Timothy, to whom this letter is addressed, was a faithful companion to Paul for many years. He went with Paul on his last missionary journey, during a short reprieve from prison, and Paul had left him in Ephesus to lead the church there while he went onto Macedonia. This is when Paul writes the first epistle to Timothy. Paul opens his letter by addressing the many things that can complicate and distract from the simple life which God calls us to live. We can so easily get caught up in vying opinions, doctrinal controversies, this-camp-against-that, speculations about obscure biblical issues and other futile preoccupations. In our time it seems that people feel they must have a firm opinion, a position, on every obscure matter and everyone gets angry with everyone else for their differing views. Paul, however, kept coming back to the clear and distinct fundamentals of the faith and most of all the imperative to love others. In every situation your main objective is not to convince people that you are right, but they are loved. Rather than trying to appear right you should testify of God’s grace to one who was in the wrong. Rather than priding yourself in correct opinions on law and doctrine, humble yourself in view of your failure to fully embody what you believe. Your love and humility will make you a far more powerful witness to the good news than your correctness.
Ask God to help you love others humbly.
Read 1 Timothy 1:1-11
