HOW LEADERS ARE TO TREAT PEOPLE
1 TIMOTHY 5:1-2
1 TIMOTHY 5:1-2 NKJ
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
OBESRAVTION:
You would think that as much as we have progressed as a society that we are very advanced in our interpersonal skills.
Surely in our modern culture, we know how to treat people. And yet the lack of civility in our country and even in the church is sad.
Paul is instructing Timothy, who is the pastor of a large church, on how to treat people. His guidelines worked then and they will still work today.
Leaders are not allowed to treat people in their churches in any way they please. Being the boss does not mean being rude and unkind.
When Timothy had to correct an older man, he was instructed not to speak harshly. Rather he was to appeal to an older man as you would speak to your father. For Timothy being a young man, this was a very respectful way of dealing with someone older.
For the men who were in his age bracket, Timothy was to address them as brothers. So even though Timothy was the lead pastor, he was accountable for what he spoke and how he spoke to the men in his church.
And in a day when women were not typically treated with great respect, Timothy was to enact a better, higher standard. Treat the older women as you would your own mother. Jesus treated women with dignity and respect, and those who represent Him should do the same.
And treat the younger women as sisters with all purity. The way brothers treat sisters is quite different with nothing lewd or fleshy. It's a clear-cut relationship with clear boundaries.
APPLICATION:
Civility means formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech. The early church required it of their leaders, and so should we.
How do we impact a culture that is increasingly uncivil and toxic? One way is to lead the way in being courteous and showing honor to others. This is a necessary directive for all church leaders and a great goal for all church members.
PRAYER:
Lord, show me how to be a better example of you in my interactions with others.