1 Timothy – Week 10 – Day 1

READ 

1 Timothy 5:22 

22 Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 

Paul gave three instructions in this verse: 1) do not be in a hurry to appoint a church leader; 2) do not share in the sins of others; and 3) keep yourself pure. Timothy needed to be reminded of these matters by his mentor. Local churches have found themselves in trouble when appointing a leader they later regretted. Paul did not want Timothy to be misled in going with a crowd that would lead him further away from God instead of closer to Him. Above all, it was important that Timothy, as a church leader and model for others, keep himself pure. 

REFLECT 

Think about how these instructions apply to your local church and to you. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 12:28 to see that leadership is one of the spiritual gifts. It would be unproductive, and perhaps disastrous, to appoint someone in leadership who does not have this gift.