Agricultural metaphors fill the Bible. I immediately think of a tree planted by streams of water (Jeremiah 17:7), and I understand a vine and branches and no fruit apart from the vine (Jesus discusses this in John 15).

But when told not to muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain (1 Timothy 5:18), I’m at a disadvantage. Although I lived in Kansas for several years, I never treaded grain. Family members of mine raise cattle, but none raise oxen. I’ve never muzzled an ox, although I’d like to see it done.

That said, I get the gist of Paul’s words to Timothy.

In speaking about people ministering to others—referring here to elders in his church—Paul reminds Timothy to compensate them appropriately. When leaders work skillfully and diligently, they deserve some sort of pay, because if they get hungry they’ll stop serving and go look for something to eat. Then the church loses their leadership and care.

Sounds simple, but obviously Timothy faced this problem.

A powerful animal, an ox can tread grain all day, as long as it has something to eat. I know many, many good people engaged in various ministry contexts—feeding the hungry, reaching out to the hurting and lost, pursuing justice, developing believers in the faith—responding to the Lord and faithfully at their work.

With a little encouragement and reward, these God-called servants work tirelessly, day after day. No need to muzzle people like that.

I Timothy 5 in week twenty-six of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Varun Verma

Many years of my life I woke up in the Ozarks mountains. My first job after college took me to the Flint Hills of Kansas. Now I daily enjoy a view of the front range of the Rocky Mountains.

So I relate to the psalmist who writes, I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? Depth and power reside in the hills—a sense of permanence, of the eternal. For whatever reason, I feel it when gazing at the majestic.

The answer to the psalmist follows hard on the question: My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The Creator of Hills offers to sustain you and I. He steadies our feet on the mountain paths of life. He stays awake—shading us from sun and moon, steering us from evil, and protecting us as we go out and go in.

When I worry where the help I need hides, I try to remember these words. Help comes from the Lord, who made the soaring mountains and the rolling hills. Amazingly, the Creator cares for me, providing both my daily needs and often my less-than-significant wants.

Worth remembering from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 121 in week twenty-six of reading the Bible cover to cover

My three favorite books of the Bible in regards to the work I do, that of a minister of the gospel, undoubtedly are 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus, collectively known as the Pastoral Epistles. Paul writes to inexperienced pastors of young churches, instructing them on practical ways to live together in Christ.

Timothy faced a particularly sticky issue in his ministry assignment. People in the church found themselves attracted to myths and genealogies and speculations. Mystery religions swirled through the Mediterranean world, infecting the church in Ephesus. The desire for secret knowledge undercut Timothy’s teaching.

Paul, always the clever communicator, delved into the language of the mysterious to share the path to true spirituality:

Beyond all question, the mystery form which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by the angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16).

If mysteries lead me away from Jesus, then I’m deceived. If myths and speculations fail to help me follow Jesus, then I’m lost. If the church members in Ephesus continued to listen and engage with false teachers, then they chose poorly.

Paul reminds Timothy, and he reminds me and you, that there’s really no mystery at all, no secret knowledge, but rather—there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

Chose wisely.

1 Timothy 2 & 3 in week twenty-six of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Stefan Steinbauer

I confess—I enjoy following politics. I like the strategy of it all, the gamesmanship, the moves and deals required to get anything done.

I also like reading about political leaders. Recently I finished a book about Winston Churchill, the British prime minister who saved the world from Hitler, written by Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London and current British prime minister. I distinctly enjoyed reading about Churchill through the eyes of a present-day political leader.

So I admit, I felt the conviction settle when I happened upon these words from the Apostle Paul: I urge you then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

While I regularly question the judgement of leaders, and dissect their decision-making, and rant about their policies, I rarely pray for them. Yet Paul underscores such prayer as of first importance.

Even when I disagree with those in power—cringing at certain views while finding others reprehensible—I’m still to pray for our leaders.

Somedays the Word of God annoys me.

This morning I prayed for leaders, by name, of my nation and state and community and around the world. Perhaps you’ll join me, and together we’ll all experience more of the peaceful and quiet lives hoped for as a result.

I Timothy 2 in week twenty-six of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Marco Oriolesi