1. Treat everyone with respect (1-2)

God's servant must treat every person with respect, including those whom he rebukes. He must keep his heart pure regarding women.

2. The one who lives for pleasure is dead (3-16)

There were some people in the church who were in need of help. Especially, in that society, men were the bread-winners and women depended on their husbands, so widows had a hard time surviving. Paul gave Timothy some guidelines for helping the needy. First of all, families should practice their faith by taking care of their own needy. Children should take care of needy parents. But the church should recognize and aid one who is all alone, who prays day and night and depends on God and seeks to serve others. Those who live alone in order to enjoy selfish, pleasure-seeking lives are spiritually dead and need no help from the church. Widows who are young and full of desire should marry.

Application: Lord, help me to use my life not in pleasure-seeking, but in seeking you and serving others. Help me to keep my heart and life pure.
One Word: Don't live for pleasure; live for Christ