching the gospel of Christ, however, their results should be much different. “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (1 Tim. 6:11). Thus, you will know them by their fruits. The reason for the different results is the different source. The false teacher seeks a following. They want to draw people to themselves for whatever kind of gain they can get from it. Their efforts are driven by their own desires. The true disciple of Christ, on the other hand, strives to live like Christ and point others to do the same. Their desire is Christ alone.
Job 25-27
Bildad’s thankfully short speech summarizes his position. What is it? And what is Job’s adamant response? I don’t understand Bildad’s point. It’s true that man in his own efforts cannot be righteous before God. But what good did it do to tell this to Job? If Bildad’s statement was relevant, why, then, was he not likewise suffering as Job was? So it comes off to me as a rather “holier-than-thou” accusation of Job’s presumed wickedness. And how extreme must his wickedness have been to incur such wrath from God!
Job confirmed that his friends weren’t telling him anything he didn’t already know. But he stood fast to his assertion that their accusations of his wickedness were false. We were told at the beginning of the story that Job loved God and shunned evil. He lived a very intentional life, careful not to curse God and to use the systems God put in place for atonement. Job lived his life in faith that humbly walking according to God’s covenant rendered him righteous, not because of his efforts, but because of God’s provisions. Even though he didn’t understand what he was going through, he held fast to that faith and remained true to God.
We, too, are righteous before God because of faith in the provisions He made for us through the covenant of His Son, Jesus Christ. So I see a message in Job’s story for us. We are not immune to suffering in this life just because we are righteous. Thus, when we face hardships and suffering, whether seemingly from the hand of God or from those around us, we need to hold fast to that truth. We need to stand firm in faith, knowing that God’s justice will eventually be served.
Prov. 19
Select one proverb that speaks to you and share it with a friend today. Tell them why it is meaningful for you. Discipline often gets a bum rap, at least when we think of disciplining others rather than ourselves. Self-discipline seems to be a virtue we are encouraged to strive for. But when we apply discipline to others, especially to children, people seem to think it’s harsh. I looked up the definition, of which there are several. The one that fits the idea of disciplining a child is, “the practice of making people obey rules or standards of behavior, and punishing them when they do not.” Sounds pretty totalitarian, doesn’t it? Why not define it as, “the practice of training people to live by a set of rules or standards of behavior through guidance and correction.”?
As with everything, I believe the motive behind the discipline makes the difference between the first and second definitions. If a parent’s goal is to try to control their children so they will behave in a way that makes the parents’ lives easier and makes them look good to others, then I think the totalitarian definition does indeed apply. But what if the parents aren’t concerned about themselves? When we understand that living according to God’s ways is the only path to life, while following our own human nature leads us straight to death, discipline begins to fit the second definition. Why wouldn’t we want to train them to live by God’s standards? Thus, Proverbs encourages us to “Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.” (Pr. 19:18).