Read 2 Samuel 20, Daniel 10, and 1 Timothy 2.
This devotional is about 1 Timothy 2.
The last two words of 1 Timothy 2:8 are “anger and disputing.” These two words are a fitting description of a lot of social interactions online. Politics, culture, and changes in our society have made a lot of people angry. People on the left are angry and think the right is dominated by racists, Nazis, and fascists. People on the right are angry and think the left is dominated by godless communists. People in the middle are angry for being lumped in with a side they don’t like by their friends on the left and the right. Words exchanged online and in the media by politicians and “influencers” are increasingly hostile. Arguments between family members and people who used to be friends seem to fit the meaning of the word “disputing” in verse 8 really well.
First Timothy 2:8, though, says that men should act “without anger and disputing.” So, the online raging that seems so common today is something Christian men should not do. What should we do instead? The first part of verse 8 says, “Therefore, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands….” The word “therefore” in that verse ties this instruction to the first seven verses of 1 Timothy 2. There, Paul urges us to pray for government authorities so that “we may live peaceful and quiet lives” (vv. 1-2). In other words, Paul urges us to pray that God will give us governments that will leave us alone so that we can focus on spreading the gospel (v. 4) and growing in holiness, which is what the phrase “lifting holy hands” means in verse 8. So instead of participating in the “anger and disputing” that characterizes so much of online communication these days, 1 Timothy 2:8 tells us to have prayer meetings instead.
I admit that verse 8 just says “pray” not “pray together with other men.” But I think that’s at least one of the implications of this verse because “anger and disputing” require other people. So it seems like there is a contrast here; Paul may have been thinking about men praying in a group together in this verse as opposed to getting together to argue and debate with each other.
How much better would life be if Christians spent at least some of the time praying together that we now spend arguing about politics and societal issues? It is hard to be angry at someone if you are praying with him–even if you never see things the same way he sees them.
Let’s make this a challenge for today: If you find yourself arguing with another Christian about anything, invite that person to pray with you for each other about that issue. There are real problems and concerns in our world and in our society. Praying about them is a better use of your time than arguing with anger about them.
Let me also encourage you to attend the church’s regular prayer meetings and to pray regularly with your family and your small group. God loves to hear from his people, and he loves to see his people gathering together to worship him in prayer and ask for his help.