There should never be a limitation a Christian’s scope of concern for people, but our passage of the day doesn’t fail to give us specifics.
“All Men”
1 Timothy 2:1-6
- Today, an exhortation that…
- Supplications
- Prayers
- Intercessions
- And giving of thanks
- Be made
- For all men: that’s all people – generically, all human individuals
- You may recognize the verse
- It may sound rather broad
- Must I really pray for everyone?
- We’ll give the passage a closer look and provide context today
- “All Men” is our theme, from 1 Timothy 2:1-6
- Let’s talk about what this passage does before we begin
- It helps us to understand that our concerns for others should be broad
- Never overlooking, or not without concentration on, the individual
- But also with a concern beyond those we know and interact with every day
- There is never a limitation on our scope of concern
- But this passage doesn’t fail to get specific
- It lets us know that we should concentrate efforts (often) in certain areas
- But also never forget our worldwide, unlimited mission
- Let’s begin as Paul comes alongside Timothy and says…
1 Timothy 2:1
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
- We begin with this picture of coming alongside (exhortation)
- And this command to be a person of prayer and intercession for others
- That requires concern and thought for others
- It means not concentrating on self
- It is about thankfulness and gratitude for “all men”
- It is also about having a broad concern – a global concern – for people
- The definition of these words matter…
- Supplications means seeking, asking, entreaty to God or to man
- Prayers are an address to God
- Intercessions are a petition (on someone else’s behalf)
- Giving of thanks is the same as our English definition, just thankfulness
- They are to be made…
- For all men, that’s all people – generically, all human individuals
- How should we care for every person?
- Asking God for something on their behalf
- Addressing God directly for them and about them
- Knowing what they need and asking for it
- Giving thanks for them, having gratitude towards them
- This is broad for a reason, but it gets more specific…
1 Timothy 2:2-3
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
- We begin with supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for the highest of authorities in our society
- While we do not have a king, we have those elected by citizens in the United States (and our island) to have responsibility and to have authority – or oversight of the authorities in our society
- Our government is of the people, by the people, and for the people, but we elect and grant authority (through our system) to elected officials
- So we begin with these concerns and consequential supplications for these authorities
- This is supplication, prayer, intercession, and giving of thanks for those we appreciate and like, but also for those we disagree with and have much less appreciation for
- There are no ideological tests here, only tests of position
- Are they in authority?
- Then they must receive the same level of care from us
- This is so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
- In all godliness and honesty
- We can sleep at night knowing we have shown genuine concern for every leader
- We know, if we obey this, that we are not in rebellion against God-ordained authorities
- This, obviously, doesn’t mean constant agreement – or even the lack of conflict over public policy issues of the day – for we as citizens have responsibility to (according to our own conscience) speak up and be involved
- But we must also show serious activity in seeking God on behalf of those leaders
- If we do this – it is good and acceptable to God
- While it may not be popular in party politics or among those who insist we must show antipathy to leaders we disagree with; it is Godly and right
- What is God’s desire?
- God…
1 Timothy 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- Why is it the case that we should have an active level of concern for all men?
- Because God’s desire is that all men would be saved
- His desire is that everyone should come to the knowledge of the truth
- His desire is not that we would have anger and resentment toward some in leadership – who may truly be doing wrong (evil) things – but that we should have the opportunity through our supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks – to reach them
- This is not only about the world we see today, but the world to come
- There is more – far beyond this world and our daily struggles with society and its issues
- We ought to have the same desire as God
1 Timothy 2:5-6
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
- There is a theological understanding that is foundational to this command
- It is because of Jesus and the free gift of salvation
- No man has another option
- Worldwide, men are lost without Christ
- We must be concerned with proclaiming His name
- And making certain they understand what the Bible explains
- This is the truth
- Men need access to it
- So our vision should be global
- Because we have experienced the joy, relief, and fulfillment of salvation ourselves
- But also because we have a commission
- It is a worldwide commission
- Teaching all that Jesus commands to all creatures, making disciples
- Now, all of the work does not fall on our shoulders, personally
- But a responsibility of love toward our fellow man certainly does
- And however we may support this mission
- In body or in spirit
- We must do
- Our burden of care is great
- But it is also a great blessing!
- And anyone who has had a part in Great Commission ministry knows its blessing
- Whether it is personal ministry or partnership in personal ministry elsewhere
- All are among the greatest privileges in life
- And we rejoice close-up or long-distance in all that is done for eternity
- And for Christ!