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Showing posts with label apostle Paul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apostle Paul. Show all posts

Work and Patronage



Work and Patronage
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10
Picture Credit: en.wikipedia.org
When Apostle Paul first visited Thessalonica, he taught the believers to work for a living rather than being dependent by demanding support or becoming clients of non-Christian patrons.

Yet some of the Thessalonians refused to work.  Paul dealt with these idle Christians in his first letter  (1 Thes. 4:11-12; 5:14) but they remained entrenched and had not changed their ways.  Why did they refuse to work? Possibly, these believers so vividly expected a quick return of the Lord that they gave up all work.  Paul’s teaching about the coming to the Lord, however never contradicted his basic instruction about the necessity of work (3:6, 10).

These idle Christians may have been clients of prominent patrons.  Patronage was a fundamental feature of the Roman economic world.  Rich patrons often supported numerous clients in various ways, such as by giving them food or money and by representing them in public assembly.  Having numerous clients increased the honor of a patron.  However, being a client brought social obligations that Paul would have wanted the Thessalonians believers to avoid, especially because their patrons were most likely not Christians.

Paul set for the Thessalonians an example of self-reliance.  While he was among them, he supported himself (3:7-8; 1 Thes 2:9) Although Paul believed that “those who work deserve to be fed” (Matt 10:10; 1 Cor.  9:13-16).  He did not receive support from the Thessalonians (he did accept offerings from the Philippians, Phil 4:15-16).  Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that he did not come to them as a smooth talker hoping for monetary gain (1 Thes 2:5, 9).  He wanted them to understand from his example how they themselves should live.

(A note from NLT Study Bible)

Related Reading:
Matthew 10:10
1 Corinthians 9:13-16
Philippians 4:15-16
1 Thessalonians 2:5, 9;
1 Thessalonians  4:11-12;
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Source: NLT Study Bible, A Tyndale House Publication, Carol Stream, Illinois

Let Us Not Despise the Word of God: Let Us Heed To It





The Holy Bible
sxu.hu

Credit CL Magazine


It’s about the wonderful and marvelous Book (The Bible), the human ever received as a gift from God. The writer narrates its importance in an individual’s life. It also reveals the stability and accuracy of the Bible.



We live in a world, which is subject to changes.

Every moment changes are taking place. What we see now disappears the next moment. Those who are in high places today are unceremoniously removed from there tomorrow. But in this transitory world, there remains one thing immovable. That is the Holy Bible, which we possess. But to our own shame and sorrow, we see almost everywhere an increasing tendency to belittle this priceless treasure-The Bible


This book contains the gracious words of Lord Jesus Christ; we should meditate it day and night. 


The first Psalm begins with the word ”Blessed”. One godly man had described it as an introduction to Psalms, which he called God’s hymnbook. Whenever we hear the word ”Blessed” the thought that comes immediately to our mind is of ”person who is perfect and self-sufficient, having all things and is in need of nothing”. But in the Holy Writ, this word is used in an entirely different connotation (context). It is used in relation to the word of God. In the Psalms and the gospels, the word” blessed” with the same context is recorded several times. It is further clarified in Revelation 1:3. Many Old Testament saints, from Abraham, are called “blessed” in the Holy Scriptures. But we, the believers are a congregation of blessed men and women, who are elevated to the height and pinnacle of it. Yea, we are a blessed people.



This truth was made clear by the apostle Paul, while writing to the Ephesians (1:3; 2:7). A picture of our highly exalted position today can be viewed there. 



The entire joy of the blessed man in Psalm 1 is centered in the law of the Lord. He rejoices in God’s word as a man who happened to find a great booty (Psalm 119:162). 

It is a matter of great importance for us to know what the source and object of our joy is. Is it in the pleasures of the world? If so, it is only momentary. 

It is a joyful experience to find delight in God and His Word day and night. Such a man is compared to “a tree by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in the right season; its leaf also shall not wither”. 

The benefits we receive from a tree are many. It has been estimated that a palm tree is useful to man in more than 250 things. 

It is also estimated that an ordinary tree inhales approximately 14000 liters of carbon dioxide, and exhales double the quantity of oxygen for human survival. 



Just as a tree render selfless service, a godly man is obliged also to serve selflessly. Let us labor without any desire for benefits; God is the rewarder. The root of such shall be established in the word of God. 

They receive nourishment from it for growth and maturity. That will also cause blessings to many. Let us receive strength by being rooted in Christ and His word, like the tree planted by the riverside. Those who are not so shall disappear like the chaff driven away by the wind (1:4). Their way leads to destruction. 


We will reflect the divine nature by our constant communion with the word of God. 



Separation from the world is inevitable to receive blessings from God. At the same time, without their co-operation, our lives will be miserable, as long as we are in the world. However, it is absolutely possible for us to live a life without absorbing the impurities of this world. 



