“THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD”

14 “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

1 Timothy 3:14-15

By design, the church is an institution that consists of people who love God and one another. We are there for one another, helping and encouraging one another.

It’s a beautiful sight, isn’t it? But we know that this is not always the case. Sometimes even the most mature among us can have disagreements that could result in discord.

However, some Christians don’t like the idea of undergoing conflict resolution, so they decide to stop coming or look for another church. On the other hand, some do stay but do so reluctantly. The passion is no longer there. None of these two scenarios are ideal, so I want us to go back to the Bible and see how we should deal with such situations.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul acknowledges the possibility of being delayed in his trip to Ephesus to meet with Timothy. So, if he does experience setbacks, Timothy should remind the believers on how to conduct themselves in the household of God. The very mention of this idea suggests there was a possibility of friction between believers in Ephesus.

Paul emphasizes that the church is not just a group of religious people, but it is the household of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. We must understand Paul’s use of this imagery.

In the ancient world, pillars not only supported great temples, but also contained writings, poems, and sculptures about the most significant events in the lives of important people. This information would be accessible to the next generations as long as the pillars remained standing. As such, the pillars gave the people a heads-up on what took place in the past; it’s important that they learned from these writings as they moved forward.

In the same way, the church serves both as a place of worship and a spiritual institution where people are taught the word of God and trained in godliness. The Bible clarifies that the church, which is God’s household, must declare God’s goodness and truth as each member lives for one another.

In a culture where truth is relative, the church should be a place where the absolute truth of God is honored. God wants all people to hear, believe, and enjoy the freedom that comes from the truth of Christ.

The enemy knows this, so he works tirelessly to deceive, persecute, and if possible, divide the church. That has always been his strategy: to divide and conquer. When we are set against one another, it is easier for him to fulfill his purpose. But when we’re together, in submission to the Holy Spirit’s leading, not even the powers of hell can prevail against us. After all, doesn’t the Bible call us “more than conquerors”?

I say that we must set an example for the next generation to follow. That’s why we must church properly—that we follow what the Bible says about serving God and one another. We must genuinely care for one another and set others higher above ourselves.

If our young people have a clear picture of what a Christian community looks like, I don’t think they’d want to be disconnected from it. Who would want to separate themselves from a community where they are loved, heard, and cared for?

So, does our church reflect the title “the household of God?”

Pursue the Savior today!