Ahoy and welcome to the weekend. This week we continue our study of the Book of 1st Timothy with Chapter 5. Paul further instructs Timothy exploring the topics of reverence and deference to the people around us, and per usual, espousing a better world and way of life.
What's your general posture when you engage with people? Be it at your job, the coffee shop, or even the DMV, how kind are you? To get personal, how much patience do you have when you are stuck driving behind someone slow? I recognize that as a 'growth' area for myself.
To varying degrees based on our predispositions and upbringing, we as children are inclined to show a level of respect to those around us. However, as we age our posture towards others can begin to shift. Those in positions of authority in our lives will continue to be respected, while others begin to be cast off and are thus relegated to inferior positions, even to the point of being ignored or worse yet resented. This week Paul offers an alternative that presents a far more livable future for us all:
“Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.”
This past week I went golfing with some friends. We teed off behind a group of elderly men who were walking the course, and I submit may have been engaging in an exercise to see how softly they could strike the ball. Needless to say, we were frustrated as the pace of play was painfully slow and other groups piled up behind us.
But in truth they were just as entitled as us to the use of the course. Furthermore the extra time actually gave our group more time to enjoy and engage with each other. Perspective, I proffer, is the key to patience. And I think that is what Paul is driving Timothy towards. If we can apply the lens of family to the people we interact with on a daily basis, how much more pleasant and patient might we all be. But Paul doesn't stop there, he continues by charging us to assume responsibility for our family members in need.
“Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.”
Never being one to mince words, Paul is more than forward in our duty to care for those in our proximity. Our practical application this week is simple: Treat the people you interact with as you would members of your own nuclear family. Be patient, kind, and honor them with your interactions. Meet them where they are and care for their needs. A simple albeit wholly challenging outlook to approach life with.
Have a great weekend, share with a friend, and leave a comment / like the post.
-the contrary disciple