This week we come to a passage that is known for its wonderful practicality. In 1 Timothy 5:17-25 Paul gives Timothy advice regarding the proper remuneration of pastors, how to correct spiritual leaders who have gone astray, how to choose leaders, and how to manage his diet. As we read the text we are apt to simply give it a superficial look. But we must understand how radical this is.
The Greeks and Romans used to teach that the material was bad and the spiritual is noble, virtuous and good. Any one concerned with such things as a proper wage or physical health was considered to be unspiritual. To this day we are surrounded by all sorts of eastern religions and ancient myths that tell us that the world is not real, it’s not important, it’s not good, it’s something you want to escape. Even some strains of Christianity will tell you that the material is bad – so you need to shave your head, walk around in simple robes and live quiet restrained lives in monasteries.
But Scripture radically stands against such ideas and affirms that the practical day to day issues we all face are important. In fact it is only Christianity that says that the Messiah has come to redeem both the spiritual and the physical. So when our Lord rose from the dead it was a physical resurrection, only the grave clothes were left behind in the tomb. And when he met up with the disciples one of the first questions he asked them was, “Do you have anything to eat?” (Luke 24:34) This is extremely important. Jesus didn’t just rise from the grave spiritually – saying, “Whew, am I ever glad to get rid of that body, it was an evil thing”. No, he rose bodily from the grave and because of that our redemption is complete – it includes the spiritual and the physical.
I know we live in a culture that seems obsessed with tangible things like wages and physical appearance. And it seems that their obsession detracts them from the important matters of the spirit. But the answer to such an unhealthy obsession is not to turn our back on the physical. It is rather, to give the physical things of this world their proper place and realize that Christ has come to redeem every aspect of the human life.
So Paul says, don’t abandon those in the church who deserve to be paid – no, instead they are “worthy of a double honour.” Nor was Timothy to neglect his health. Instead he was use a “little wine for his stomach and his frequent illnesses.”
So how is it with you? Have you divided your life into compartments – labeling some to be spiritual and some to be physical and therefore of little consequence? Do you realize that Christ is interested in every aspect of life? Do you understand that he calls you to submit every activity, every domain of your life to him so that he can transform it? Do you see that with Christ there is no room for the division of life into spiritual things and unspiritual things – but he is Lord of all?
With thanksgiving for you, Pastor Tom.