The importance of honoring and caring for widows, particularly those who are truly in need and have demonstrated a godly life, as outlined in 1 Timothy 5. It distinguishes between widows who are to be supported by the church and younger widows who are encouraged to remarry and manage their households. The message also addresses the responsibility of believers to provide for their own families, stating that neglecting this duty is a denial of faith. Furthermore, it highlights the honor due to elders who rule well, especially those who labor in word and doctrine, and stresses the need for careful discernment and due process when considering accusations against them or when appointing individuals to ministry.
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We can certainly think of the words of the dear apostles when in chapter six of the book of the Acts we read of their desire in the days of the early church when they said we will give ourselves continually to the word of God and prayer. What a blessed combination prayer and the word of God without question of doubt the greatest need that we have as God's beloved people shall we turn tonight to our scripture in first Timothy chapter five if you please last week we ended the chapter in this fifth chapter at verse two now we begin in verse three and reading down from verse three and four particularly verse yeah verse three and going down through verse sixteen We would like first of all to consider the subject that the beloved apostle takes up.
It is in relation to widows. We read in verse four, we like to read it through. But honor widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed and desolate trusts of him God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth, and these things give him chance that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infernal, or an unbeliever.
Let not a widow be taken into the number under three-score years old, having been the wife of one man, well reported up for good work, if she have brought up children, if she have loved strangers, if she have washed the faint feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refused, For when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry, having damnation or judgment, because they cast off their first faith. With all they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
I will, therefore, that the younger women marry, their children, guide the house, given on occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth hath widows, let them relieve them, let not the church be charged, that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. We come to a very practical section of this episode, whereby the Holy Spirit as the beloved apostle writes, regarding the responsibility of our behavior and conduct in the house of God, he touches upon the relationships that may arise and do arise in the home life of those in the assembly.
The home relationships in the house of God, and particularly does he refer to widows. We can rejoice that in practical application, God, in his own precious word, guides us in relation to many practical things and responsibilities which we who are believers should follow according to the word of God. In verse three and four, may I say, at the opening of the chapter of the portion, where we are told we should honor widows who are widows indeed. Paul, by this spirit I would suggest, gives a very general, broad meaning, not alone to those who are in the house of God, but which also is true of all those who don't belong to the house of God.
The families of humanity, the human families that we consist of, saying in relation to this truth, regarding a widow, and may I say it frankly, Verse four does not only apply to the believers in the house of God. It is an Old Testament truth, as well as a New Testament truth, that every home, and all within every home should be concerned for the need of those who should be cared for according to the mind of God. Let me read the fourth verse. If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety.
at home and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. May I just emphasize the one truth, for we'll have some other truths to emphasize, that in general this should be practiced by all who consist of home gathering. For there is no question of doubt, the Old Testament economy, the Decalogue of Moses, Honor thy father and mother, still stand, even in relationship to the unsaid. But of course the Apostle Paul is emphasizing without question of doubt how much more it should be done by those who are in the house of God in relation to their responsibility, to their parents, and particularly to widows.
But go with me on, if you please. As we begin to, as we see what the Apostle goes on to say in verse five, he speaks in the context we've touched upon it in detail of that person who would be a godly widow to be recognized. Now she that is a widow indeed, desolate, one recognizes, unsupported, husband having gone, she ever noticed something in Luke chapter two. There was a woman in Luke chapter two, by the name of Anna, who came into the temple when the Lord Jesus as a babe was being presented, and when even that beloved believer took the Lord Jesus that babe in his arms and blessed him.
And Anna was a prophetess, and she was a widow. She had been a widow for eighty-four years. without question of doubt one of the godliest testimonies of a widow who trusted in God who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah as you find in the context who when she saw him as a babe went around Jerusalem telling all who were looking for him he's there and may I give you the thought she had been a widow eighty four years and she must have been a hundred years old and more but she went round Jerusalem telling the good news of his coming.
