Welcome back to our Timothy reading where we are diving into the scriptures and words of Paul's letter to Timothy. Today I'm going through chapter 3, so let's get to it!
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."
So in the onset of this chapter, Paul teaches about how a leader and an overseer should be and should act. This word "deacon" can be replaced with anything that you are aiming towards: CEO, Mom or Dad, Supervisor, etc. Each verse here is so important, and each word means exactly what it's saying: you need to be faithful and true to what is good and true, and not fall into wicked traps. If ever you're feeling like you're struggling leading your family, your team, anyone for that matter, this is a great passage to read.
The next section is so important to read because he paints a picture of God's household:
"Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
Paul wants all of them (and us) to realize that being about of God's household is more important than anything because it is the most righteous, true, and living thing in this broken world. He continues to say God's mystery; that he appeared in flesh (this resembles the knowledge that God was already), walked the earth with the Holy Spirit (which shows his majesty and truth), and then taken up in Glory. How awesome is it that that is the God we worship? It's so wonderful to remember that our Father is the only God who was, and is, and is to come. It doesn't get better than that.