“I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone. Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often. Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.”
I had just finished a really fun, light-hearted meeting with a newer guy at the church. We had talked about baseball, and our kids, and his job. He’d told me about growing up in Connecticut and about how much he liked action movies. We had a lot in common, and it was an easy “get-to-know-you” meeting. As the conversation drew to a close, he stood up and walked to the door. As his hand rested on the doorknob, he turned around. “By the way,” he said, “do you know anything about abuse?” He had saved the real reason for the meeting until literally the last possible second. Over the next few months we met quite a few times. Those conversations were not easy, but they were helpful. He was able to open up, and through that to explore the path of healing in his life.
Many of Paul’s letters often end with that sort of hurried last minute sort of comments. If Paul were writing today, it would be a series of P.S.’s. For him, however, it’s just a final list of quick commands. They are often very practical and very challenging. And for Paul, as you can see by how he introduces this set of comments, they are incredibly important. Sometimes they are recap statements, like when he says “Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.” He already said that, but he’s wanting to make sure we don’t forget. Other times, they are completely new thoughts like “the sins of some people are obvious….But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.” Whether a new idea or a recap idea, however, we can be sure of this: Paul thinks they are important, and so should we.
Here’s your freedom for today: listen to the Bible’s commands. The importance of what the Bible says can’t be judged by how many words it takes to say it. A command that is explained across several chapters isn’t necessarily more important than a simple command that is simply said once. Regardless of how much explanation is offered, each command in the Bible is an offer of freedom. If we follow the Bible’s commands, we will find ourselves living the most wholesome, healthy, fulfilling lives possible. If we ignore the Bible’s commands, we will never know how much we are missing out on. So don’t always rush through reading, especially through a list like this one. Take the time to reflect and ask yourself questions about your own obedience. Even a single sentence in the Bible has the power to completely change your life.