And one can recognize she also continued in supplication and in the temple not only all day and night at times in prayers. But if wrong, it would not be compatible for one who knows and loves the Lord to be living in pleasure instead of seeking to be godly. But now note verse seven. For we must particularly emphasize, these things Timothy was exhorted to teach. These things give in charge that they may be blameless. Now before we go further, may I state again, if the world, and on some occasion you can find it, where the unsaved of the world look after their parents and their widows, How much more would you think it should be expected of a Christian?
One who has tasted the grace of God in salvation, one who has trusted that blessed Savior, who gave himself in death upon the cross of Calvary, having left all in the glory above to go to that cross for our redemption, and then having found the redemption that is now in Christ Jesus. I'm sure we would not ever say that God would not be happy to have a believer in the Lord Jesus neglect his parents and particularly a widowed mother.
Now may I say that lovingly, I've known it to happen. Can I say it again? For him may I put the thought before you. It's one of the most important testimonies in relation to our whole life. The honoring of those who have raised us. And particularly when we know the Lord. Even if they're unsaved, there are slaves. But particularly the context really deals particularly with worthy widows. who should be honored by the saints. Please know verse eight, please in application.
Note this, but if any provide not for his own, especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Can I humbly say, I won't cover it in detail, but you've got five different ways in this epistle of Timothy where a believer can get away from the faith of the truth of God. You can find it for yourself if you wish. There are at least five, I think I could even find six, different spheres of a Christian's life where he or she can deny the truth that he or she professes. Doesn't unsave them, but their conduct may be such they're denying what they believe.
And here's an occasion here, where a believer is not willing to thus support his own household, and support a widowed mother. The world, well, I think you know very well the world would say, if that's Christianity, I don't want it. But may I go back again to refer to the fact, this can and it does happen. So may the Lord speak to our conscience. Now the apostle touches upon a widow indeed. Shall we read verse nine and ten together? Let not a widow be taken from the number under three-score years old, having been the wife of one man.
Now I'm sure that the context is sufficient to explain this is to be a widow who should be honored and supported by the assembly. Now let me make it very clear, I believe, first of all, a widowed mother or a widow. amongst the people of God, should first of all be supported by a family, if possible. But when supported by the assembly of saints, there are qualifications. Let's read verse nine again. You've got it clear, not under the age of sixty, and having been the wife of one man.
Then read on further, well reported out for good works. Second, if she have brought up children. Third, if she have loved strangers, hospitality. Fourth, if she have washed the saints' feet. And may I say, this is not literally washing them, but caring for the saints in their need, in whatever way possible. And if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good word. My beloved, there is no question of doubt. Here is the godly testimony of a widow who in a lifetime of testimony has lived for her Lord and fulfilled her work for the Lord.
And may I say, she's done just as much as anyone who would be preaching, and maybe sometimes more. in every way for the blessing of the saints and the help of the saints. Can I say a word in commendation that in my heart that I must, I thank God for the godly, elderly women and even widows who have been such a blessing to my soul and an inspiration to my Christian life. Thank God for such. My beloved, may I say frankly, you know what's happening around us.
I read just today the fact a certain great denomination has decided that women can preach in their denominations and become preachers and be ordained. Well, that's not the place for a woman, according to the word of God. But she has a place, a big place, a most important place. The place of good works, ministering to the saints, be afflicted, and even to a family, as you have it in this verse. and what joy to recognize. This is a person, if not supported, able to be supported by your own family, is a worthy person to be supported by the saints of God.
Then is the third classification of widows. Beginning in verse eleven, going down, you have younger widows mentioned. Now you may wonder why Paul mentioned younger widows. Now may I say, Paul knew what he was writing about. May I say, Paul also knew what was happening. What he writes here was absolutely going on among younger widows. And here's the temptation and the failure that can be taken in the life of a younger widow, as he writes. But younger widows refuse when they have begun to watch once and against Christ. And know what he says. Here's the thought. Not that they're blaspheming against the Lord, but they're neglecting him.
May I say lovingly, any young widow, may I say also, any divorced young Christian woman, and I've had to contact many of them and have many of them right to me due to their situation, sad situation. But there's one thing I always did, I encouraged them to stay close to Christ. Go on with him. And what you have in the context, Paul's referring to young widows who did not go on with Christ.
