5:15
Then there is a general instruction. No one is to seek revenge, paying back wrong for wrong, and Timothy is to ensure that this does not happen. Instead people are to “strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else”. Being saved by grace manifestly does not mean we have no responsibility for how we live, and part of church leadership is to make sure the congregation knows that this is the case.
5:16-18
“Rejoice always”, remember that Paul was writing this to a church experiencing some persecution. They were also to pray continually, and to give thanks. So joyfulness, prayerfulness and thankfulness are to be characteristics that mark our lives. This is God’s will for us in Christ. When in difficult circumstances our natural reaction is to wonder what how we should get out of the situation, and this often causes us stress because we don’t know how to get out of the situation. God’s priorities are often different than ours. He pray, rejoicing and giving thanks are often the things we should be doing. So we address the problem, or the circumstances, obliquely, rather than directly, and we may be surprised to find that this is more successful!
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