God will set things right - Tuesdays with Timothy #68

 I Timothy 5:22-25  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.  (23)  Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.  (24)  Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.  (25)  Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Holiness in the life of a pastor is paramount. Timothy was to be careful who he laid hands on, making sure they were godly  men since the church is trusting and must trust them. Timothy does not want to be partakers of other men's sins by overlooking their sin and not disciplining them, nor does he want to be complicit in given an ungodly man a platform to sin in shaming Christ and his church and using the protection of the ministry to do evil deeds. Timothy is to keep himself pure. Sooner or later, a man's life will catch up with him, if he is living a hidden life. Either open before, going to judgment, or in open judgment at the judgment seat. The man of God needs to live a godly, pure life.

Timothy, it appears, was a teetotaler. I believe Timothy was concerned about keeping himself pure and about the example he set and his personal godliness. It would appear that Timothy did not partake of the lawful use of wine and Paul encourages him that because of his illness, he needs to drink it, if nothing else, for medicinal purposes. Paul did not badger Timothy for being legalistic. Paul didn't mock Timothy for not drinking wine. He told him he should drink wine for medicinal purposes. Had Paul mocked Timothy or called him a Pharisee, Timothy would never have used wine even for medicine. Just because someone is convicted that something is wrong by Scripture doesn't make them a legalistic Pharisee. Timothy took godliness seriously.

Paul ends with thoughts on justice. There are some men who sin and publicly fall. They sin and everyone sees it and knows it and are judged in this life. There are some men who get away with it, and their sin follows after them. Sin doesn't go unpunished. There is a reckoning. So whether the church disciplines or not, the perpetrators will be dealt with by God. And the same with those who are innocent. Some people do good works and everyone can see them, and some will not be rewarded for their good works until the judgment seat. The reminder here is that we must strive for justice and to do what is right, but also always remember, God is going to set things right one day. The falsely accused will be vindicated on that great day. The sneaky sinner, who seems to get away with their iniquity will have to answer for what they have done. Those that offer up false accusations will stand before Christ and answer for what they have done. The politicians who maneuver and destroy people to get their way will answer for their sins and will give an account to Christ, face to face. Those that do good and do right, and no one ever notices or pats them on the back, Christ will set that right on that day.