And as you read, he said, they will marry, but they're having judgment because they've cast off their first faith. Here again is another departure from the faith of God. And Paul saw it read on quickly. With all it goes even further. So please may I say, may I take it to my own heart. Here is a particular way where some young Christians, being young widows, were getting away from Christ who should be the center of their affection. And more so when they lost their husband. And in so doing they neglected him.
They drifted further, and as you go to verse thirteen, they went even further still. They learned to be idle, going from house to house, not only idle, Catholic, also busy bodies, speaking the things which they ought not. Now please will you know what the Apostle says. I will therefore that the younger women marry, giving them their advice, their children, guide the house, Give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. And he adds a note, for some are already turned aside after Satan. My beloved, may I say again, I cannot emphasize it too greatly, how it is possible.
You've got it in the Epistle. You've got it in the first chapter we saw. Two men, Hymenaeus and five leaders, who turned aside under Satan there. May I repeat again, the danger of Christians disobeying the word of God to be led away after Satan and led to give a testimony that was not Christ-like to his glory. And here's Paul saying, look, some of them have done that. They have turned away aside unto Satan. And here is his advice, bringing it to a completion for a worthy widow to be honored. If any man O woman, that believers have widows, let them relieve them.
Let not the church be charged that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. And may I in substance say, the church is not to support a widow that the family can do, but where the family cannot support her, then the church can support a worthy widow who has shown by her testimony She's indeed, as you have it in verse three, honor widows that are widows indeed. So let's go on in our chapter. Let me read, if I may, from verse seventeen through nineteen. Here the beloved apostle writes to Timothy in relation to responsibility toward the elders.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn, and the laborer is worthy of his reward, and against an elder, receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Now let's consider this. Here we have the elders who rule, and please will you note, the elders that rule well, who are thus fulfilling their responsibilities. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor.
May I point out something? Do you notice the word repeated? The word honor. Honoring widows. Now honoring elders, as you have it here, and especially the elders that rule well. May I go with you to First Timothy chapter five. I want you to point out something in chapter five of First Timothy. The words that the Apostle wrote to one of the earliest churches at Thessalonica. A church that had only received the gospel for a space of three weeks. And God had saved many precious souls. And even not very long afterwards, Paul had to write to them. And to that live church. Go young.
Know what he says in chapter five and verse twelve. And thirteen. We beseech you, brethren, to know them. which labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves. Note what he said. Now, this was a young church, but there were some that were seeking to guide others. And he said, know them. And in the Greek word, it has the meaning. Know them by observations. what they are doing. As you have in First Timothy chapter three, the one who desires the work of an overseer desires a good work, and thus by what they were doing.
Know them, labor among you, over you, in oversight, and they admonish and exhort you, and esteem them very highly for their work's sake, not because of their personality, their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves. Back to First Timothy and look in chapter five what the beloved apostle writes. Let me read verse seventeen again. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. There is a special mention of those who labor, not in the word as well as in teaching.
And may I point out to you, As we saw in chapter three, one of the qualifications of another was to be able to be asked to teach, meaning the knowledge of the Scriptures. He should know in order to unfold and not necessarily. He may be a gifted teacher to teach all the same. But knowing the Scriptures, as you have in Titus chapter one, he can speak against those who are seeking to indoctrinate the faith with false speaking. And he must know the scriptures. And thus knowing them, such a one labors in word and in teaching. And the joy of seeing.
The apostle says, Such one. Let them be counted worthy of double honor. Now may I say, you might take from the context of it, it should be supplied, monetarily, reimbursed, as you've done in verse eighteen. You've got the scripture of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, that the ox should not be muzzle, the trend is out the corn. He should have the privilege of eating as he works, and then the labor is worthy of his reward. But may I give you a thought? I'll let you look it up for yourself. Read chapter twenty in the book of the Acts, from verse twenty-eight, going down and read Paul's recital, of what he did when he was in Ephesus for the space of two years.
