“17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says:

19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid. 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.”
1 Timothy 5:17-25
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Now, where my heart is drawn this morning is to the last two verses of this passage. But I am also a firm believer in making sure everything is read in its proper context. Paul is talking about the appointing of elders, the quality of their character and such things, he encourages purity for Timothy, gives a little medicinal advice and then shares these last thoughts before moving on to the content of what we now call chapter 6. 

I have never had anyone teach me this, but I am under the personal opinion that if we want to strive for a better walk with Christ, it isn’t a bad thing to seek after the heart qualifications listed for deacons and elders. Never seeking honor for ourselves, but yearning to grow in Christ, serving as a good example to those we teach and lead toward Him, these qualifications show a life of devotion and concern for Christ and His Bride. It isn’t a works thing, that we are earning our salvation by working harder. Rather, a labor of love, seeking to lose myself more and more in the life God has for me, rather than standing apart from Him. Two chapters previous, Pau laid this, “This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” If the work is noble, then the heart behind it is as well. Now, women may not serve in this position, but there is no reason that a woman cannot seek theses character traits out for herself just as any man would. 

That being said, those last two verses stand out to me this morning:
“24 Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.”

 Sin rarely remains hidden very long. The effects of it are felt on all sides and it ripples through the live so those around it. Even if a sin goes uncaught or unpunished, the person(s) sinned against know what has happened to them, even if they do not know who to blame. Sin is sin, and it’s not the aspect of being caught that makes it bad. It is the act itself and the prideful, selfish heart behind it. All sin, internal and external is found out. A heart that is corrupt shows itself to those around it in due time. A heart that is hateful is revealed by the tongue. A heart that is selfish reveals itself in it’s lack of charity. A heart that is calloused reveals itself in it’s lack of repentance. 

On the other side of the coin, the humble heart is noticed by those it serves. The heart that is gracious is appreciated by those it encounters. The heart that is generous inspires generosity in those it touches. And, so, even if the person wasn’t seeking credit for themselves, but desiring to draw hearts to God, the good works they do cannot remain hidden forever, even if they want to remain anonymous. The heart that seeks to honor God above self, the heart that aspires to a noble walk in the faith, is a heart that seeks out humility and the life of Christ. It is never about titles (elder, deacon, preacher) but about the work being done to fulfill our commission in Christ. It is about the redemption of mankind from sin and death and hell. It is about sharing grace and mercy and love with a hurting world. 

Good or bad, nothing remains hidden. In fact, God promises us this, that everything will one day be revealed by Him who sees all things. Hebrews 4:13 “No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.” Nothing is overlooked. Everything is evaluated. Every word, every motivation, every action completed & every action left undone is seen by the One who stands righteous to judge the hearts of men. 

I know that I cannot earn His love and grace. I know that nothing I can do can make Him love me any more than He already does, but the desire of our hearts should be to live a noble life for Him, to abide in His grace and to live that out to the fullest each and every day. We spend our lives for Him in that great effort to GoLove others to Christ, baptizing them in the Name of the Trinity, teaching them to obey everything He has commanded, making disciples that make disciples that change the world and seek redemption for humanity out into the farthest corners of the globe. 

Until the day all knees bow, and every tongue confesses that Christ is King, seek the noble way, the way of the cross.