Jump Start # 1691

1 Timothy 3:15 “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

Household—that word is used three times in 1 Timothy 3. It is first used to describe the character of an overseer or bishop. He is one who manages his own household well (v. 4). This is qualified with the expression, “keeping his children under control with all dignity.” It is used again in this chapter to describe deacons. They are to be good managers of their children and their households.

The way God uses the word “household” is what we would call family. Our family. Our families are influenced, guided, led, taught by parents. Mom, dad and the kids—that makes up families.

The third time the word “household” is used, our verse today, refers to the church. The household of God, which is the church. Paul was writing so one would know how to conduct himself in the church. He is not talking about running through the hallways of a church building. “The church,” refers to the saved. How are we to conduct ourselves with one another. He is driving at relationships. God’s household is much larger than one congregation. It’s made up of all the saved everywhere. These words describe the nature of how we are to interact, relate and respond to other Christians.

Now some thoughts:

It is easy to assume that the “household of God,” is nothing larger than the congregation we belong to. This is where most of our interaction with other Christians take place. Some can even see other congregations as rivals or in competition with each other. We all belong to God’s family. We are all in this together. We are trying to help God’s family, everywhere. Because we are of God’s household, we are all connected and related to each other through the blood of Jesus.

What hurts one part of the family, will hurt all the family. We understand this at home. A teenage daughter shouts at her mother, leaves the dinner table in a huff and slams her bedroom door, it affects the rest of the family. When a toddler has a melt down, it affects the rest of the family. When mom and dad are not getting along, it affects the rest of the family. We don’t see this spiritually. We don’t realize that if we hurt some spiritual family members, it hurts all the family. This is illustrated especially in two ways.

First, some get upset and they race to social media to air their complaints and trash talk fellow Christians. Are we not all of the same family? You hurt the family when that is done. Or, worse, they just leave in a mad fit, find another place to worship and spend the next few months telling anyone that will listen about how terrible the Christians are at the former place. Are we not all one family?

Second, preachers can be guilty of this without realizing it. They leave a congregation, making a mess, hurting others, to go to another congregation, often because the pay is better or the situation is better, and vast amounts of the Lord’s money is wasted moving these people across the country here and there and they leave a trail of bitterness and hurt feelings. Are we not all one family? You can’t hurt one part of the family without the rest of the family being affected as well.

  Third, there is something very special about family. Family reunions. Family vacations. Family that comes together at the holidays. We all have neighbors, co-workers, and friends, but nothing beats family. There is something special about family. You have a unique bond. You are blood. You know things. Fewer things can bring joy to one’s heart than the laughter and good times with family. Fewer things, likewise, hurt as much, as when family turns on you or is disappointed in you.

I find it interesting that the Holy Spirit used the same word, “household,” that was used to describe the family of both the overseer and the deacon, to describe God’s people. We are connected. We are special. We have a history. We love each other. Like the physical family, there are some things that we just don’t tell others. We support family. We are there to help family. Some of these concepts are hard to grasp in our times today. So many families are scattered, broken and dysfunctional. Murders take place among family members. The largest area of identity theft is among family members. Our brokenness, has resulted in families not being as strong nor as important as they once were. Family has been replaced with friends. Some do not even like their family. This makes the concept of “brothers” and “sisters” harder to appreciate, when we do not like our physical brothers and sisters. Family reunions are pretty much a thing for senior citizens. Younger folks don’t have the time nor the pull to connect with cousins that live in another state. These feelings trickle down to how we view one another in the church. We come on a Sunday morning, we smile at some, but take our place in a pew, much like a movie theatre, and we hope no one sits too close to us. We worship. We gather up our things and we go home. Done. Finished. Little thought given to those very people that we sang with and bowed our heads with. Announcements are made about some needing help. It doesn’t move us. We hear of those who are sick or having surgeries. Nothing is thought about that. Fellowship deteriorates into strangers who sit beside one another and barely know a thing about each other. This is not the way God intended it to be. Worse of all, this sad picture is found far too many times in our congregations, and rarely is there any thought of others outside our congregation. The household of God has shrunk to just the few strangers I see when I walk into the church building.

Independence and autonomy of congregations has led to isolation among too many of us. We don’t know and we don’t care what is going on with others outside of our immediate congregation. It is interesting that the book of Revelation was addressed to seven churches. All seven read about each other as they are described in the opening chapters. The books of Galatians, Ephesians, Corinthians became circulated letters that we even read about today. We learn about Tychicus, Epaphras, Onesimus—names that were associated with certain regions but became known by all the family of God.

There was a song in the early 70’s, “We are family, all my brothers, sisters and me.” And so we are. We are family. We need to help each other. We need to be there for each other. We need to get that family concept going again. The blood of Jesus ties us all together. The blood of Jesus makes us all one. It’s time for some to stop pointing fingers and extend the warm handshake of friendship. The enemy is not us.

Conducting ourselves in the household of God. There is a lot to that expression. Chew on that a while. Think about that. How are you doing with that? God’s family. You are a part of that. Amazing. Incredible. Comes with responsibilities toward others. Comes with privileges from Heaven. Sons and daughters of God, that’s who we are. Let’s act that way!

Roger