He never took a penny from the saints. Read his epistle to the Corinthians. And he tells them, he says, I work to provide for those who are with me. He says, I'm not indebted to you. My beloved, please let me say, it doesn't necessarily mean the monetary rule. And of course, there certainly should be such an exercise where it is needed. But here you can recognize the honor should be given to the man. If he rules well, honor him, esteem him, as we read in First Thessalonians chapter five. And so, the beloved apostle, may I give you this thought, he's writing to Timothy.
Timothy, he said, look, honor those men who are doing what they can for the saints and labor in words and doctrine and let all the others honor it too and respect them and if necessary help to meet their need when need for now when you go to verse nineteen you've got an admonition Paul says against an elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses well may I give you the thought There is no question of doubt. Such a man is a false criticism from among the saints. But any criticism or accusation that may rhyme should be absolutely proved to be true or not.
And it was to be proved there should be two or three witnesses. You've got the same thing in Matthew sixteen. You may remember when there is an accusation between brothers for that matter. that it must be, if it's brought before the church, it should be done before with two or three witnesses. Oh, beloved, may I say, it may be sad to confess, unjust criticism can arise against those that seek to help to lead the same. And any such, and any accusation should not indeed be given a less definite And I must confess that in my experience and knowledge, I have known, particularly in the missionary field, where even a fellow missionary had to be exposed because of his sin by the local elders, which is a very sad fact.
And one recognized, look, it's a great responsibility on the elder, isn't it? To walk. to maintain his godly testimony. How much more? So God help us to remember that. But in verse twenty, there is no doubt, not particularly against an elder, but anyone, then that sin, rebuked before all that others also may fear. That's certainly not done very much, is it? Discipline in the house of God? May I give you the thought? You've not only the financial responsibility toward the godly widows who are worthy, you not only have the eldership brought before us in this chapter, which we could go on into detail, but which we did in chapter three.
But you've got also the discipline in the house of God. Now may I say frankly, discipline in the house of God is very lax today if it's ever done at all. There is a preventive discipline, and preventive discipline, if I read my Bible right, is to be careful who you receive in the fellowship. Make sure that they know the Lord Jesus is their Savior, and they do not have any unsound doctrine. Because later on, trouble can come. There's not only preventive discipline, there's corrective discipline.
When something appears, as you have here, that needs to be corrected. Correct it before it spreads. And then at last, there's preservative discipline. And that's the most tragic. You got it in First Corinthians five, where a man, a brother in the Assembly of Congress, because of his immorality, an immorality, an immoral deed that even the Gentiles, insane Gentiles around him, didn't do. And he was disciplined, as Paul commanded him to be put out from among them until he repented. May I repeat it again, there is preventive discipline, preventing trouble to come that requires discipline by making sure that one who is received into the assembly is genuinely saved and also does not have any unsound doctrine, which sometimes, when permitted in, such a one, begins propagating it.
And then there's corrective discipline. When discipline is needed, or the correction is needed. May I remind you what? Second Timothy, verse sixteen says, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, teaching, for conviction when we're wrong, and for correction. and for righteous living. But may I say very frankly, right from this chapter alone, God wants his people to live right. Righteous living. And thus, sin should be rebuked when it's seen in the open, that others also may fear. Now from verse twenty-one, let's see what God has to say to Timothy, particularly his obedience to what he has been given charge of.
I chose thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without referring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Now may I say frankly, I hope you notice that in chapter one, go back to chapter one, please. Let me go back to chapter one. Verse three, if you please. I besought thee to a vice till at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia. that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other teaching. Go down the chapter, please, in verse eighteen. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went on before thee that thou mightest for a good warfare.
May I point out that all that was written to Timothy, Paul told him, Timothy, I'm charging you to obey what I'm telling you. And surely we can recognize that should be true for us to be obedient. But Timothy was charged to do that. And to do it, note at the end of verse twenty-one. We'd observe these things without preferring or favoring one person before another and doing nothing by partiality. My beloved may I say, you should not and can not or ought not to show favoritism when it comes to a question of the truth. Well, I understand from the news around here you sure got that being shown by the State Patrol and other other legislative bodies.
