Pride and Prejudice

1 Timothy 5:21-25    
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.   23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.   24 Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Pride chooses to single out some to apply God’s word to and to look the other way or go easier on others.  Humility requires us to fairly and justly address sin towards reconciliation equally, not thinking that we know better than God and His clear words to us to deal in love and truth impartially.  The Father and Son watch from heaven with the angels chosen by God as witnesses to how we minister to each other within the church.  Further instructions follow, including praying circumspectly, not hastily, to understand if someone’s hidden sin needs to be dealt with before muddying our own hands by being on the wrong side of what we are praying for.  We are to keep ourselves pure in all matters, especially when ministering to others.  Timothy was even advised to drink a little wine to help his stomach problems, which shows that wine itself is not prohibited, just drunkenness as in other passages such as Romans 13:13 and 1 Peter 4:3.  The overriding issue of sin and doing what is right comes down to the hidden intentions of the heart, because we do not always see them on the surface of others.  All that is hidden will be revealed, but we are to do our best by God’s guidance to not allow our pride to prejudice our fair and loving dealings with grace in counsel or ministry to each other.