Thought for the Day - Friday 26 June

Thought for the Day – Friday 26^th June

Okay, another Friday text:

‘Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine…...’ (1 Timothy 5: 23)

Ah! The dangers of taking biblical verses out of context!

I dread to think what would happen if everyone followed this instruction – the mind boggles!

Actually Paul is writing to Timothy giving him all sorts of advice about how the church should treat widows and slaves and how to choose Elders from among their number and then he tells him this:

‘Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.’

Keep yourself pure!

While in the very next verse he states ‘Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine…...’

Are we not told to drink water to keep us well hydrated and get rid of all the toxins in our body and here Paul is saying no don’t drink water rather drink wine!

Of course, we have to read the whole verse to try and understand exactly what Paul is actually saying here because the verse goes on ‘because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.’

It seems that Timothy either doesn’t keep too well or else he is so nervous about all Paul is asking him to do that it is affecting his stomach and so Paul advises him to stop drinking the water and to drink wine instead because it will be good for his digestion, it will settle his stomach, it may even calm his nerves.

Indeed, lovely fresh drinking water was not always available in Bible times and so Paul may even believe that it is actually the water which was making Timothy ill - hence his advice to him that it may be better for him to drink wine than water!

I am sure you will see that I am offering no such advice today!

It is indeed Friday, so I am merely offering these words and helping you to reflect on the fact that to take them out of context could be dangerous for some and could even be used to justify anything!! 

Prayer

Loving Lord,

We can sometimes be tempted to take your word and use it to our own ends, help us rather to look carefully to your words and reflect fully on them before acting upon them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Friday Fun Time:

Here are your questions and challenges for today!

1. Are you prone to hearing what you want to hear?

2. Have you ever twisted what someone said to make it fit your purposes and do you remember 

     what was said and how you used it to your own ends?

3. What is your go to remedy to calm your stomach?

4. Would you prefer a glass of water or a glass of wine?

5. White, red or rosé or none at all which do you prefer?