Look, should those things be practiced in the house of God? Never. Never. Never. Let me give you an example. Read the first chapter of Galatians sometimes. When Paul recites, when Peter came to Antioch on one occasion, And some of the Jewish believers raised the question that the Gentile believers ought to be circumcised. And Paul and Barnabas withdrew, stood them. And Peter came and stood up for them. But he came later. And when some of the circumcision of the circumcision believers, those believed on Christ, were they still holding to the doctrine of circumcision, and said that the Gentiles should be circumcised, Peter took sides with them.
And he showed it. And when Paul went to Jerusalem, as you have in Galatians chapter one, he tells of it. He says, I withstood Peter to the face. Because you went into the house of a Gentile, and now you refuse to eat with the Gentile believers in Antioch. And may I say, what Paul did save the big split in the church? It would have been a big split. The Gentile believers and the Jewish believers would have had a great big flesh. And they were all to be one. And please may I say, you can recognize Timothy was son. Now don't you show any favoritism.
No matter who the person might be. And one can recognize Timothy was to go for Paul and for the Lord to adjust the conditions in Ephesus. Now I want to tell you, it's not easy to deal with personalities, is it? Not even if they're Christians. But here was Timothy's responsibility. Why? Do what he said in verse twenty-two. Lay hands suddenly on no man. Neither be partaker of a man's sin. Lay on hands suddenly with no man. What does he mean? Timothy be careful who you put your hands on to do the work of the Lord.
Don't do it suddenly. Don't do it suddenly. I think in my early days with a dear young fella up in Buffalo, New York, he's only in his late teens, but he insisted he was to go to the mission field. I know the dear brethren, the elder brethren, they talk with him very earnestly to wait, but he insisted, in fact I'll tell you what he said, I'm going over to have a shovel of coal all the way over in the boat. He went. I know. And before he went, he married a very nice Christian girl that I knew. But may I say, after three years, he was in Africa.
His wife died. The young wife left him with three children. The dear young father had to come home and raise his children at home. Thank God later on he was restored and went back to Africa as a laborer where he did labor well for the Lord. But he He was, they laid hands too suddenly upon him. But that's not the only danger. Know what Paul says. You might do it and be sharing the other man's sin. Be sure you know the man that he's all right in his character and conduct and behavior and his confession. Let me omit verse twenty-three for a moment. Go down to verse twenty-four and twenty-five.
It's connected with verse twenty-two. For some men's sins are open beforehand. going before the judgment. In other words, be sure that there's no sin in that man's life before you lay your hands upon him to do the work of the Lord. Some men's sins are open, not all of them, as you have in the context. For some men's sins, they follow after you don't know till later. And Paul is saying, don't be too much in a hurry. To lay hands on someone, you want to suggest they do a certain work for the Lord. Be careful. And note in verse twenty-five, likewise also the good works that some are manifest beforehand.
In other words, one can recognize the need of careful discernment and consideration before laying on hand. Go back to chapter thirteen, please, of the book of the Acts. Chapter thirteen in the book of the Acts. May I point out something? Here's a good example. In the thirteen chapter of the book of the Acts, where you have the opening of the chapter telling us a wonderful truth about this chapter thirteen and beginning at verse one and let me read going down through verse four now there were in the church there was an Antioch certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas, Simeon that was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene and the Nainan which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and Saul now note As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them.
And when they had fasted, the saints in Antioch, as they fasted and prayed over the nether, that God said, I want Barnabas and Saul to be separated for the special work I've called them to do. They fasted and prayed, and they laid their hands on them. Then they sent them away, and they being sent forth went by the power of the Holy Ghost. And one can recognize, now here were two men that had proved themselves. They had proved themselves in the Church of Antioch again and again. And the Church didn't lay an summary on them.
They were ready. They knew their ability, and the Spirit of God prompted them, these men I've chosen for my work. to send them forth and you've got the... May I give you the thought? Don't know if you ever realize that Paul was called to go to the Gentiles when he was first saved. I think it was about fourteen years later when he started going to the Gentiles. God didn't send him in a hurry. He had trained him to go through which he went through for the years that he lacked until he was sent to the Gentiles. And this first Gentile missionary journey began in Acts chapter thirteen.
