SCRIPTURE:
“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.”
1 Timothy 5:24-25
OBSERVATION:
As Paul instructs Timothy on things such as elders, widows, and workers, he adds this little piece of advice.
There are those who blatantly sin, and just by the way it is, the consequences befall them immediately. Others are good at concealing their sins, or living a life of duality, no one knowing the sins they continue to commit.
In like fashion, Paul tells Timothy that there are good deeds done in sight of all, and those are rewarded publicly and exampled for all to recognize. But there are those who do good things that no one will ever see, taken for granted, and unrecognized.
Paul’s point to Timothy; whatever was done in the public eye is dealt immediately; consequence to sinners, rewards to those who do good.
But to those whose deeds went unseen, good or bad, there will be a day down the line, where these deeds will be revealed.
It catches up.
APPLICATION:
In this advice to Timothy, I drew two life lessons.
First, if we are hiding our sins; stop, drop, and repent. NO SIN is worth hiding and concealing, and the LORD knows anyway. Those who don’t come before Jesus and repent, when “it catches up”, end up admitting their sin, to their own humiliation.
Second, to do good things in sight of all, is well, good! The recognition and praise is a reward given in full. But to do good things in secret, with no one knowing or caring, those are the ones God sees. It catches up. And to do good anyway without expectation of reward, is a lifestyle that is itself, rewarding.
Bad or good, it catches up. We get to choose how we operate in that principle.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, may Paul’s small chunk of advice to Timothy resonate in us, modern-day disciples of Paul, and of You.
You know all things, good and bad. May we remember this and live wisely.