How bitter were the consequences of being carried away into the world for Peter. He reached a stage where he had to deny his beloved Master. Peter who “followed afar off”, ended up sitting with them to warm himself. To be carried away into the world is a gradual process. 



Another example before us is Lot. He was attracted to this world by its greenery, and ended up most miserably. 



Believers should keep themselves away from the world. What is meant by “the world”? Whatever comes, as an obstruction between God and us is the “world.” It may differ from to person. To some, it may be their fortune, job, children, and family relationships and so on. 



In a world subject to changes, many storms and waves may lash against the boat of our lives. If the Lord is in the boat, we have no reason to fear. Let us grant priority to the Lord and His words. Let’s not despise it. Let us make sure that the Lord is in the boat. May the Lord help us. 



First Published in the Print Media.
1. Confident Living Magazine, Secunderabad, India. A.P.

2. Grace & Truth Danville, IL, USA, www.gtpress.org


3. Harvest Times for the family  Mumbai, India

Image Credit: stock photos
 

Women Leadership in Christian Churches - A Rejoinder, A Thought

(A Rejoinder to a Content at Associated.com)

By P.V. Ariel, published Mar 22, 2008
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E Pushpa Lalitha, India's first woman Bishop. Pic Credit NDTV
This refers to an interesting article appeared on the pages of AC under the caption, "What Role Can Women Play in Leading Worship? Under the sub head, 'Exploring What the Bible Says About Women in Leadership Roles' by Nicole L.

The writer by quoting the verses from Luke 8:1-3 ("Not long afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby cities and villages to announce the Good News concerning the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women he had healed and from whom he had cast out evil spirits. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.") Says, "Why would the author take the time to make sure that women were listed, by name, in this particular passage?"

This does not mean that Jesus expected a ministry from women what he expected from men. Of course, Jesus never put forward a second class level to women. Galatians 3:28 is very clear that, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. In first Peter again we read, "... being heirs together of the grace of life; (I Peter 3:7). No doubt He showed the same level of love and salvation to all. No disparity in it. Jesus did not bar them from singing, praying, witnessing prophesying and a lot of other spiritual activities. But notice that Jesus never select or send a women to the mission field. Instead this was entrusted to His disciples (Matthew 28:19,20). His disciples and all the other apostles too were men. If he expected this ministry from women, He would have definitely selected some women to this ministry.

Apostle Paul, while writing to the Corinthians, wrote:
 "Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the law also says. (I Cor. 14:34.). He continues in verse 35 "... it is improper ('shame' in KJV), ('disgraceful', marginal meaning in New American Standard Bible) for a woman to speak in Church. Later, while writing to Timothy, he said, "Let women quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow woman to teach or exercise authority over man, but to remain quiet (1Timothy 2: 11-12).

A women's position in the church is very obvious from these Bible passages. They are forbidden from teaching in congregations and commanding over men. Ordaining women as clergy or Bishop is purely not scriptural. God's Word cannot be changed according to the age or situations. It never changes or it cannot be changed according to our conveniences, instead, it apples the same for ever. So let the women submit to His Word and restrictions without aspiring for man's portion. They have many other areas of ministry in Christ's kingdom. Let them do that faithfully.

The purpose for which God made the woman was that she might be "an help meet for him." She is neither his master nor his slave. She is part of him, him complement, that which is added to him to make him complete-"An help meet for him" "she will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life." Proverb 31:12)

Woman's Area of Service.
This does not mean that, women are exempted from other Christian services. They are equally important for the smooth functioning of any Church or Assembly.
Here is a fourfold service for women:

1. Homemaking:
1 Timothy 5:14; Timothy 2:3-5 God has ordained the home as the center of family life. The wife is the homemaker. The older women are instructed to teach the younger women the duties and the art of homemaking-to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, to be chaste, to be keeper of home, to be good, and to be obedient to their own husbands. Surely this is a great and noble task.

2. Kindness, and good works: 
1 Timothy 5:10; Rom. 16:1-2' Acts 18:1-3. Besides her duty to her family a Christian woman has many opportunities or serving other relieving the afflicted, doing acts of kindness caring for the servants of the Lord, etc.

3. Private instruction: 
Acts 18:26 Although it was not permitted to Priscilla to teach in the assembly she was permitted to show hospitality to Apollos when he visited Ephesus, and with her husband Aquila to explain to him in their own home "the ways of God are more perfect."

4. Personal Testimony:
 Philippians 4:3. Paul speaks of those women "which labored with me in the Gospel." Though not permitted to preach in the church, women are permitted to tell in other ways what God has done for them, and thus often to win a soul for the Lord. Let men and women never neglect the opportunities that may arise to witness personally for Christ and for the extension of His Kingdom.

END NOTE:
In fact there are a good number of things a Christian woman can do in relation to the church, and its activities.  May God help our women flock to do their duties entrusted to them by the God Almighty.  Let them not seek beyond that. Let us not deviate from the Word of God in any matter even in the leadership issue.


A matter from the archives of Philipscom