1 Timothy 5:13 – Sound in the Faith

A greasy blob descends through clear water leaving a trail of contamination (Grok)

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 

Summary: This passage, at first glance, sounds like an offhand comment about bad behavior. Digging deeper, we find an existential threat beneath the surface.   

Our last meditation on 1 Timothy 12, “Serious Stuff,” emphasized the spiritual risk of turning our back on Jesus. In this verse, Paul talks about something that seems insignificant by comparison. In verse fourteen, he counsels young widows to do things that “give the enemy no opportunity for slander.” Finally, in verse fifteen, he notes that some have turned to follow Satan. 

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Double-Minded – James 1: 7-8

That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

I should have included this verse with yesterday’s post. Still, there may be something here for us. Let’s take a look…

James has opened his letter talking about “trials of many kinds” and how from a godly perspective they should be considered “pure joy.” He then writes that he wants believers to be “mature and complete, not lacking in anything.” Immediately he focuses on wisdom. We don’t know why, but James thinks it is important. All we have to do to get godly wisdom is to ask. The caveat is that we need to believe when we ask, Then James contrasts belief with doubts. He says the doubter is like a “wave on the sea.”

In today’s verse, he talks about people who should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Who are these people? Who asks something from the Lord but does not believe?

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