On to its third journey later on. And so Timothy is encouraged and admonished. Be careful how you lay hands on someone. But likewise in verse twenty-five, you've got the manifestation of good works. The son, they're manifesting. In other words, before you lay hand on a person to do the work of God, make sure he knows how to work. Make sure it's true what it can do. Go to chapter three, please. Go to chapter three. Let me go to verse chapter three in verse eight, nine, and ten. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongue, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, and let these also first be proved.
And then let them work. There you can get the principle. Oh, my beloved, may I... Can I say it earnestly? There's too much of a rush sometimes in some people's... And I'll give you what I read today. I think I read it today in a certain magazine. What has happened in Europe? Everybody's excited because of the open doors. And let me give you an illustration of what's happening. All kinds of people are going in. Some that are going with a good purpose. sent by the Lord and some that may not have the Lord's will in going. I read in one occasion in Romania one dear preacher who was the pastor of the church there and a fundamental preacher.
He wasn't able to preach a sermon in his church for twenty weeks. And I'll tell you the reason why. It was the custom of that church when any outsider came from outside of the country who was a Christian. That outsider was told he had the privilege of preaching. And they got all kinds of preaching sometimes, different kinds. And these men who took the platform, they did not come to do, particularly to do that, but they had all kinds of preaching. The same thing has happened in Russia. May I say very frankly, there is a surge of going in But I wonder, let me give you the thought, how many are being sent by the Lord?
Let me give you, read Second Kings chapter two. And the last journey of Elijah, from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to Jordan to the wilderness, every time he moved, he said to Elisha, his servant, the Lord has sent me. The Lord has sent me. And may I give you the thought? You may not believe it, but I do. Just because there is a need, it doesn't constitute that the Lord's called you and me to do it. That was the... You'll find him in chapter sixteen of the book of the Acts. Paul wanted to go to Bithynia, to Asia, and the spirit of God stopped them.
No. And they waited on the Lord, he and Silas. And he had a vision of a man of Philippi, Macedonia, saying, come over and help us. What Paul had to learn, the Spirit of God restrained him from going to Asia, Bethany, later on, they got the gospel there. But at that time, the need that was there was not a call to go. And may I say frankly, if you're burning about serving the Lord, make sure he's called you. He's called you. The need may be there, but you need, you must have the call. And I say very frankly, There's much going on today in the so-called work of the Lord that many have gone without becoming.
Let me give you a thought. It's happening so much. One of my dear good friends years ago called me on the phone and told me, a brother I know that was wealthy as the Lord had blessed him. And he minister was giving money for the missionaries going out. And he poured in thousands of dollars to help the young missionaries. And then he found some of the young missionaries were coming back in a year, maybe two years at the most, and staying home again. And he couldn't understand it after the money had been given. And he called me on the telephone one morning and said, Brother John, I've got a problem. I said, well, what's your problem, John?
That was his name. He said, I don't know where to give my money. For he, I'll tell you frankly, what he told me. I have anywhere from five hundred thousand dollars to eight hundred thousand dollars a year to give to the Lord. And it was. And he said, I'm getting to the place where I don't know where to give it. Why? Some were going and coming back. In other words, they had not been called. I can't emphasize it too greatly. And if Timothy being told, Timothy be careful when you're in Ephesus. Don't lay hands suddenly on any man. Let him be true. His good works will be manifested. And they that are otherwise cannot behave.
If he doesn't have good works, if they're evil works, he can't hide them either. And oh, how we can recognize the importance of this. Oh, may the Spirit of the Lord make us realize. There is, let me ask you, let me put the question before you look. Is the work of the law more important than all the businesses that are going on in the world now? Isn't it? I say it humbly, but I say it gratefully. I am honored that God has let me work for him. I was amazed reading a little bit one time on shepherds in Israel, in the present country of Israel.
Years ago, a dear man wrote, he was an Arab, he wrote of his experiences as a shepherd boy, and he made this statement. He said, a boy in Israel... would rather be a shepherd of a flock of sheep than to be the governor of the king of the land.