October 17, 2022

1 Timothy 5:1-16 (HCSB)
Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.
The Support of Widows
 3 Support widows who are genuinely widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. 5 The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; 6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command this also, so they won’t be blamed. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10 and is well known for good works —that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry 12 and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge. 13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. 14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. 15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

James Burns
In this first letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul provided teachings about faith and guidance for the churches. In Chapter 3 Paul writes “I write these things so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household”. And so Paul continues in Chapter 5 with guidance to a “good minister” in the ways to relate to older men and women with respect and treating them as brothers and sisters in Christ. He continues with guidance toward ministering to widows, with their special needs, and how their children should love, respect, and provide for their elderly parents. He provides a stern warning for those who do not take care of their parents. Conversely, he provides instruction to the church for the care of widows, both old and young; with encouragement to younger widows to remarry, have children, and continue with their Godly lives rather than fall into undesirable behavior. There’s an awful lot packed into these 17 verses, but God’s word provides excellent instruction to the Saints that still apply today.